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Hadi says voters will decide who is Pakatan’s choice for PM job
Reopen Altantuya’s case, says ex-IGP
Rafizi: Pakatan will retain Najib’s BR1M
DAP to retain most of its reps in NS
DAP to reduce Indian MPs?
Bersih wants Australia to ensure peaceful, fair polls in Malaysia
Sabah DAP grassroots leader quits for BN
Bersih – Anwar’s global fundraising ‘vehicle’?
Big battle brewing in Kelantan's Gua Musang
After Nik Aziz, poser over Kelantan’s next leader
GE13: PAS aims to be dominant
Mahathir returns as chief BN campaigner
BN manifesto to have little impact: Analysts

Hadi says voters will decide who is Pakatan’s choice for PM job

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:15 AM PDT

Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today that voters would ultimately decide who gets to be prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins Election 2013.

The former Terengganu menteri besar said the pact would first focus on winning the upcoming polls before discussing on the matter.

Hadi also refused to state if he felt he was a suitable candidate for the country's top post, saying the issue would be determined by the voters.

"This thing we need to go through the democratic process. I would not say more on this, we should be ensuring the victory of all our candidates first," he told reporters after giving a talk on the party's "welfare state" push here.

Hadi added that whoever from PR becomes prime minister has to be accepted by voters and noted that this included non-Muslim voters.

The president of the Islamist party also emphasised that the candidate must be a Muslim and also accepted by the King.

"What is important is that the candidate is accepted by the people including non-Muslims. We also have a King. The candidate must be accepted by both the people and the king," he said.

The pact had previously agreed that the post should be given to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PR parties have repeatedly had to reaffirm their endorsement of Anwar as prime minister-designate to deflect criticisms from their political foes in Barisan Nasional (BN) that they were unable to achieve consensus on numerous issues.

In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Anwar admitted that the coming 13th general election may be his last shot at power, saying that he may quit politics if PR fails in its bid to claim Putrajaya.

Reopen Altantuya’s case, says ex-IGP

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 07:59 PM PDT

Former IGP Musa Hassan believes Altantuya's case should be reopened following latest revelations by the Bar Council.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan wants the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case reopened following new "evidence".

He said the case should be reopened following revelations that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had instructed senior lawyer Cecil Abraham to prepare the second statutory declaration for former private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

Musa said this when asked if further investigations must be carried out following the startling revelation by the Malaysian Bar last month.

"If there is new evidence… the case must be reopened. Further investigation must be carried out," Musa told a press conference here.

"So if there is new evidence in this case, then there should be an investigation," he added.

When asked who had the power and authority to reopen the case, he pointed at the police and the Attorney-General Chamber's.

"I don't know what he [Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar] meant by old stuff put in new way," Musa said, referring to the former's statement that there was no need to reopen the case as it was revealed previously that a "Tan Sri" lawyer and his son had been involved in the
preparation of the second SD.

"It must be reopened because there is new evidence," he added.

The late Balasubramaniam, in his second SD, retracted all his shocking allegations linking Najib to the murder of the Mongolian model.

Balasubramaniam's lawyer Americk Sidhu claimed he met Abraham who apologised to him (Americk) over the drafting of SD2 and admitted that it was done on the instruction of Najib.

Investigate Lahad Datu allegations

On the Lahad Datu incident, Musa believed the claims that opposition leaders were involved in the incursion must be investigated to clear the matter once and for all.

"They [the government] say that the reports [that opposition leaders are involved] are obtained from overseas. I say they must open an investigation to confirm if they [Pakatan Rakyat leaders] are involved," Musa said.

"To me, an investigation is to show proof… if there is proof, then action can be taken," he said.

"If there is no investigation and no proof, then the claims are just slanders. That's why an investigation is important," he added.

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:18 PM PDT

It is, however, pointless to increase cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy, says the PKR leader.

G Vinod, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat would not phase out direct cash aid to those in need, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said today.

He said this after being questioned by reporters on whether Pakatan would phase out Najib-initiated Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) if it takes federal power.

"However, there is no point in increasing cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy," Rafizi said at a press conference held at the party headquarters.

He said that the structural economic issues Barisan Nasional failed to address in its manisfesto, among others, are corruption, monopoly and poor education quality.

"On top of that, BN talks about increasing aid under BR1M but never came up with proposals to reduce prices of goods and controlling inflation.

"Without addressing those matters, whatever cash aid given will be diluted by soaring prices," said Rafizi.

On Saturday, BN chairman Najib Tun Razak unveiled the ruling coalition's manifesto at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, in an event attended by about 50,000 people.

Among the promises made by Najib was to increase the BR1M aid from the existing RM500 to RM1,200 gradually to each household if voted back to power.

He also took a leaf from Pakatan's manifesto and promised to build the Pan Borneo Highway in East Malaysia and slashing car prices between 20% and 30%.

Pakatan's manifesto better

Rafizi, who is also the PKR candidate for the Pandan parliamentary seat, said there is nothing new in the BN manifesto as many of the ideas were copied from Pakatan's manifesto.

"It's either copied from our manifesto or it's something they are already implementing right now," he said.

READ MORE HERE

DAP to retain most of its reps in NS

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:12 PM PDT

Loke Siew Fook, the party's chief in the state, may move to the risky seat of Chennah.

Zefry Dahalan, FMT

SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan DAP looks set to retain most of the candidates the party fielded in the 2008 election.

So far, the names of seven candidates for state seats have been mentioned at low-profile functions held in the respective constituencies. State DAP chief Loke Siew Fook said these names were among those submitted to party headquarters.

Topping the list is Loke himself, who will contest in Chennah, the only state seat DAP did not win out of the eleven it contested in 2008. It is a bold move for Loke, who is leaving his Lobak constituency for the risky seat.

Besides Lobak, DAP also won the state seats of Temiang, Nilai, Kepayang, Rahang, Mambau, Senawang, Lukut, Repah and Bahau in 2008. It also won both the parliament seats it contested for—Seremban and Rasah.

Chennah remains the toughest seat for DAP to capture because of the high number of Malay voters there. They account for 45.03% of the electorate. The Chinese represent 52.52% and the Indians 2.45%.

Lobak would be much safer for Loke. The Chinese make up 74.51% of voters there, the Indians 20.23% and the Malays only 5.15%.

State DAP legal bureau chief Siow Kim Leong is expected to replace Loke in Lobak. Cha Kee Chin and Ng Chin Tsai will be retained in Bukit Kepayang and Temiang respectively. Cha is the secretary of Negeri Sembilan DAP.

Deputy state DAP chief P Gunasekaran will defend his racially mixed state seat of Senawang. The electorate there is composed of 53.50% Chinese, 23.54% Indians and 22.95% Malays.

S Veerapan and Ean Yong Tin Sin will go for another term in Repah and Lukut respectively.

DAP national youth chief Teo Kok Seong is likely to stand in Bahau again.

However, the party may field new faces for three state seats.

READ MORE HERE

DAP to reduce Indian MPs?

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:10 PM PDT

DAP has been accused of sidelining its Indian leaders by reducing the number of MP seats to be given to them for the GE.

K Kabilan, FMT

Indian leaders in DAP are deeply concerned and worried that the party would reduce the number of seats given to them for the coming general election.

Their fear stems from movements within the party to allocate seats, especially parliamentary seats, to parachute candidates and new faces who are mostly Chinese.

The Indian leaders who spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity for fear of party reprisal said todate the party has not made any moves to dispel their fears.

"Instead, based on what we are hearing and seeing, it looks clear that the party leadership is seriously thinking of dropping some of the incumbent Indian MPs," said a party leader.

The leaders told FMT that the DAP leadership could only offer four to five MP seats at most to Indian leaders, including to the incumbents.

"Parliamentary seats that could be taken back to be given to non-Indian candidates include Batu Kawan, Seremban, Teluk Intan and Klang," said the source.

Batu Kawan was won by P Ramasamy, Teluk Intan by M Manogaran, Klang by Charles Santiago and Seremban by John Fernandez in 2008. They are all first-time MPs.

The other MP seats held by Indians in DAP are Puchong (Gobind Singh), Bukit Gelugor (Karpal Singh) and Ipoh Barat (M Kulasegaran).

"The party leadership has been silent on the fate of these MPs. From what we gather, some of them could be dropped," said the source.

Lost Indian support

However, another Indian leader in the party said not all four of the leaders could be dropped.

"Maybe two, and the other two could be reassigned to contest elsewhere," he said.

DAP Indian leaders also pointed out that not only incumbents were in danger, but also several grassroots leader who were promised seats and now told that those seats would be allocated to others.

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 03:18 PM PDT

Boo Su-Lyn, TMI

Polls watchdog Bersih urged Canberra today to ensure a peaceful and fair Election 2013 in Malaysia, pointing out that violent incidents have increased in the lead-up to the polls.

Global Bersih — the international arm of Bersih 2.0 — also said that it would similarly call on Britain and the United Nations to address the violence and allegations of tainted electoral rolls ahead of the 13th general election, which is expected to be the most keenly-contested in recent times.

"Given Australia's claim in upholding democratic values and political freedoms in the region following its new membership of the United Nation's Security Council, Australia's ALP government and Senator Carr (Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr) have an obligation to publicly call on Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) government to respect and observe free and fair elections in practice as well as in principle," said Global Bersih in a statement.

Putrajaya, however, deported independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon last February shortly after he arrived in Kuala Lumpur to review the country's electoral system.

Global Bersih also pointed out that no action has been taken after death threats were issued against the opposition.

"When Malaysia's Parliament was dissolved on April 3, Najib's Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wrote on Twitter: 'We shall move to the warzone to kill all adverse political intruders'," said Global Bersih.

Umno party workers also shouted "Kill Tian Chua" during a gathering last month when Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein urged them to rally behind BN and "eliminate traitors" like PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, whose Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies have been accused of instigating the Sulu incursion in Sabah.

Najib and his coalition have come under fire for their muted response to several violent attacks on the opposition recently, allegedly perpetrated by BN supporters or members of hardline groups linked to Umno.

PR MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar and Charles Santiago also failed in their recent attempts to get the court to compel the Election Commission (EC) to clean up the electoral rolls in their Lembah Pantai and Klang constituencies respectively.

"Australia can and must play a critical role in ensuring a close UN member, Commonwealth friend and long-standing ally like Malaysia heeds its democratic obligations and respects the rights of its citizens without resorting to widespread violence, intimidation and electoral fraud," said Global Bersih.

Sabah DAP grassroots leader quits for BN

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 03:08 PM PDT

Upko president Bernard Dompok's call for the revoking and re-issuing of MyKad to bona fide Sabahans is drawing support back to the party.

Queville To, FMT

PENAMPANG: With elections in the air, some of Sabah's hundreds of wannabe politicians are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. DAP's Stephen Jimbangan is among them.

The party's Kapayan branch chief called it quits as far as his support of the opposition is concerned and joined the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Upko), a party aligned to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Speaking at a ceremony where he and 127 other former DAP members handed in their applications to join the BN party here, Jimbangan said his election-eve conversion was to help unify his community under one party.

He said he had "sleepless nights" before deciding to join the BN coalition through Upko after the three KDM based parties Upko, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah pledged to unify the community.

"I feel at home because its like coming back home and I am happy to see a lot of familiar faces here today. There is a feeling of solidarity and unity here," he said.

Upko president Bernard Dompok's efforts in raising issues in Sabah especially the presence of illegal immigrants in the state, he said had also motivated him to switch parties.

Jimbangan also claimed that he had read all 25 volumes of Upko's research and suggestions pertaining to the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah and the documentation had proven to him just how determined the party was towards getting the government to find a solution that can finally address the issue.

"It is because of that and Gelombang Tataba that I decided to join Upko. I spoke to a few friends and managed to convince them to also make the move.

"We have been divided for far too long and I believe the 'Gelombang Tataba' is the right first step towards a united and progressive KDM," he said.

The 2008 DAP candidate for the Kapayan state constituency who narrowly lost to the BN's Khoo Keok Hai added that he agreed with Upko's proposal for all Sabah Identity Cards to be returned and re-issued only to genuine Malaysians.

"I hope (Tan Sri) Bernard (Dompok) will continue his struggles … we need you Tan Sri. You are our leader," he said in a direct message to the Upko leader pledging full support for his bid to retain his Penampang parliamentary seat.

Bersih – Anwar’s global fundraising ‘vehicle’?

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 02:59 PM PDT

Former Transparency International president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said he was the first choice to head US-funded Malaysian election watchdog for free and fair polls.

Athi Shankar, FMT

Election watchdog, Bersih, is a vehicle created by Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to obtain foreign funding for his political activities, alleged Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, the former president of Transparency International Malaysia TIM today.

Tunku Aziz suggested that Bersih co-chairpersons S Ambiga and A Samad Said could have been wittingly or unwittingly engaged by Anwar, to conceal his international funding network.

"Anwar makes good use of his international networking to get these funds. I don't know whether Bersih leaders knew it or not.

"But Bersih is Anwar's vehicle to receive international funds under the guise of democracy and free and fair elections.

"Bersih is not a non-partisan independent organisation.

"It's Anwar's baby," Tunku Aziz, the former DAP vice-chairman and senator, told FMT.

He said he knew about Bersih's foreign funding when he was invited for talks by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah a few years ago on the possibility of heading then an unnamed election watchdog.

At the time, Tunku Aziz was still involved in TIM. He had not joined the DAP.

He said Nurul Izzah, certain PKR leaders, Anwar's aides and two Americans were present when he attended the meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

International funding

Tunku Aziz said he understood that the two Americans were heading different US-based foundations.

He said during their discussions, it was the foreigners who were calling the shots and outlining the functions and operations of the imminent watchdog.

"In the meeting, I was offered to head the watchdog because they said I have the credentials, integrity and credibility for the post.

"They told me that the movement was to ensure free and fair elections in the country," said Tunku Aziz, disclosing that he was offered some US$4,000 monthly plus other perks and allowances for his position

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 02:41 PM PDT

(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A battle is shaping up for the Gua Musang parliamentary seat in Kelantan, the bastion of Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, with PAS' Kota Baru MP Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah the likely challenger.

It is learnt that the 61-year-old PAS veteran has abandoned his plan to retire and agreed to contest one last time in the general election.

If the battle does take place, it will not be the first in Gua Musang between 74-year-old Tengku Razaleigh, Malaysia's longest serving parliamentarian and Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim.

The Kota Baru MP was defeated by the Kelantan prince in the 1986 general election.

Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim, a former Kelantan Legislative Assembly Speaker, said on Sunday he was optimistic of beating Tengku Razaleigh this time.

He dismissed as "mind games" speculation that Tengku Razaleigh would be dropped in favour of Gua Musang Wanita Umno head Senator Wan Hazani Wan Mohd Nor.

"I feel Umno is trying to hoodwink PAS. I am preparing my campaign on the basis of taking on Ku Li," he said. Tengku Razaleigh is affectionately known as Ku Li in Kelantan.

Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim, is known here as one of the "Three Abduls" the others being Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman, 74, and Bukit Tunku assemblyman Datuk Abdul Fatah Mahmood, 65.

The trio form the core of PAS veterans in the state who have been in politics for three decades.

They are credited with having approached Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to contest in Kelantan in the 1970s and had played a role in convincing the latter to become MB after PAS won the state in 1990.

Meanwhile, Datuk Abdul Halim said he would not change his stand on wanting to retire while Datuk Abdul Fatah said he would leave it to the party leadership to decide.

After Nik Aziz, poser over Kelantan’s next leader

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - After two decades of Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat's administration in Kelantan, the state ruling party may be better served if it readies a new leader to replace its ageing mentri besar, a Singapore paper has suggested.

In a news analysis today, the Straits Times' Salim Osman wrote that doubts have been rising over the 82-year-old PAS leader's grip on power and ability to continue taking Kelantan, described as "a rural state of farmers, fishermen and small businessmen", forward and meet the aspirations of its much younger electorate who form two-thirds of the state's population.

"People outside Kelantan are wondering how PAS can maintain its hold for more than two decades when records show that, in terms of achievement, there is nothing much in the ruling party's history that can show it provided good governance," the writer quoted former Election Commission chief Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman as saying in a newspaper commentary in January.

GE13: PAS aims to be dominant

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 01:00 PM PDT

(The Star) - PAS is positioning itself as the dominant party in Pakatan Rakyat, by seeking to contest more than a third of the 222 parliamentary seats.

Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed that the party would contest 76 parliamentary seats and that negotiations were still going on for it to contest a total of 237 state seats.

In the 2008 general election, PKR contested 97 parliamentary seats the biggest number in the Opposition pact and won 31. PAS candidates stood in 66 parliamentary seats and won 23 while DAP contested 47 and won 28.

As for state seats, PAS contested the most with 232, against PKR's 171 and DAP's 102.

If the party gets its way in the 13th general election, it would contest in an additional 10 parliamentary and five state seats.

"We will not let go of any seat but we are willing to swap," he said when asked if PAS was prepared to give up a seat in Kedah to DAP following a deadlock in discussions with PKR.

Hadi, who was in Kedah to launch Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto on Saturday night declared that PAS would definitely not work with the "devil" it knew.

Asked if he was likening Umno to a devil, Hadi said he was merely repeating part of a phrase often used by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to urge voters to support Barisan Nasional.

A DAP rocket symbol is seen at the Jalan Paya Terubong in Penang.

Hadi also dismissed objections by former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa against PAS' willingness to allow DAP to use its logo in the general election.

"DAP is allowed to use PAS logo on the basis of mutual understanding," he said, adding that Nasharuddin had no right to air his view as he was only an ordinary member now with no access to the latest developments in the party.

Earlier, Hadi said PAS' candidates list was more than 99% completed, adding that the candidates would be named even before Barisan unveils its list. Barisan is scheduled to announce its candidates on Wednesday.

Hadi is tipped to defend his Marang parliamentary seat, while the party's deputy Mursyidul Am, Datuk Harun Din is likely to contest the Arau parliamentary seat.

PAS has confirmed that it would retain Khalid Samad in Shah Alam, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud in Kota Raja and Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof in Rantau Panjang.

Others expected to be retained are Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (Tumpat), Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai), Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) andDatuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar)

PAS is expected to field Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Najmi Ahmad in Baling, Federal Territory deputy PAS commissioner Ahmad Zamri Asa'ad Khuzaimi in Titiwangsa, Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi in Temerloh and Mohd Nasir Zakaria in Padang Terap.

Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali is tipped to contest the Kuala Nerus parliamentary seat in Terengganu.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu is tipped to contest the Pendang parliamentary seat in Kedah, while vice-president Salahuddin Ayub is likely to contest the Pulai parliamentary seat in Johor.

Mahathir returns as chief BN campaigner

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:11 PM PDT

(Straits Times) - Political analysts said Dr Mahathir's increasingly pro-Malay positions may have alienated some urbanites and non-Malays but could galvanise Malay voters who feel insecure with the push towards liberalism.

Former premier could help shore up Malay votes, win back PR-held states

MRS Julia Talib needs a walking stick but even the thunderstorm on Saturday did not deter her from wading through the water puddles that soaked the hem of her baju kurung.

The 59-year-old Shah Alam resident had a date with her idol - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Ever since he was prime minister, I have tried to watch him speak live," Mrs Talib told The Straits Times of the man who led Malaysia for 22 years, from 1981 to 2003. "He is a charismatic leader and that's why he is my idol."

People such as Mrs Talib are the reason why, even a decade after stepping down, Dr Mahathir continues to be a key figure in Malaysian politics.

Now free of the encumbrances of power, the 87-year-old seems to be enjoying himself on the stump, directing his trademark barbs at opposition figures and taking pro-Malay positions that resonate with the older generation of Malays.

"It was the lack of unity among Malays that made Barisan Nasional lose more seats in the 2008 general election," Professor Shamsul Adabi Mamat, a political analyst at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, told The Straits Times.

"That's why Dr Mahathir is such an asset to Umno currently - he is able to unite its members as well as the Malays."

At Saturday's rally, Dr Mahathir was at his oratorical best, taking digs at his former deputy- turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, and praising current Prime Minister Najib Razak as a man who kept his word to the people.

"We were all cheated, including me, by this certain person that had claimed to be fighting for BN and Umno," he said, referring to Mr Anwar. "He is a liberal and promotes homosexuality."

His star power undimmed, Dr Mahathir had the people jostling for a better look when he and his wife made their way into a canopy tent before he spoke at the rally in Shah Alam, the state capital of opposition-held Selangor.

The BN had its worst electoral outing in 2008, while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took four states and increased its share of state and parliamentary seats.

"I am here to help save Selangor," Dr Mahathir declared as the crowd of several thousand applauded loudly.

"Selangor cannot continue to fall into irresponsible hands."

BN manifesto to have little impact: Analysts

Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:08 PM PDT

(Straits Times) - "The corporate personnel I spoke to expected something new and groundbreaking from Najib but it did not come," Mr Ibrahim Suffian, who heads the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, told The Straits Times. "The election impact will be minimal."

THE Barisan Nasional (BN) election manifesto is seen as an extension of Prime Minister Najib Razak's reform programme, showcasing his government's consistency and commitment while extending more goodies to the people.

As its contents are similar to earlier reforms, analysts say its impact may be reduced because there is no real game-changer.

"The corporate personnel I spoke to expected something new and groundbreaking from Najib but it did not come," Mr Ibrahim Suffian, who heads the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, told The Straits Times. "The election impact will be minimal."

Datuk Seri Najib called the 17-point manifesto he launched on Saturday night a pledge, in a dig at the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance, which has said manifestos are not promises.

"What is the use of a new manifesto if it is not a promise? To the BN, a manifesto is a serious matter," he told tens of thousands of party faithful at a rally that night.

Reactions to the BN's new "pledge" were largely split.

"BN's election manifesto provides the country with a long-term plan for development," Mr Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component party of the BN, said in a statement yesterday.

Some analysts called the manifesto "realistic" and "achievable" and said it had a clear and unifying "People First" theme.

This harks back to Mr Najib's 1Malaysia rallying cry from his first weeks after becoming prime minister on April 3, 2009.

"The BN manifesto uses this theme because as a pledge, it can and must be fulfilled," said Professor Shamsul Ababi Mamat, a political analyst at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

But critics said the manifesto could encourage a culture of reliance on government handouts rather than real change.

"Everyone wants free stuff. That's Malaysian," wrote one Gordon Lim on Facebook. Politicians offer things "at whose expense", he asked, adding "taxpayers".

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Isnin, 8 April 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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