My eldest brother died in 1987 at the age of 51, also of a heart attack. I should know what it was like with sudden death of a close relative. I could still remember his second son who was with him as he was wheeled into the hospital and his last words were that he had many things to remind him about. With my second brother who died at the age of 60, days before, he was still asking for ‘cheque book and chop (rubber stamp) to sign’!
We live today, not knowing what comes tomorrow. My wife used to say, ‘Every morning when I wake up and feel ok, it is already a blessing.’ My elder daughter has yet to get over the news of her former classmate who died at the age of 25, and more recently, her Essex University junior, Markus Ng, at the tender age of 23. Markus Ng had touched many lives, the extent of which I only came to know from Facebook, and blogsites like Zorro Unmasked (Bernard Khoo) and People’s Parliament (Haris Ibrahim). With Facebook, I have had come across Markus’s name as one of those I might know since he was a friend of Cheng. But I did not add his name because I have not met him and now never will.
Bukit Gantang is also the name of the Plus service area where my wife and I used to wait for the lorry which we were entrusted to escort. My routine was to buy 2 packets of the usual ‘nasi lemak’ at Rm1 each which I would finish within minutes.
Being a politician, I hope the family of the late Roslan would not mind the discourse of a by-election so soon after his death. But it is inevitable and especially at the time when Perak is in a political crisis.
Straight Talk: Bukit Gantang By-election, Najib's nightmare
PAS member of Parliament for Bukit Gantang Roslan Shaharum passed away this morning of heart attack at 50. In last March's election, Roslan defeated Umno treasurer Azim Zabidi by a majority of 1,566 votes. Bukit Gantang is a Malay majority seat with 27% Chinese and 10% Indian votes.
This is a by-election that Najib's UMNO does not need. It will be a difficult by-election for UMNO to go into in the midst of high emotions and anger running in Perak. Moreover, not all BN component parties' leaders are convinced that the Perak political coup was a right thing for the coalition now. The controversial new "Menteri Besar" Zambry will not have an enviable task to lead this election. He is far from settling into his role.
Will Najib dare to "turun padang" or lead the campaign like the previous two in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Trengganu? It looks like the in-coming PM will not have much of a choice since he put himself as the new UMNO chief of Perak. A worse than 2008 results will put Najib on the spot and discredited him.
If BN's machinery was wanting in Kuala Trengganu, it will be at its worse in Bukit Gantang. Non-UMNO parties in BN will be cautious to throw everything at PR in the by-election if UMNO leaders resort to its anti-Malay and anti-monarch slogans against PR.
Looking at the development in Perak, this by-election will be fierce and fiery and may even be one of the most racist campaigns ever conducted in Malaysian politics. This is where Malaysians must use their head and not their heart to participate in the campaign as supporters or voters.
It will also prove another salient point, will there be more Hang Jebats or Hang Tuahs in Bukit Gantang, Perak?
Before the March 8, 2008 general election, Bukit Gantang was a strong pro-UMNO seat. This is an interesting election to watch. PR will pull their full weight behind their candidate and the people who wanted to get a shot at UMNO will now have a chance to do so.
With UMNO's party election looming near, this is a by-election which will become Najib's nightmare.
Spotted this in Zorro's site:
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