Written by lainie at 03:19 AM on February 7, 2009 in Rants.

In March 2008, I was watching tv with my mother, dreading the idea that unlike Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Selangor, my own hometown Perak would not be an opposition state. I didn't want Ipoh to be left behind. It was a huge sense of relief for me when BN lost Perak.

Now, it looks like BN has wrested the state away from Pakatan through defections (read: Perak must not fail).

I'm dismayed, but I also think this is what happens when you field any ol' candidate. It's a pity better people weren't put forward. And since Pakatan was playing the crossover game earlier, there goes their moral highground.

Do I like Pakatan Rakyat? I have my reservations. Here's one of many reasons, courtesy of Mkini:

Don't be 'pondan', Umno told

Andrew Ong | Feb 6, 09 10:55pm

An articulate Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin revealed his combative streak and colourful vocabulary today by challenging Umno to a duel.                     MCPX "If Umno is jantan (a man) then battle it out with Pakatan Rakyat through elections," was his challenge. "Tapi Umno dayus dan pondan sepenuh pondanya," was his conclusion during a press conference at the menteri besar's official residence this evening. 'Pondan' is the colloquial term for effeminate men while 'dayus' can be loosely translated as a coward.

I hate their homophobic and sexist rhetoric. I edited a video of polling day in KT for work, and at 1:07 of the video, you'll see a huge poster blown up. It says "Puteri Umno tagih seks". It was some PAS members, jeering at the Puteri Umno group across the road by waving the poster at them.

Yeah, nice.

When you blatantly brandish sexist posters like that, you really think I'd want to vote your group into anything next time? As long as Pakatan is inhabited by sexist, homophobic goons running free, they'll always be the less-than-ideal BN alternative to me.

Don't get me wrong though. I don't like Barisan Nasional any better (in fact, I have more reasons to dislike BN).

And by the way, Malaysiakini: The next time someone uses the word "pondan", don't call them articulate. It's insulting and base, from both Nizar and you.