Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Anwar Ibrahim's "clone" fails to make it to ceramah
- PKR man sacrified, DAP man becomes candidate
- Ambiga incensed over ‘Rama or Ravana’ remark
- Wife takes over baton from husband
- Anwar’s ‘sex video clone’ to be revealed
- DAP to try using Rocket symbol tomorrow
- Air, land or sea: Malaysian expats plan election exodus
- GE13: Malaysia EC warns Singapore over foreign-registered vehicles
- Don't shoot rakyat in the foot, ABU warns PR
- BN’s Pandan hopeful Gary Lim hit by professional misconduct, fraud allegations
- ‘Get Jayabalan out… or else!’
- PSM to lock horns with Pakatan in two seats
- GE13: ROS: DAP can use symbol for elections
- Ansari: PKR ‘betrayed’ us
- Breathless build-up to Malaysia elections
- Tindak Malaysia founder in Bukit Aman for questioning
- GE13: Selangor's Seri Andalas may see 6-cornered fight
- Malaysia edging closer to polls
| Anwar Ibrahim's "clone" fails to make it to ceramah Posted: 19 Apr 2013 01:54 AM PDT
(The Star) - The excitement over the appearance of a "clone" of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim fizzled out when the man failed to attend a ceramah in Kubang Semang. The man, believed to be from Thailand, is said to be the "actor" in the alleged sex tape featuring a man resembling the opposition leader. PKR candidate for the Sungai Acheh seat, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, said a police colonel from Thailand, who did a forensic investigation on the video, was also supposed to attend the ceramah with proof that Anwar was not the man featured in the tape. The group escorting the colonel is said to have been held up at a police station in Alor Setar. A forensic findings of the sex tape, however, made its way to the ceramah and was displayed to the public. The findings implied that Anwar was not the man in the video.
|
| PKR man sacrified, DAP man becomes candidate Posted: 18 Apr 2013 09:23 PM PDT
A bewildered Mas Gading PKR candidate is upset over the sudden decision to drop him a day after he was given the go-ahead by the party. Joseph Tawie, FMT Boniface Willy Tumek, who was until 1.45 pm today, the PKR candidate for Mas Gading, has threatened to take legal action against his party after he was forced to return the PKR's letter authorising him to contest in the May 5 general election. A distraught Tumek said he was both stunned and sad when told to return the letter. Speaking to reporters at a hastily organised press conference, Tumek said: "As a party man, I have returned the letter as I do not wish to see PKR contest against DAP. "I have to look at a bigger picture. But I have been working day and night for the past two years in Mas Gading, and this is how I have been treated. "I know I have much much better chance given the squabbles in Barisan Nasional." Tumek was last night named the Mas Gading candidate and given his letter by PKR operations room director Sabaruddin Mohd Yasim. He was among 14 candidates who were issued consent letters. Sabaruddin told newsmen that "he was authorised to announce only these 14 names given to me by the de facto leader of PKR Anwar Ibrahim". But this afternoon in a sudden twist of events, Mordi Bimol of DAP was given the mandate to contest as a Pakatan Rakyat candidate. The latest development was announced by See Chee How, Sarawak PKR vice-chairman, to a group of reporters who were equally stunned. PKR and DAP have been in a tussle over three seats. Both want to field candidates in Miri, Stampin and Sri Aman. PKR gets two seats Last night PKR chief Baru Bian said PKR should be given at least one Chinese seat. It is learnt that PKR had to sacrifice the Mas Gading seat for a right to contest in Miri and Sri Aman.
|
| Ambiga incensed over ‘Rama or Ravana’ remark Posted: 18 Apr 2013 09:18 PM PDT
The Bersih co-chairperson sees red over P Waythamoorthy's remark that it does not matter if Rama or Ravana rules. Detractors are convinced that Waythamoorthy pocketed a handsome sum in return for his allegiance but the Hindraf leader claims that he did so because BN is willing to agree to the movement's terms of uplifting the Indians whereas Pakatan Rakyat ignored them. RK Anand, FMT On that November morning, tens of thousands clogged the major arteries of the nation's capital. That event would later be heralded as a defining moment of political empowerment. Heeding the call of Hindraf, these people came from all over the country, braving tear gas, water cannons and police batons in the attempt to highlight their plight. The authorities' high-handed response to the protest and the subsequent detention of five Hindraf leaders saw Malaysian Indians, who until then were considered true blue supporters of Barisan Nasional, cast their ballots in favour of the opposition in the 2008 polls. Much has changed since then and Hindraf's influence has waned due to the infighting, which forced its top leaders to go in separate directions. And now, six years after that mammoth protest, the movement's self-proclaimed leader P Waythamoorthy, who spent several years in self-imposed exile in London, during which he championed the Hindraf agenda and condemned BN in the international arena, has made a 180 degree turn. He has inked an agreement with BN and called on Indian voters to back Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's administration in the general election, a move which has drawn widespread condemnation. Detractors are convinced that Waythamoorthy pocketed a handsome sum in return for his allegiance but the Hindraf leader claims that he did so because BN is willing to agree to the movement's terms of uplifting the Indians whereas Pakatan Rakyat ignored them. 'What kind of message is this?' Asked how she felt about the latest development, Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga preferred to withhold her comment, pointing out that Hindraf is free to enter into political pacts of its choice. However, the former Bar Council president is appalled by Waythamoorthy's statement based on the Hindu epic, "Ramayana". After inking the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Najib, the Hindraf leader remarked that it did not matter if the nation is ruled by Ravana or Rama. According to Ambiga, this is a wrong message to send out to the community and children. "I am horrified that Waythamoorthy said it does not matter whether Rama or Ravana rules. This is shocking since Ravana is seen as the embodiment of evil and Rama, the embodiment of goodness. "Furthermore, this message is intended for the Indians and the Hindus revere Lord Rama," she said. "I am utterly shocked that he is selling this idea that it does not matter if the ruler is good or evil and that it is all right to negotiate with evil. What kind of message is that?" she added. Uthayakumar: I am shocked Waythamoorty's decision has also shocked his brother, Uthayakumar, who also addresses himself as the de facto leader of Hindraf. Speaking to FMT, he said Waythamoorthy only emerged in the picture after the five were detained under the Internal Security Act.
|
| Wife takes over baton from husband Posted: 18 Apr 2013 09:09 PM PDT
The DAP incumbent for Kota Alam Shah state seat M Manoharan has been dropped but his wife has taken up the challenge and will contest as an independent. K Pragalath, FMT Kota Alam Shah incumbent M Manoharan was dropped by the DAP in favour of another Hindraf member. But, his wife S Puspaneela is having none of it. She will be contesting the Kota Alam Shah state seat as an independent. Puspaneela's entry would make it a three-cornered fight for the constituency. She is confident of creating an upset against her two opponents from the DAP and PPP. "The last time, my husband won on sympathy votes. The people know me and they know my family. I am contesting because the people want me to do so. I have the support of the residents in Kota Alam Shah," said the 52-year-old woman. Manoharan was dropped by the DAP in favour of another Hindraf member and Shah Alam city councillor V Ganabatirao yesterday. Manoharan, Ganabatirao, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan and K Vasanthakumar were the leading figures of Hindraf and rallied Indians to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in November 2007. Following the rally the five were detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act. Manoharan was fielded in absentia by the DAP and beat Gerakan's Ching Su Chen in the 12th general election. Manoharan polled 12,699 votes against Ching's 5,515 votes. Manoharan won with a majority of 7,184 votes. BN is fielding Information, Communications and Culture Deputy Minister Maglin Dennis D' Cruz who is also PPP's senior vice-president. Puspaneela pointed out that both BN and Pakatan Rakyat had failed to field a female Indian candidate in Selangor. When asked about her immediate concerns in the event she became a State Legislative Assembly representative, she said that she would focus her efforts on assisting single mothers and continue following up on the work done by her husband. Maglin, when contacted, was upbeat about defeating Puspaneela and Ganabatirao. "It does not change anything. There are so many things that even the state government can't achieve. What more can an independent do? People must think of what they want and who can get things done for them," said Maglin. Ganabatirao could not be contacted for comments. Manoharan, meanwhile, claimed that he was left in the dark on why he was dropped. He maintained that he is still a DAP member.
|
| Anwar’s ‘sex video clone’ to be revealed Posted: 18 Apr 2013 09:02 PM PDT
The Thai national is expected to make an appearance at a ceramah in Permatang Pauh tonight. (FMT) - The supposed clone used in the sex videos which implicated Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to make an appearance at a ceramah tonight. The person, who is a Thai national, will be making an appearance at the 'Bongkar' (exposed) ceramah in Penanti, Permatang Pauh, which is Anwar's constituency, after the evening prayers. Harakahdaily.net quoted Permatang Pauh parliament representative Zainol Saad as saying that all the accusations against Anwar will end when the actor comes forward. "Umno and BN will be trapped again. The kampung people will not believe this allegation again," he said. Zainol claimed that the allegations are part of an Umno plot to embarass the top leadership of Pakatan Rakyat. Meanwhile, news of the supposed clone's appearance was also reported in the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia. Utusan quoted former Terengganu PKR secretary Fakhrul Azman Abu Bakar as stating that Anwar plans to bring two "clones", the other resembling PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali. Mustafa Ali was also implicated in a sex video, which he had since denied. In another report, Utusan quoted former PKR Youth secretary-general SD Johari Yasin as saying that Anwar is attempting to create the impression that the sex videos are false. "If this man really exists, then Anwar should take him to court… don't only take him to ceramahs but let the court decide," he added.
|
| DAP to try using Rocket symbol tomorrow Posted: 18 Apr 2013 08:58 PM PDT
All party candidates will also carry an authorisation letter from either PAS or PKR so that they can use the 'moon' or the 'eye' symbol if the Rocket is rejected by the election officer. (FMT) - DAP will use its Rocket symbol when its candidates file in their nomination papers tomorrow morning. However the candidates will also have authorisation letters from PAS or PKR in the event the returning officers reject the DAP symbol. 'We are not confident that they will accept our symbol but we will try. If they do reject our Rocket, we will use either the moon (PAS) or the eye (PKR)," said an emotional DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng during a press conference in Penang this evening. Lim said that all DAP candidates have been issued with two sets of authorisation letters – one from DAP which allows the candidates to use the Rocket symbol, and another from PAS to allow DAP candidates in Peninsular Malaysia to use the moon symbol, and from PKR for DAP members in Sabah and Sarawak to use the eye symbol. He said that the DAP candidates will first submit DAP's letter of authorisation and if it is rejected by the returning officer during nomination process, they will then submit the authorisation letter given by PAS or PKR. "This is a very sad day. We are being denied the chance to use our beloved symbol," said Lim. He said the Barisan Nasional government was employing underhand tactics to defeat DAP by refusing the party to chance to use its Rocket symbol. "We are very angry. The party is very angry. Our supporters are very angry, and our leaders are upset as it is very painful not to be able to use our Rocket for the general election," he said. "BN is playing dirty to use this tactic to knock out the DAP even before the battle has started," he said. ROS' de-recognition The de-recognition comes partly due to the party's alleged failure in providing ballot papers to 753 delegates who were supposed to be electing the party's CEC. In the letter, the ROS had warned that the explanations put forth by the party leadership with regard to the disputed matters must be satisfactory or DAP faced the risk of being de-registered.
|
| Air, land or sea: Malaysian expats plan election exodus Posted: 18 Apr 2013 08:03 PM PDT
There are more than a million Malaysians living overseas from a population of about 28 million people – enough to make a real difference come election day. Rob O'Brien, Asia Correspondent Malaysian voters living abroad will be mobilising in their thousands to make the dash home for the 2013 election to make their vote count. And nothing, it seems, will stop them. From Singapore, Australia and across the region, to the US and UK, voters will be travelling by car, bus and plane to vote in an election ear-marked as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change. There are more than a million Malaysians living overseas from a population of about 28 million people – enough to make a real difference come election day. Buoyed by the online activism that spurred the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, Malaysia's bloggers and campaigners have been encouraging people to make the trip home. "We saw successful social media campaigns like the (2008) Obama election, the Arab Spring and the 'Israel Loves Iran' campaign, and wanted to emulate something that would bring expatriate Malaysians worldwide together to show their support and solidarity towards Malaysians at home," says Kevin Bathman, an expat Malaysian living in Sydney. His Facebook-driven campaign – called 'Malaysia, It's Time for Change' – shows images of Malaysian voters and their messages of hope and it has quickly picked up a following online. "Many of us have family and relatives and our bond is still very strong, so we felt we needed to do something to show them that they were not alone," he adds. A similar campaign, organised by Singapore's Bersih movement - a branch of the global Bersih campaign for transparency in Malaysia – is offering a car pooling service for expat Malaysians in the city state. Coaches are also being booked to travel to places as far away as Penang and Ipoh in the Northeast of the country. There are between 300,000 and 500,000 Malaysians living in Singapore; the Bersih campaign will match drivers and passengers to get as many voters back over the causeway. The big voter migration has been pushed by growing doubts that votes cast overseas will really count. Previously, only Malaysian students, civil servants and members of the armed forces living overseas were allowed to vote by post. However, In January Malaysia's Election Commission (EC) mandated that overseas citizens who had registered to vote and had returned home at least once in the five years before an election would be allowed to cast absentee ballots. But arrangements haven't been clear. MyOverseasVote, a London-based campaign group dedicated to securing the right to vote for all Malaysian citizens living overseas, says there is still uncertainty about how and whether they will be able to vote by post. Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was returned in the last election in 2008 but the Opposition took more than a third of parliamentary seats – a huge setback for the government and one of its worst results since 1969. Part of the government's dismal showing in 2008 was put down to the rising influence of Malaysians online. William De Cruz, part of the team behind the 'Malaysia, It's Time for Change' Facebook campaign, says that no one is really convinced of the EC changes to postal voting. He will be flying home with his wife to vote even though he is now eligible to register for postal voting in Sydney. "Malaysia is still a long way from a proper, transparent and verifiable postal vote," he says. The internet has become a critical medium for voter participation and Malaysians are vocal critics of their government; increasingly it is social networks that are being used by young Malaysians eager for a change. A Facebook group called '100,000 People Request Najib Tun Razak Resignation' has amassed more than 250,000 likes. "Malaysia's young have decided they want a say in the country's future – you only have to see the reports and view film footage of past rallies calling for reform to see this – and social media is their platform," says De Cruz. "It's the best way to raise awareness of the idea that as Malaysia heads to its most important election ever, every vote must count."
|
| GE13: Malaysia EC warns Singapore over foreign-registered vehicles Posted: 18 Apr 2013 07:59 PM PDT
Rob O'brien, Asia Correspondent A little over two weeks out from polling day in Malaysia and tensions with its neighbour over the causeway have been cranked up with the Malaysian Election Commission (EC) urging the Singapore Government to do more to stop expats returning to vote in foreign vehicles. In an attempt to prevent the car pooling being planned in the city state ahead of polling day, authorities said Malaysians coming home to vote on May 5 can only cross in a Malaysian-registered vehicle. It also urged Singapore's Foreign Ministry to investigate reports that registered private vehicles were being used to send Malaysian voters home to vote. Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is facing its stiffest challenge in its six decades in government after losing a a third of its Parliamentary seats in the last election. Fears about the issuing of absentee ballots has led to the hundreds of thousands of Malaysian expats in Singapore opting to cross into Malaysia by car, bus and or on foot in order to cast their votes. On Wednesday Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry received a 'memorandum' regarding a Singapore-registered car in the Malaysian state of Johor, which had logos supporting the campaign of a political party in Malaysia. According to reports in local newspapers, EC deputy chair Dato Wan Ahmad said: "Singapore authorities should also investigate if Singapore cars are used to help in the Malaysian general election. I believe Singapore Government likewise does not want to see cars from the neighbouring countries involved in its own general election. There should be mutual respect and sensitivity with each other." A number of campaigns have been urging overseas Malaysians to return home to vote. Bersih Singapore, a Singapore-based activist group, set up a car pooling service with a website matching Malaysian drivers with Malaysian passengers online. Ahmad said that if passengers are Malaysian and they are travelling in vehicles hired by Malaysians they would be fine, but he advised the Singapore Government to investigate the identity of the car owners or the people hiring the vehicles "to avoid the issue of foreigners interfering in the internal politics". The EC also warned voters against waving campaign slogans, which is banned under Malaysia's election laws. Slogans can't be used after the end of the campaign period on the eve of polling day. Vehicles transporting voters can only bear party flags but not campaign slogans or party labels, the EC said. The EC's warning is a sign of the high stakes of the 2013 election and the need to ensure that voting runs as smoothly as possible.
|
| Don't shoot rakyat in the foot, ABU warns PR Posted: 18 Apr 2013 05:04 PM PDT
Alyaa Alhadjri, The Sun Daily Pakatan Rakyat will be "shooting the rakyat in the foot" if they fail to resolve all overlapping claims for seats come nomination day tomorrow, warned advocacy group Anything But Umno (ABU) chief Haris Ibrahim. Haris said any three-cornered fight involving more than one PR candidate against Barisan Nasional will dash the people's hope for change after the 13th general elections. "Politicians should remember that the seats belong to the rakyat who are merely giving them a 'temporary occupation license' for five years," Haris told theSun on Wednesday. "In the situation where there is more than one PR candidate, the desire for change would be impossible to achieve," he stressed. Haris said this was proven during the Bukit Selambau by-election in 2009, when PKR's candidate S. Manikumar trounced MIC's Datuk S. Ganesan, despite presence of 11 other 'Independent' contenders, whom he claimed were planted by BN. "PR only had one candidate, so the people were not confused," he said. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia representative A. Jayanath meanwhile said PR had more than five years since 2008 to prepare for the polls and as such it was "very disheartening" to hear of their last minute jostling for seats. Jayanath noted that the political tsunami in 2008 when BN was denied their customary two-thirds majority in Parliament was due to straight fights in most constituencies in the peninsular. "The feeling on the ground is 'why are we left with this choice?' (between two opposition parties)," said Jayanath, citing as an example the expected three-cornered fights between BN, PR and Parti Sosialis Malaysia in Semenyih and Jelapang.
|
| BN’s Pandan hopeful Gary Lim hit by professional misconduct, fraud allegations Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:32 PM PDT
Debra Chong, TMI Barisan Nasional's (BN) Pandan candidate Gary Lim is likely to face a disciplinary hearing of the Malaysian Bar to answer allegations of professional misconduct and fraud, in a development that will cloud the lawyer's chances in the May 5 polls. The Malaysian Insider understands a hearing before the disciplinary committee of the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB) is likely after the Bar received complaints of legal misrepresentation and potential fraud against the 38-year-old old Lim, who was earlier this week named as the coalition's man for the Pandan parliamentary seat. It is understood the complaint involves allegations of misrepresentation involving a major law firm here. He is also alleged to have breached a condition of his legal practise certificate. "He's likely to face a hearing of the disciplinary committee," a source with the Bar Council said, on condition of anonymity. The ASDB is a body set up by law to investigate professional misconduct. Lim denied knowledge of any investigation over professional misconduct allegations when contacted last night. "I don't know," he told The Malaysian Insider over the phone. He said he had not been informed that he was under any probe nor had he received any show-cause letter from the Bar Council as at the time of contact. According to Lim, the council will initiate its own inquiry and issue a letter to the lawyer being investigated to defend himself first before being referred to the independent disciplinary board. He added that it depended on the kind of alleged misconduct, which could range from a client being dissatisfied with the lawyer's service to something more serious, such as fraud. "I have very little knowledge of what's going on," he said, of affairs in the legal fraternity. The lawyer, who is replacing incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, said he had stopped his legal practice about a year ago due to his duties as the MCA legal bureau chief for the party's Pandan division.
|
| Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:42 PM PDT
Penang PKR grassroots leaders threaten mass resignation if incumbent, S Raveentharan, is not fielded in Batu Uban for the 13th general election. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: A group of current and former PKR grassroots leaders here have given the party leadership a 24-hour deadline to replace T Jayabalan, the proposed parachute candidate for the Batu Uban state seat. Permatang Pauh PKR division's Indian community leader, N Ponnusamy, said if incumbent assemblyman S Raveentharan (photo) is not given the seat, about 2,000 Indian members in Penang would leave the party. "After all the hard work out put in by Raveentharan, a stranger comes to take away his seat. We vehemently oppose the candidacy of Jayabalan. It's an injustice to him. "If the party leadership does not change its stand, PKR can expect a severe backlash from Indian members," Ponnusamy said at a press conference in the constituency today. Raveentharan, who was present, said that he felt "betrayed and ostracised" by the party's decision to dump him for Jayabalan. "I'm a victim of backstabbing and malicious lies." A former PKR vice-chairman of Batu Kawan division, A Loganathan, claimed PKR had shown little gratitude for Indians who voted for change in the 2008 general election. He said over the past five years, PKR had shown no respect or appreciation to sacrifices made by Indians for the party. But many, he said, have left the party due to lack of recognition, appreciation and even respect.
|
| PSM to lock horns with Pakatan in two seats Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:36 PM PDT
However, the party's candidates in Sungai Siput and Kota Damansara will face one-on-one duels with BN. K Pragalath, FMT Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will be on a collision course with PKR for the Semenyih state seat in Selangor and the Jelapang state seat in Perak, which will be three-cornered fights. However, PSM will have one-to-one battles with Barisan Nasional in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak and Kota Damansara state seat in Selangor. "Sungai Siput incumbent Dr D Michael Jeyakumar has just spoken to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. "We have been informed that PKR would issue authorisation letter to Jeyakumar and our chairman Nasir Hashim, the incumbent in Kota Damansara without conditions," announced PSM secretary- general S Arutchelvan who is also the PSM candidate for Semenyih. Earlier, Arutchelvan rejected PKR's conditional offer for the authorisation letter from PKR secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution. Saifuddin had previously dangled the authorisation letter, hoping that PSM would back off from Semenyih and Jelapang. "Our sole condition is that PSM will not contest against Pakatan Rakyat in three-cornered fights in any other seats," he had said. "In all negotiations, we win some and lose some. We believe that PSM can understand this and will not contest against Pakatan in three-cornered fights in any other seats.
|
| GE13: ROS: DAP can use symbol for elections Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:41 PM PDT
(The Star) - Candidates from all political parties are required to hand in a letter of authorisation from the party leadership allowing them to contest under their party symbol. If he was not recognised as secretary-general, Lim said, the letters of authorisation to the candidates would be worthless. The DAP has not been de-registered and can still use its symbol for the 13th general election, said Registrar of Societies director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman. He added in a statement here that the ROS office informed DAP on Wednesday that it was studying the party's registration following a dispute among its members. Pending the resolution of the dispute, the ROS, as provided for under Section 3A of the Societies Act 1966, did not accord recognition to the office bearers of the committee formed in party elections on Dec 15 last year, he said. "However, DAP has not been de-registered and it can still use its symbol in GE13," Abdul Rahman added. Bernama quoted him as saying that investigations into party elections would proceed. In a sudden press conference yesterday night after their emergency CEC meeting, DAP said it would give the ROS until 3pm today to revoke the letter derecognising their central executive committee members. Failing which, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said they would instruct all their candidates to use the PAS and the PKR symbols when handing in their nomination forms tomorrow. Lim reiterated that all 53 parliamentary seat candidates and 103 state seat candidates would then use the PAS symbol in Peninsular Malaysia, and the PKR banner in Sabah and Sarawak. At another press conference earlier in the day, Lim had claimed that the non-recognition of the CEC appointed after the party elections rendered his position vacant. With regard to the elections, he noted that candidates from all political parties are required to hand in a letter of authorisation from the party leadership allowing them to contest under their party symbol. If he was not recognised as secretary-general, Lim said, the letters of authorisation to the candidates would be worthless. Separately, EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said DAP would be allowed to contest using its own symbol if the ROS' decision only involved not recognising the central executive committee. In Kelantan, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said PAS would allow DAP to use its symbol in the general election.
|
| Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:37 PM PDT
(FMT) - PKR supreme council member Ansari Abdullah, who has been with the party for 14 years, claims PKR failed to honour its promise of autonomy to Sabah divisions. Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition of which PKR is a member, has been accused of not being sincere in wanting to return political autonomy to Sabah. Ansari Abdullah, the Tuaran PKR chief, said the party in rejecting three-quarters of the candidates proposed by the seven divisions in the Sabah west coast north zone, showed that the party's headquarters was adamant about maintaining control of the state from Kuala Lumpur. "The seven proposed candidates' names which were announced recently is not my list. It is not Ansari's line-up. It was the decision made by the respective divisions in the west coast north areas," he said late yesterday. "We were promised of the autonomy to make decision as stipulated in the Buku Jingga and Kuching Declaration. Unfortunately, three-quarters of the list was rejected. "Of the seven candidates, only two made it. Sad to say, the party has failed the [sincerity] test. "PKR has failed to show its sincerity, failed to show that it is practising autonomy. "So today, all of us will have to go back to our respective divisions to explain the situation and will make a decision on any future undertaking." He denied that he was being a sour-grape over not being nominated for a seat. "The real issue here is not about me being a candidate, it is about us being promised autonomy but autonomy is not here. "It is about the division making a decision, but the decision is not respected. It is about the promise to treat us as equal partners," he said. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/04/19/ansari-pkr-%E2%80%98betrayed%E2%80%99-us/ |
| Breathless build-up to Malaysia elections Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:27 PM PDT
(World News Australia) - "It's never been this close so I think there is a real potential for interfering with what's going on and, you know, I don't want to talk about problems that are not there but people are talking about what happened in 1969" Billed as the closest contest in Malaysia's history, the country's general election is due to take place on May the 5th. (Transcript from World News Australia Radio)For decades, the United Malays National Organisation - known as UMNO - has controlled Malaysia through coalition governments. But in recent years the country's opposition has been making up ground with promises to end corruption, cronyism and authoritarian rule. In 2008, the opposition had its best ever electoral result which saw the UMNO-controlled National Front coalition lose its two-thirds majority for the first time. Five years later, next month's election is rated as the biggest test of the governing party since Malaysia gained independence from Britain more than five decades ago. The winds of change have been blowing in Malaysia, a country that's been ruled by the same governing party for more than 50 years. Known as the United Malays National Organisation, or UNMO, it's the main party in the National Front ruling coalition and its leader is Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak. He's had that job since March 2009, taking over as Prime Minister just months after his party lost its two-thirds majority for the first time in the 2008 election. That was when the opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, secured 82 of the 222 seats in parliament and won five of Malaysia's 13 states. The opposition has since lost control of one of those states but now has 86 seats in the parliament. In the lead up to this year's general election, Mr Najib is trying to reverse the opposition's gains by spending his way out of trouble. As Malaysia analyst Clive Kessler from the University of New South Wales puts it, the Prime Minister has been playing Santa Claus politics. "Giving out goodies left, right and centre for the last six months at least but he's been playing Santa Claus, the reason being that, in a sense, the writing has been on the wall for a long time and at least since the previous elections, the last election in 2008 that the UMNO have lost all confidence and trust among non-Malay voters, largely, and at the same time their ability to command and control a large part of the Malay vote is also declining." Liam Hanlon is a political analyst at Cascade Asia Advisors, a United States-based research firm focused on southeast Asia. Mr Hanlon says this year the Malaysian government's budget provided bonuses to 1.3 million civil servants, cash for low-income families, rebates for smartphones and a cut in the income tax rate. "They're really feeling the heat from the opposition's resurgence so, you know, it's almost worse off this time with these kind of subsidies and cash handouts because both coalitions are so keen on maintaining these kind of populist policies that lure voters in, but really skate around necessary fiscal reform and long-term fiscal management." Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with ethnic Malays making about 60 per cent of its population, the Chinese about 26 per cent and the remainder are Indians and indigenous peoples. While they're a minority, the Chinese are generally the most wealthy while the majority Malays are the dominant grouping in politics. Since the early 1970s, the Malays have been the beneficiaries of positive discrimination in a range of areas, something the opposition wants to change. Political analyst Liam Hanlon says Malaysia has a long history of fiscal imprudence and putting an end to this quota system which favours Malays would be good for Malaysia's economy. "This would have clear benefits. Public contracts would now be awarded on the basis of their usefulness and potential to yield larger returns rather than any kind of racial preferences or ties to the government. I think it would open up the domestic economy, reinvigorate its competitiveness, and more importantly it would send in an important signal to international investors and businesses that Malaysia will, in theory, now longer run on cronyism and these kind of race-based preferences." Read more and listen to the podcast at: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1757890/Breathless-build-up-to-Malaysia-elections |
| Tindak Malaysia founder in Bukit Aman for questioning Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:22 PM PDT
(fz.com) - Wong is being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code which involves attempting to commit activity that is detrimental to parliamentary democracy. Tindak Malaysia founder Wong Piang Yow, who is under investigation for offences against the state, arrived at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman for questioning this morning. Wong, who arrived before 9am, was accompanied by a small group of supporters protesting against the police action and carrying signs with "Abolish SOSMA", "Don't use SOSMA to stop the people" and "Don't threaten rakyat with SOSMA". Wong is being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code which involves attempting to commit activity that is detrimental to parliamentary democracy. Section 124C falls under Chapter VI (Offences Against the State) of the Penal Code and is a security offence under the 1st Schedule of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). Bersih co-chairman, Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan who was present said the authorities were trying to build a case out of nothing and that it was "utterly ridiculous" to charge Wong under Section 124C. "I cannot imagine how they even think for a moment that they have a case to investigate under Section 124C," said Ambiga. "As far as I am concerned, this is just intimidation. PY Wong and his group of ordinary citizens is doing useful training and they have been doing it for years. "They stopped training on randomisation of ballots since October last year. Bersih is against randomisation but all they (Tindak Malaysia) are saying is that to protect the secrecy of your ballots, you just choose," she said. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/tindak-malaysia-founder-bukit-aman-questioning |
| GE13: Selangor's Seri Andalas may see 6-cornered fight Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:15 PM PDT
(fz.com) - The state seat of Seri Andalas may see a six-cornered fight in the May 5 polls. Incumbent Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr A Xavier Jayakumar said the seat will see not just candidates from MIC and Hindraf, but Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita), Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se Malaysia (Berjasa) and even an independent are also apparently eager to join in the fray. Although Jayakumar, who is also PKR Kota Raja division chief, is unperturbed by the amount of competition he faces, he said his main opponent is MIC Youth leader T Mohan. "Huge resources are being poured into these areas by MIC to get this seat back," he told fz.com. Jayakumar had defeated MIC's A Kamala Ganapathy in the 2008 general election, receiving 20,258 ballots against Kamala's 10,005 votes. "They've been conducting lucky draws during their ceramah," he said, adding MIC has been dishing out all sorts of goodies, including motorcycles, to residents during its programmes. However, he said there is a lot of internal politics within MIC which may affect the party's campaign. MIC Kota Raja division chief R S Maniam is said to have been campaigning for a long time in the area, hoping to be selected by the party leadership for Seri Andalas or the Kota Raja parliamentary seat. However, he was not chosen to contest in both constituencies. The selection of outsiders – Mohan and MIC secretary-general Datuk S Murugesan – to contest in Seri Andalas and Kota Raja respectively has caused discord within the local MIC community. Mohan and Murugesan would probably have to rely on their own resources to build rapport among locals through the Umno and MCA machinery, which is weak in the area. Asked about the threat posed by Hindraf de facto leader P Uthayakumar, Jayakumar said he did not see the controversial Indian rights movement leader as one. According to Jayakumar, the Hindraf leader does not have a strong team to back his campaign. Also, Uthayakumar has not done much to build rapport and garner support from the people there. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-selangors-seri-andalas-may-see-6-cornered-fight |
| Malaysia edging closer to polls Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:12 PM PDT
(Australia Network News) - Malaysia will go to the polls in just over two weeks, with current Prime Minister Najib Razak facing a strong challenge from Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The current Government is playing on the country's economic strengths and achievements, while the Opposition is promoting greater unity and harmony for the multicultural country. Watch video at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-17/malaysia-votes-in-two-weeks/4635976 |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan