Although this election is essentially a fight between BN and PR, there is a record number of independents being nominated. There are many 3 cornered or even 4 cornered fights.
Basically, there are 2 main categories of independent candidates. Some decided to join the fray because they expect their respective parties to select them but for certain reasons they were not given the nod. Some may have worked the ground for many years, and thus they feel that their effort has been ignored when their party did not choose them for certain strategic reasons.
This group has put their own self-interest above that of the party. Some of them are for BN some are from PR. But whichever side they are from, they have not put the big picture above their own self. Some may have been preaching for a 2 party system all this while, and suddenly they are standing as an independent third force, forgetting their earlier pledge to fight for a 2 party system.
Another category of independents are sponsored candidates to enhance the chances of the side who is sponsoring the candidate. This may sound ironical, but by taking away votes from certain section of the people, they actually help the sponsoring side (usually the incumbents ) to win. This has been a classic strategy(trick) used in certain areas , especially in a mixed seats .
This time, there is also an isolated case in Kelantan where the BN candidate did not turn up for nomination and thus let a PAS candidate to have a straight fight with Ibrahim Ali, purportedly standing as an independent but with blessing from you-know-who. This is all about strategy and I need not elaborate since my readers know what sort of strategy is being played out there.
In this election, the choice for the people is very clear. It is either you vote for change or you vote for ‘1Malaysia’ status quo . The choice is that simple.
So I do not expect any of the independents to win. However, in certain areas where there is a close fight, they can siphon away enough votes to make a difference. Even if they can siphon away a hundred votes, this may prove to be crucial in deciding the outcome in a very close fight.
I hope some of those independents in the first category will reconsider their positions and withdraw and let there be straight fight between the 2 big coalitions. I hope they will look at the big picture and not let emotion and self-interest interfere.
I do not expect my plea to have any effect on the second category– those who are sponsored. Their presence has been carefully calculated and thus they are there to stay.
Even in Pandan, where OTK’s proxy is satnding as an independent, I hope he can be big enough to withdraw the proxy and let there be a straight fight. In a contest where the results are expected to be close, every seat is crucial.
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Apr 22, 2013 @ 13:46:09
One hypothesis put forward is that many independent candidates gamble on the slim chance of being elected and offer themselves to be bought by the side willing to pay more, hence instant fast rack to quick fortune. This seems to make sense as both BN and Pakatan is expect to have 50/50 chance winning control of the parliament,and also some state assemblies.
You are accurate to point out many maverick candidates do not respect of the principle of organization first, self second. These people will regret their decisions.
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Apr 22, 2013 @ 20:25:52
The reasons offered are not 100% correct. Sim Tong Him is not a greedy man who put self interest above party but the reverse. It is the LGE’s arrogance to put a candidate with tainted record against the wishes of the state committee. Hence, the whole state committee actually endorsed Sim’s decision. He eventually agreed to withdraw and had to bear the negatives accusation from all corner out of love of the party. LGE always wants to have a final yes and ignore local sentiments. He inconveniently forgotten he was booted out of Melaka state party election in 2005. What does that means ? His arrogance was not welcome. He blindly believe DAP can win any Chinese majority seat by riding on the UBAH wave. I am a DAP supporter for more than 30 years though not a member and sincerely wish the myth of DAP = LKS + son be dismantled soon for healthier development of DAP. In politics, certain principles need to be upheld no matter what.
Finally, lets not forget our mission is still UBAH and change government.
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Apr 23, 2013 @ 08:40:12
There are different kinds of “independents”
1) Genuine independents (like the senior citizen lady who runs in GE after GE)
2) “Hurt pride” independents who want to run after being dropped for
unsatisfactory performance
3) “You help me, I help you” independents.
In constituencies where the independent will actually reduce the votes for BN, they may be waiting for “financial help” from the 1PM and then will drop out from the contest
4) “I am paid to split the vote for PR” independents
Financed by UMNO Baru-BN to split the anti-BN vote.
5) Pseudo-independents e.g. Pasir Mas’ Mahathirist “independent”
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Apr 23, 2013 @ 13:46:33
Dr Hsu
Dr Bridget Welsh has a very interesting article on Malaysia Kini on the massive amounts of money spent by the 1PM to avoid political defeat.
So, the slogan should be changed from
“Rakyat Di Dahulukan” to “Rakyat Di Duitkan” ?
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Apr 23, 2013 @ 20:08:11
Prof phua
In order to win, they will do anything and everything. This election is going to be very close, hence the amount spent..
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Apr 24, 2013 @ 05:23:30
There is at least one party with a clear and electrifying message:
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Apr 24, 2013 @ 08:31:44
Love of (money and power) is in the air !
Love of (money and power – even if you have to sell out your
fellow Chinese-Malaysians) is in the air !
Love of (money and power – even if you have to sell out your
fellow Chinese-Malaysians, and the poor people of Malaysia) is in the air !
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Apr 24, 2013 @ 08:41:32
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Apr 24, 2013 @ 14:02:32
Just because the caretaker AJK, said if all loved him, vote for him, some people are tantalised to sing him a love song.
Please let his bigger half, RoseM do the honour. We the citizens, are no RoseM, and will never be. Our voice won’t fit the size of the song. Only ‘Croooonies’ will crock to the top of their voices.
Good luck to them.
But the people will sing a song of celebration – Fair, Just, Corruption free Election! when the time is right.
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Apr 25, 2013 @ 11:01:13
Many pleasant months back, when this blog was at its heights and fiery best, I remembered a contributor putting forth positive and intelligent comments.
She called herself ‘soohuey’. Could she be the DAP’s candidate for Penang Pulau Tikus Dun. If so, good luck!
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Apr 25, 2013 @ 17:19:01
I am in agreement with CYC on DAP’s selection of candidates for this GE13.
I am a resident in Teratai, pandan in Selangor where the incumbent, Jenice Lee Yin ha had done such good and hard work for the past 7 years even before she was elected as ADUN in 2008. Since elected, she was beseiged by many people with evil ideas in their mind to join the party and to assist her hoping to be appointed as councillors and true enough, we residents, found most are from BN parties who hopped over to “cari makan” as Bn has no more room for them to “cari makan”. As a novice and naive ADUN, Jenice accepted them to enlarge the DAP influence in Teratai.
Once appointed, these duboius figures went about starting to do theri work as what they had intended to do and soon many complaints came to Jenice’s ears and she took action to sideline some of them.
Today, these people came back with vengance to slay her with the full backing of a big top national leader who had a personal grudge against hwer and soon the rest is now history.
We residents of Teratai wanted her to continue as our ADUN preferably for DAP but since she has been pushed out, we residents pooled our finances and resources to assist her to contest as an independent agst the rest. We had since been campaigning for her since nomination day and we are so [proud to see so many local residents and even neighbouring areas people coming to show their support. This independet is definitely not any type as described in your articel but she is our “People’s Candidate”
Many of you who are not staying in Teratai do not know the details as she has limited resources to tell the world her side of the story and we know very well she is a victim of some malicious and politically killing exercise to kill her off for good.
If you people can spare some time to come to the area to hear people’s side of the story, you will get the true picture.
As of today, her chances is on leve with DAP & BN candidates and in fact was slightly above DAP’s candidate.
I wish to call upon all to contribute to our “People’s Candidate” in ways of monetary donations or other material.
Thank you.
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Apr 25, 2013 @ 22:33:26
I believe Jenice Lee is genuine, a decent lady and worth our supports though she went against DAP.
As she proclaimed, she is still a DAP lady, and if she is elected, she is going to ‘hand over’ her seat to DAP.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 08:20:27
hmmm now not a good time to grumble, that’s politics. forget about personalities no matter how great or worst. vote party, pakatan rakyat’s party. please.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 09:34:37
the problem is that as an independent who is well loved, the votes that are originally meant for opposition will be split, benefiting only BN. I know she is good, but she should have put the big picture before her, and perhaps reserve her energy to fight for her cause and clear her name within the party. and wait for the next term, after all she is still young.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 09:49:29
As far as I genuinely believe she is genuine, apparently, it’s difficult for her to be re-elected. This is a reality in Malaysian politics.
Malaysians still vote on ‘party’ and not on ‘individual’. However good a candidate, is still not good enough for him or her to go it alone.
To Jenice Lee, if she read my message, she should pull out from contest because the likelihood of Pakatan rule this very real this time around. It’s not just Teratai, but the whole Malaysia.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 10:57:49
I agree with Dr. Hsu and A True Malaysian.
A party member, no matter how good, belongs to and is loyal to the party. He or she is not above the authority and coverage of the central commitee of the party. If every member were to think that JL, then it will be chaotic for the party.
There is a Chinese saying that goes like this. The flower, ‘Mau Tan’, may be beautiful and many people admire it. However, it still needs the green leaves for , comfort, comradeship, consolation and continuity.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 11:34:22
That is the problem with DAP as it grows bigger, and won more seats, many new comers see being in DAP has more chance to get rich than in MCA. Another problem consistent with any organization growing too big, too fast is that its top leaders now become more distant from the grass root levels. MCA long has this problem, now Lim Guan Eng in DAP has this problem. Some good contributors are sidelined in the process as opportunists gets ahead! We in private corporate experience this all the times. I personally was disturbed by the Sim incident in Melaka, Sim is DAP king pin in Melaka,Melaka people loves him for his many years of dedicated service, like Lee Lam Thy in KL before. Any disputes internal to DAP involve Sim will impact DAP chance in Melaka Kota !
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 12:55:32
That is the problem when a party grows too big and the leader is in a position of power. Like ants to honey, many people will come and surround the leader and give all sorts of praise.
In KTK’s case, I once heard a lady member ( wife of a state secretary) telling a gathering which included KTK that even her three year old son sang praises of KTK , that even the son told the parents that KTK is a great leader.I and a number of other memebrs felt like vomiting hearing this.. Only fools will fall to this type of flattery, but KTK was smiling from ear to ear on that occasion. The husband of that lady became one of the blue eye boys of KTK..This is a true story.
This is the type of flattery that they get.
Also some of the their political secs, private secs, and so on will become eunuchs in no time and just give the good news to the boss, and cover the bad news. Some good members like the Independent lady in Teratai will be falsely classified as bad and stories manufactured to be told to the top leader.. As a human, if there are 2 or 3 close aides telling you the same thing, you may start to believe in what you say..And because you need appointments to see the top leader and he could not see everyone since he is in a busy position, the eunuchs become the all powerful brokers. This I call eunuch politics and is so commonly practised in most parties.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 14:06:33
Personally I would think LGE is not like KTK.
LGE’s route to the top was tough and rough, unlike KTK who rode on the legacy of LCE. I supposed LKS, as a seasonned veteran politicians with principle, will be of help to LGE, not to follow the path of KTK.
LKS, if like others in MCA and Gerakan, will be long ago succumbed to Umno’s ‘danggling carrots’. He is still a simple humble man after so many years of fighting for Malaysian Malaysia. His episode with LLT, to me were of personality clash rather than personal material interest. Both are gentlemen to me as we can see from the way they carry themselves since their seperation.
Well, I believe Malaysia need Pakatan Rakyat to helm Putrajaya this time. Umno is too rot with stubborn oldies in there and of course the lod horse. These oldies should be replaced by young blood like Saifuddin Abdullah.
Yes, no harm giving our votes and trust to Pakatan Rakyat. Indeed, it’s a MUST for us to do so.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 15:06:59
As polling day draws nearer…more and more voters in Teratai are seeing thru the evil schemes of those who had wanted to kill Jenice off politically and more are coming forward to offer their assistance in kinds and cash and many have taken her posters and banners to help hang around the constituency. As her voice is starting to get horase from many ceramahs…there are so many aunties who are starting to boil herbs for her to drink…..all these are making us volunteers feel so proud and even if she loses, she will lose with her head held high and if she wins the win will be by and for the people of Teratai.
To see is to believe and I invite all of you to come to see whats happening at her operation center which are manned by volunteers
No doubt we are all for making a change for a new Govt but its the people’s wishes which we must also look after and the spirit you can see here is just fantastic. We have residents coming from PJ, Kepong, Seremban coming everyday to offer their help.
We hope to create history in selangor to be the 2nd Independent candidate to win after Cikgu Jaffar in Batu Laut (Morib) in the 1970s.
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Apr 26, 2013 @ 19:33:12
chanjoe1,
Emotion shouldn’t be playing a part now. Jenice Lee should do what Ronnie Liew did.
Let’s put disappointment aside. Join hand with the rest of Pakatan Rakyat to make ‘ini kalilah, ubah’ a success.
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