Embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appealed for the nation's support in a Merdeka day message today, in the face of economic woes and opposition plans to topple the government within weeks.
Abdullah, whose Barisan Nasional coalition has ruled since independence from Britain 51 years ago, led the nation in celebrations with a firework display last night.
Abdullah, whose Barisan Nasional coalition has ruled since independence from Britain 51 years ago, led the nation in celebrations with a firework display last night.
The premier, who has faced calls to quit from within his own party after failing to check the rise of the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim, urged the country to remain united as it faced high inflation and a global slowdown.
"I am confident and believe that all the trials we are facing today can be overcome if we remain united and work together with firm determination," he said.
"A united people is the country's strongest line of defence in facing any situation both internally and externally."
"No one citizen is recognised as being of a higher position than another in this nation. This nation belongs to all of us. Whether we rise or fall depends on all of us," he said.
Popular support crumbled
Abdullah's popular support has crumbled since he came to power in 2003, and the coalition was dealt its worst ever setback in March general elections that handed the opposition five states and a third of parliamentary seats.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, returned to parliament last week after winning a by-election in a landslide, and said he would oust the government by mid-September.
He has accused the government of corruption and poor management of the economy, and blamed Abdullah's weak leadership for the steep rise in inflation and falling investment.
Anwar has promised to slash fuel prices if he becomes premier, in a powerful gesture after Abdullah's 41 percent overnight hike announced in June triggered widespread anger and street protests.
The rise in fuel costs helped inflation spike to a 27-year high in July of 8.5 percent.
Anwar: We're once again at crossroads
"Now 51 years after independence, we are once again at a junction. We see the constitution being manipulated, democracy trampled on and the institution of the state made into a tool for power," Anwar said in a statement.
"It is time Malaysians made that choice to return the meaning of independence to this country."
Thousands gathered in the city centre late yesterday for colourful celebrations, singing rousing patriotic songs and waving the Malaysian flag as they counted down to independence day.
The skies of Kuala Lumpur lit up with fireworks on the stroke of midnight, but the cost was borne by sponsors as the government scaled back its spending in tune with the tighter economic times.
Abdullah last Friday offered tax cuts and perks in a 2009 budget designed to restore support for the beleaguered coalition and spur growth.
news n photos courtesy of Malaysiakini
13 comments:
NO!NO!NO! I don't think we should give pm or the UMNO fellas to continue to rule for another 50 years... then the pilferage will exceed 2 BILLION!!! This is crazy... for them to appeal to us rakyat. He must be MAD!!!!
if pm wants to continue to rule, vomit or cough out the wastage NOW, then, ok-lah!
Pak Lah ever shout 'work with me not work for me' in the past 4 years since great victory in 2004 GE. But what we see now is 'work for me not work with me'.
We given him 4 years, this is not short, our life don't have many 4 years. How can he feel no shame to ask for more? I afraid another 4 years we all gone..... Think it!
After all that he has done and didn't do for the past 5 years he has the cheek to ask for support. What a thick skin guy.
Even members in UMNO are rejecting him.
Frankly,I feel like to stop criticising the BN Government and especially Pak LAh....He seems to be a victim of circumstances as well.
Bunch of hopeless people around him that will bring him down.
Sad Anak Malaysia
I love my country but does my country love me ?
If PM Badawi can answer YES to that unequivocally, then he will definitely have support.
But, in the past week, we have a leader of an ethnic based political party lamblasting another ethnic group as being "pendatang". That guy needs to spread more love !!!
Anonymous said…
In 2004 GE11, the Malaysia Voters have had given the PeeM 90% of the seats in Parliament with almost full support but what had he done to Malaysia, with his arrogance he tried to oppress the Raykyats and mismanage the Government and suppressed the MSM and spun lies and deceits.
Light-up the Candles now and but justice for all ISA detainees come the new Malaysia soon.
Where is the justice & freedom of expression because all our MSM News are suppressed or spun, where have the Truth and Merdeka gone to, perhaps the goons under BN Government, ok??? Malaysia is going backwards after 51 years instead of going forward under the Racist UMNO, calling the “Chinese Squatters” to leave and “Babi Cabinet” if Anwar wins Permantang Pauh and if he forms the Pakatan Rakyats’ Federal Government. What independence is there when there is none but a Police State in the making and where is the Justice for Altantuya and those in the ISA detention without trial or rights of appeal to seek natural justice???
The UMNO Government is afraid that more cans of worms will be spilled by RPK and therefore they banned his blogsite which is a futile attempt to block information in this IT age, of course this is because of this Present Moronic Government is corrupt and dirty therefore on the pretext of helping the Rakyats, they could extract more money from the Budget Deficit and with most of the Deficit Money coming from Petronas. Look for example at the Crystal Mosque’s and Mariner Club’s Fiasco in Terengganu’s Billions in Wang Ehsan, Billions had been lost as white elephants. The cancellation of the Johore Scenic Bridge, Penang Second Bridge and LRT Projects at the whims and fancies of the Flip Flop, Incompetent and Sleeping PeeM at the last minutes is wasting Multi Millions Ringgits in Public Funds had shown proof of the PeeM’s mismanagement of the Government and wastage of the Public Financial Resources and all these wasted funds could not be salvaged to aid and assist the Malaysian Poor Citizens of all races. If Malaysia still keep him in power it will further damage and erode the Wealth of our Nation and our National Wealth could be decimated in no time.
The same could happen to all the empty promises of aid and help to the Rakyats these could all be lip service only unless it is monitored by reputable NGOs. On the irreversible Food Prices inflation, the unnecessary Moronic previous price hike on Petrol & Diesel had caused great permanent damage to the Food Price Structure and even if the price cut to Petrol and Diesel revert to their original prices prior to their hike, it will not revert the Food prices back to their original state and only the PeeM is to be solely blamed for his unwarranted Fuel Price Hike. His 2009 budget did not help the Rakyats’ quelled their immediate hardship suffered nor did that help them solve their Transport Problems immediately with multiple schemes but none available immediately with all the empty rhetorics but nothing concrete that could solve their immediate problems after years of neglect from this incompetent sleeping PeeM. As it is he is still sleeping and still unaware of what the 27 Million Rakyats wanted, needed and aspired to have coming soon??? Come Sept 16, 2008 send him home to sleep forever he is no longer needed.
A BIG NO! UMNO have become a conman party .... how can we let these guys continue to rob the nation !!
He said "Don't work for me, work WITH ME" But he didn't work with us. Sothinatahan, Samy, Koh Tsu Koon and Ong Tee Keat knows that!
He said "I'm PM for all MALAYSIANS" but he proved to be PM only for the MALAYS!
YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS GUY! CERTAINLY A BIG NOOOOOOOO!
From the movie Mr Deeds:
How can he soar like an eagle when he is surrounded by turkeys?
We all know who all those turkeys are, don't we?
CONDEMNED!!! Quick, bring the DISINFECTANT!!! Ffffffffttttttt!!!
what kok is he talking about? who says we malaysians are not united? i think the people are now more united than ever on a common ground, each has a story to tell when confronted with the lies of the BN gomen. we have been listening to these lies for 51 years..so, don't worry pakla, we have learnt to be united..to stand up and fight your corrupted cronies using the 'soft' approach..the very same way the BN has been using on us in the past.
we should take pak lah instruction, be united and kick umno/bn out. We love our country but does not love the present kerajaan.
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