Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- All systems go for Uthayakumar
- Malaysia GE13: 'Racial confrontation' if Lim Kit Siang wins Johor seat, says Mahathir
- Anwar cancels announcement of Sabah PKR candidates, cites conflicts
- Ambiga: I don’t campaign for Pakatan
- Again, PKR leaves Khalid’s future as MB open to speculation
- PAS Leader Sex Video: The Conspiracy Theories
- Police confirm sex videos seizure of Pas leader
- GE13: Pakatan targeting fence-sitters in social media reach
- GE13: PSM being squeezed out by Pakatan
- GE13: Barisan all ready to slug it out in cyberspace
- PAS will be MB if Pakatan wins Johor
- Check facts before sticking ‘vote-buyer’ tag on Selangor, Bersih told
- GE13: Another of Hiew’s sidekicks ditches the DAP
- ‘What has Anwar achieved?’
- Stop being greedy, PKR told
- GE13: Rough ride for Nurul Izzah in Lembah Pantai
- Who 'owns' Wangsa Maju?
- GE13: Analysts: Husam's chances of winning Putrajaya difficult
- Another sex scandal rocks PR
- MCA president to sit out May 5 election
- Malaysians in Singapore scramble to make plans to vote
- Malaysia's Rancid Election
- Umno files defamation suit against Tian Chua
- PSM: No three-cornered fights, please
- PKR: No rift with PSM
- 7 DAP leaders show support for BN
- Wan Azizah hints Abdul Khalid may not be retained as Sgor MB
- Badrul's candidacy stirs up hornet's nest within PR
- Mahathir back in the fray
- GE13: DAP's Dr Boo challenged to step down as state party chief after polls
- GE13: Boo sees red over Guan Eng’s meddling in candidates list
- MCA: Fuss about Ghani shows DAP’s true colour
- Grudge Match Shapes up in Key Malaysia State
- Soi Lek: Don’t ask me about MCA seats, all up to PM
- The Princess of Reform
- GE13: Federal-state row threatens Pakatan's record in Penang
- Najib demands BN unity in ‘explosive’ speech
- Malaysian general election set for May 5
- Malaysia: Drop Sedition Charges for Opposition Leader
- Malaysians in Britain eager to vote
- Bersih, Pakatan accused of using dirty tactics
- Fong not contesting in GE13
- EC: GE13 not dirtiest, but the best
- GE13: Intense horse-trading among PKR hopefuls
- GE13: Fernandez: Segamat surrender an act of treachery
- RPK’s articles hurt my reputation, says lawyer
- Malaysian Police Ready Two Election Plans
- Undecided candidates?
- Najib sets up Malaysian poll thriller
- '400 armed sultanate supporters arrive in Sabah'
| All systems go for Uthayakumar Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:34 PM PDT
With the election deposit paid, Uthayakumar is set to contest for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat and the Sri Andalas state seat. Alyaa Azhar, FMT Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar is going ahead with his plans to contest for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat and Sri Andalas state seat in the 13th general election. "Right now, it's all systems go, regardless of whether I'll stand as an independent candidate or under the Pakatan Rakyat banner," said Uthayakumar after paying his election deposit for both seats at the Selangor Election Commission office today. A sum of RM10,000 was paid for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat with an additional RM5,000 for campaign materials, and RM8,000 was paid for the Sri Andalas state seat, inclusive of campaign materials. Uthayakumar also explained why he is "forced" to contest in the coming election. "We are forced to contest because as opposed to Pakatan's promise made in 2008, it has failed to deliver even one of Hindraf's 18-point demands. "Even Pakatan's manifesto has nothing to deliver for the Indians and Anwar Ibrahim has refused to sign our 18-point demands," he said. He stressed that at least one Hindraf MP is needed to put pressure on Pakatan not to implement racist policies against the Indian poor. "The Indian poor need to focus because the problems plaguing them are critical," he said. Uthayakumar, who is also Human Rights Party Malaysia's (HRP) pro-tem secretary-general, said that out of the 222 parliamentary seats and 576 state seats, Pakatan has refused to make way for even one seat for Hindraf. "This is unfair. I have even agreed to contest under the Pakatan ticket against BN so that there won't be a split of opposition votes but Pakatan has rejected me. "If Pakatan does not make way for us, Pakatan is the one splitting the vote," said Uthayakumar.
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| Malaysia GE13: 'Racial confrontation' if Lim Kit Siang wins Johor seat, says Mahathir Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:29 PM PDT
(Straits Times) - Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has claimed that there will be conflict between races if opposition veteran Lim Kit Siang wins a seat in Johor. Writing on his blog (chedet.cc) on Thursday, Dr Mahathir said Johor has been a stronghold for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition since independence, and people there "do not have strong racist feelings". "But Kit Siang is going to bring about conflict and antagonism between the races, to wage the Chinese to dislike and hate the Malays," he wrote. He added: "An unhealthy racial confrontation would replace Sino-Malay cooperation which has made Malaysia stable and prosperous." Mr Lim announced last month that he would move from his longtime seat in Perak to contest in Johor's Gelang Patah seat. Fast-developing Gelang Patah is at the heart of Iskandar Malaysia and houses Johor's administrative capital, Nusajaya. More than half of the voters are Chinese. Dr Mahathir, who has emerged one of BN's chief campaigners, urged voters over the weekend to make the seat a "burial ground" for Mr Lim's politics. |
| Anwar cancels announcement of Sabah PKR candidates, cites conflicts Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:29 PM PDT
Boo Su-Lyn, TMI Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cancelled his announcement of Sabah PKR candidates, citing unresolved conflicts over a few seats. The PKR de facto leader also said today that he has assured Tuaran PKR chief Ansari Abdullah that the latter's list of proposed candidates would be considered. "In Sabah, the reason why I'm not announcing the candidates now is because although many seats have been finalised, there are still conflicts over one or two," said Anwar (picture) at a press conference in Likas here today. "I don't want to complicate matters. I'm not ready to announce yet," added the opposition leader. PKR deputy president Azmin Ali dismissed Ansari's candidate list last Friday as "mere suggestions". Ansari had announced that he would contest the Tuaran federal seat, besides naming candidates for six other parliamentary seats. The current Tuaran MP is Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing, who had defected from BN component party UPKO and formed his own party called APS in alliance with Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
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| Ambiga: I don’t campaign for Pakatan Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:18 PM PDT
Responding to her critics, the Bersih chairperson says she focuses on voter education and is willing to speak on the same issue at BN ceramahs, if she is invited. RK Anand, FMT This is a rose which never ceases to be a thorn in the flesh of Barisan Nasional. To the point that some have even called for her citizenship to be revoked. And now her recent ceramah in Seremban, which drew a mammoth crowd who braved the rain, is said to have rattled those in the ruling coalition once again. Following this, Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga has come under fire, with critics again taking a swipe at her for gracing opposition events despite insisting that the polls watchdog is non-partisan. Defending herself, the former Bar Council president told FMT that it is the opposition parties which invite her to educate voters on their rights. "I don't campaign for anyone. This is about voter education. I impress upon them the importance of good governance and call on them to vote out corrupt politicians and those who abuse their powers. "Unless BN fits the bill, they have no reason to be worried or complain," said Ambiga, adding that she would be more than willing to attend BN functions if invited. However, the Bersih chairperson stressed that even if she is invited to speak at a BN ceramah, she would state the same points vis-a-vis the absence of a level playing field, the elections are not clean and that the rotten must be voted out. She also pointed out that Bersih has invited BN leaders to attend its events on numerous occasions, but none of them turned up. "This is like a spoilt brat who does not attend a birthday party despite being extended an invitation and later complains about the other guests who show up," she said. Ambiga also explained that voter education included telling the people not to be afraid of change. "There are those who frighten the people on the ground, especially the Indian community with talks of riot and whatnot if there is a change in government. "I tell voters not to let fear dictate their choice, it is their freedom of choice. This is not campaigning for the opposition but getting the message across to voters on their rights," she said. While Ambiga said she has no problems with being scrutinised, she however hoped that the spotlight would be turned on the Election Commission instead, which she accused of being partisan in the discharging of its duties. The Bersih leader also reiterated her stand of not contesting in the general election after speculations resurfaced following her recent visit to Cameron Highlands. She had attended a Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) fund-raiser and this led to rumours of her wanting to take on MIC president G Palanivel, who is slated to contest the parliamentary seat.
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| Again, PKR leaves Khalid’s future as MB open to speculation Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:07 PM PDT
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has refused to confirm if the party would keep Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor mentri besar should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) retains Selangor in Election 2013, further fuelling speculation that he may be axed from the post. When asked on the matter, Dr Wan Azizah said there are other capable leaders suitable for the post and the candidacy is not an issue as long as the coalition implements good governance in the country's industrial capital. "We have a few capable leaders, now as many as Barisan Nasional, so crowded, but Khalid is one of them because he has a track record, doesn't matter as long as the right policies are there," she told reporters at the party's headquarters here. Asked if that means Khalid will likely be dropped, Dr Wan Azizah refused to comment but said the former could still be the mentri besar. "There is a probability that he will be MB but like I said there are other capable leaders," she said. The Malaysian Insider had previoulsy reported that uncertainty hangs over Abdul Khalid's political future in Selangor as sources in PR have indicated that the interim mentri besar could lose his post even if the pact retains the state in Election 2013. The PKR leadership has so far refrained from confirming if Khalid (picture) would be selected to defend his seat, in light of growing anger among locals who purportedly view the politician as an "absent" representative. The Malaysian Insider understands the party leadership had also, at one point, considered dropping Khalid as its Ijok candidate following concerns that the mentri besar could lose the seat. Talks that Khalid would be dropped first surfaced when PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced in October last year that the former would remain as PKR's Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary candidate but did not state if Khalid (picture) would defend Ijok.
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| PAS Leader Sex Video: The Conspiracy Theories Posted: 11 Apr 2013 05:12 PM PDT
Farah Harith, Malaysian Digest The latest sex video allegedly involving an opposition politician may hit a snag almost as quickly as the video going viral. The video showing a man resembling PAS secretary-general Dato Mustafa Ali having sex with a woman in a hotel room was uploaded first by a blog Kedah69ers.com at 8.30pm last night.
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| Police confirm sex videos seizure of Pas leader Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:22 PM PDT
(NST) - KUALA TERENGGANU: Police confirmed the report and seizure of several video compact discs containing the footages of an alleged Pas leader engaging in a lewd act with a woman at a hotel room. State Criminal Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner K. Manoharan said a report was lodged at the Kampung Raja police station in Besut yesterday morning after policemen patrolling Kampung Alor Lintang area received information from the public. "Checks led to the finding of 16 envelopes, each containing one VCD. Other case items, including some pictures had been taken to the Besut district police headquarters for investigation," he said. Manoharan added that investigations under Section 292 (a) of the Penal Code for distributing pornographic material were underway. An 11-minute sex video depicting a couple engaging in sexual intercourse in which a man resembled a Pas leader was widely spread in the cyberspace and online blogs yesterday.
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| GE13: Pakatan targeting fence-sitters in social media reach Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:57 PM PDT
(The Star) - Pakatan Rakyat's strategy in social media is in targeting the fence-sitters, many of whom are active on Facebook. PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the party was targeting fence-sitters in its social media reach. "You can have one million followers but liking' doesn't mean anything. It's the number of shares' that matters, not likes'," he said. The party, said Rafizi, was focused on putting content on a few Facebook profiles with a huge following, and getting readers to share this and comment with their friends. What mattered most, he said, was content and the use of graphics. "Posts on pure politicking don't gain any traction whatsoever. What gets the most shares are bread-and-butter issues," Rafizi pointed out. It was possible, he said, for PKR's social media strategy to be managed with a small team of around four people, reaching out to an estimated number of between 1.5 million and 2 million people online every day. PKR, he said, also had an election smartphone app, available from Google Play and Apple, showing users the locations of future ceramah and even has a function allowing voters to check their eligibility. "Young voters are very tech savvy and apps are something they would consider sexy," he said. Admitting that his party is not a pioneer when it comes to social media, PAS election director Dr Hatta Ramli said it was getting "ambassadors" to get voters to return to PAS-led states such as Kelantan for the polls. "We have ambassadors for each of our voting districts to reach out to people personally and through social media," he said. DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua said his team was working around the clock through Facebook and Twitter to gear up for the elections. The party, he said, was also making various poll-themed videos, more of which would be revealed through the launch of its Ubah TV.
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| GE13: PSM being squeezed out by Pakatan Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:51 PM PDT
(The Star) - The bigger boys in Pakatan Rakyat are trying to squeeze Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) out of three of the four seats which the party intends to contest. Apart from the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat, where there appears to be a consensus for PSM central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar to defend, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) wants to field its own candidates for the Kota Damansara and Semenyih state seats in Selangor, with DAP staking its claim to the Jelapang seat in Perak. The Kota Damansara state seat, held by PSM chairman Dr Nasir Hashim, is being eyed by a lawyer aligned to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who reportedly has given the green light for the lawyer to campaign. "We feel this is quite ridiculous because Dr Nasir held the seat," said PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan yesterday after declaring his assets. His assets comprise a Perodua Kelisa worth RM14,000, an RM85,000 low cost house, RM5,000 in fixed deposit and RM1,356 in a savings account as well as a monthly income of RM3,000 and RM1,000 as Kajang municipal councillor, the amount of which goes towards financing his employee.  For the people: Dr Nasir showing a copy of PSM's manifesto. Denying allegations that Dr Nasir was facing health problems, Arutchelvan said: "He just had knee surgery and the doctor has given him a clean bill of health." Arutchelvan is expected to contest in Semenyih while the party's deputy head M. Sarasvathy is slotted to stand in Jelapang. PSM candidates had contested under the PKR banner in the March 2008 general election as their party was waiting for its registration to be approved, which came about in June 2008. Several PKR leaders who are lobbying for the seats object to PSM using its own logo to contest in this general election and claimed that the seats were won thanks to the PKR label. "We are determined to carry on even if we are forced to stand on our own as we are confident of winning all four seats with our credible candidates,"Arutchelvan said. He said PSM hoped to strike a compromise with the Pakatan parties when they meet Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the weekend. Anwar is scheduled to announce the PKR candidates for all the seats in Selangor on Sunday night in Hulu Klang.
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| GE13: Barisan all ready to slug it out in cyberspace Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:43 PM PDT
(The Star) - Learning its lesson from the 2008 general election, Barisan Nasional has increased its presence radically in cyberspace, which Pakatan Rakyat had dominated. Now thousands of cyber troopers from both sides are waging an epic battle which began several months ago, long before the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat and state assemblies. Barisan has trained thousands of "cyber activists" who have been disseminating information on the coalition's programmes and achievements on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the cyber activists were also tasked with countering opposition allegations. He added: "We learned our lesson in the 2008 general election, when the opposition had used the platform to woo voters and spread lies about Barisan. This time round we are prepared." As polling day approaches, Khairy said the next few weeks would be a critical period to counter opposition attacks "with evidence and facts". Barisan has also introduced the "BN Youth" mobile application for Android users which will be further developed in the weeks ahead to offer election news for the iOS platform. Khairy, who has almost 250,0000 Twitter followers on his account @khairykj, said Barisan's online efforts for this general election were better coordinated than previously. "But we have to be realistic. We will try our best but it's a tough landscape. "The social media are the opposition's mainstream and we are on hostile ground there," he said. MCA Youth central committee member Chong Sin Woon said the party had at least 300 members who are actively posting comments, rebutting opposition accusations and promoting MCA activities online. MCA also has about 1,000 friendly supporters helping to disseminate information via social media. Chong acknowledged that the opposition cyber troopers "virtually controlled" the Malaysian online political scene for the first two years after the March 2008 general election. This was changing, he said, adding: "We sense more people are realising that Pakatan cyber troopers are making all sorts of unfounded accusations." He said cyber war is unavoidable as many people, especially the young and first-time voters, are getting their information online. "All we want is for the public to understand current issues, and by questioning the opposition online, we force them to explain their rationale," Chong said. Putera MIC coordinator P. Kamalanathan said the party had mobilised a social media team of 50 volunteers for the elections, as well as set up an MIC online TV and the Nambikei website. He added that party president Datuk Seri G Palanivel, deputy president Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam and himself had personalised apps on Google Play for people to download.
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| PAS will be MB if Pakatan wins Johor Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:39 PM PDT
(The Star) - Pakatan Rakyat stands a "pretty good chance" of making a breakthrough in Johor in the general election, said DAP election strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming. He described party adviser Lim Kit Siang's move to contest in the Gelang Patah constituency in the elections as bold. "He has made a bold move in wanting to create a Johor tsunami... that he is being followed by outgoing Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong shows that we are definitely serious about wanting to make inroads in Johor. "PKR and PAS have also named high profile candidates to contest in Johor, and we see our chances as good," he said in an interview with SwitchUp.tv's GE13: Showdown programme, hosted by Anne Edwards. First-term parliamentarian Liew will be contesting the Kluang parliamentary seat, and is expected to lock horns with MCA's Hou Kok Chung, the outgoing MP. Meanwhile, Dr Ong believed it was "only natural" that should the Opposition coalition win Johor, a candidate from PAS would become the mentri besar. "The consensus is that the party which contested the most seats in the state gets to name the mentri besar, and in the case of Johor, that party is PAS," he said. Dr Ong also dismissed suggestions that the party would consider teaming up with Barisan Nasional component parties to form the Penang state government should PKR fail to win enough seats there. "It is a non-starter. We are committed to working with PAS and PKR, and we are confident that both the parties will deliver more seats in the general election," he said. On allegations that the Opposition coalition had trained professionals to create chaos during the election, Dr Ong said they were "far from the truth". "Pakatan Rakyat does not stand for nor accept political violence by anyone, regardless of our coalition, Barisan Nasional or other parties," he said.
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| Check facts before sticking ‘vote-buyer’ tag on Selangor, Bersih told Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:27 PM PDT
Debra Chong, TMI Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim chided Bersih today for accusing his Selangor administration of attempting to "canvass for votes" ahead of the May 5 polls, telling the elections watchdog to check its facts first. Selangor is the latest to be blackballed by Bersih in its public name-and-shame list for purportedly violating its code of conduct for a caretaker government, after Khalid's administration dished out several awards, including a RM300 bonus to each state civil servant and land titles to villagers in Bestari Jaya earlier this month. "The Caretaker Government has merely implemented decisions made earlier to ensure that the interest and welfare of the people of Selangor are protected during the caretaker period. "It must be stressed that the decisions and actions conducted are thus not tantamount to canvassing for votes," Khalid said in a statement, citing from the state legal advisor's report. He told Bersih that the state Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration was committed to ensuring a functioning bureaucracy and his administration was mindful of abusing public funds and state resources now that it is now in a caretaker mode pending the results of the 13th general elections. "The state government hopes that Bersih will ascertain all the facts and legal details before casting any aspersions," he said. Bersih steering commmittee member, Irene Fernandez had hit out at Khalid and his executive council for abusing their office to win votes from Selangor residents in a bid to continue their hold on Malaysia's wealthiest state. "(It is) tantamount to vote buying," Fernandez was quoted saying by news portal Malaysiakini.
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| GE13: Another of Hiew’s sidekicks ditches the DAP Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:14 PM PDT Mujie (centre) hands over his application form to Dompok (3rd from right), meanwhile watch by Jimbangan (2nd from right) and several senior UPKO leaders. Samantha Rae, Borneo Insider PENAMPANG: Like some married couples who succumbed to the 'seven-year itch', Sabah DAP leader Edward Mujie too decided to 'change partner', after having fought alongside the party for the last seven years. On Thursday, he followed the footsteps of his former party colleague Steven Jimbangan to quit the party to join Barisan Nasional (BN) through United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO). Mujie who was Sabah DAP Vice Chairman cum Karambunai branch chief handed over his membership application form to UPKO President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok at Puru Lounge in Kampung Putaton, here. Mujie's exit from DAP comes barely a week after the party's Kepayan chief Stephen Jimbangan and 128 of his supporters quit the party to join UPKO. Like Jimbangan, Mujie too said his 'change of heart' was because he was both touched and impressed by the on-going efforts by UPKO, PBRS and PBS to unite the KDM community through 'Gelombang Tataba', a joint program the three KDM based BN component parties have initiated and launched last month. Certainly, it had nothing to do with the fact that the DAP had earlier decided that both Jimbangan and Mujie would not be among its candidates for the 13th general election. A hardcore critic of BN prior to this, he categorically stressed that his move had nothing to do with not being nominated as a candidate for the 13th general election. A former Secretary of the Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council (KKMC) before it was elevated to a City Hall, Mujie earned his nickname 'The Point Man' for constantly pointing at bad roads, blogged drains, faulty lamp posts, manholes with missing covers, abandoned government buildings, etc. "I started considering making the move soon after reading and hearing about 'Gelombang Tataba'… I made up my mind voluntarily, no one coerced me into this decision because I look at this positively, for KDM community's sake," he said when asked how long it took him to decide to quit DAP and join UPKO. To the question if his supporters may follow suit and join BN too, Mujie reluctantly replied, "wait-and-see". In a prepared statement distributed to the media, Edward noted that he was accepted in DAP in 2007 and that he leaves it to the rakyat to judge his track record as far as his service to the community is concerned all those years. "Having considered all factors plus the current scenario, I have decided to relinquish all my posts in Sabah DAP and resign from the party with immediate effect. I wish all my former comrades the very best and good luck. "I thank God for making me realize that the unity of the indigenous people is the most sensible thing to do now that the KDM unity is in disarray. I therefore would like to throw my full undivided support in the effort to unite the KDMs through 'Gelombang Tataba'. "With that I have decided to join UPKO led by Tan Sri Bernard as my platform to assist the accomplishment of the unity mission," he said. Mujie added that he found that UPKO is genuinely sincere in fighting for the rights of Sabahans especially the KDMs. "UPKO is very vocal on all issues affecting the rakyat as well as in finding solutions to the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah where the Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak has finally agreed to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry which is on-going now. "The proposal for the re-issuance of MyKad which is mooted by UPKO is a daring move and deserves full support from all political parties and the rakyat," he said. "I admire Datuk Seri Najib's courage in introducing new positive transformation in the country such as repealing the Internal Security Act (ISA), by recognizing Malaysia Day, implementing the GTP and ETP, his swift actions durng the Lahad Datu intrusion etc. "Datuk Seri Najib among others has also successfully implemented non-qouta to the Holy Land, therefore it is only fair for all the rakyat in Sabah especially to give their undivided support to Datuk Seri Najib to achieve the required mandate so that he could effectively implement his sincere agendas in developing the country for the benefit of the rakyat" he said. Meanwhile, when approached for comment, Dompok said Mujie's joining of BN is a resounding testimony that UPKO, PBS and PBRS' efforts to unite the KDM is gaining support from the people including the opposition.
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| Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:01 PM PDT
Besides being a fiery orator, Kelantan opposition leader Md Alwi Che Ahmad says that Anwar Ibrahim does not have an impressive track record. Hawkeye, FMT Voters should evaluate the track record of Anwar Ibrahim before they support the notion of him becoming the next prime minister. Anwar did not just become an overnight politician, the former has a track record of service and experience in government previously, said Kelantan opposition leader Md Alwi Che Ahmad. Speaking at the launching of the state Barisan Nasional supplementary manifesto, Alwi reminded voters that Anwar had served as a minister in the Youth and Sports, Agriculture and Education Ministeries before becoming deputy prime minister and finance minister in the Umno government. "Ask yourself what did Anwar achieve in those ministries and what were the impact of his policies on the country, particularly on the economic part," he said. He added that this has nothing to do with his questionable moral values but rather Anwar's capabilities and abilities as a leader. Apart from his oratory skills, Alwi questioned what were Anwar's other achievements. He stressed that finding fault with others is the easiest part of politics but showing the ability to lead and having the right formula to govern a multi-ethnic nation like Malaysia, is another. "Umno knows too well who this soul [Anwar] is. He has many deficits, but he also knows how to mislead. We, in Umno, were his first victims," he said. Alwi claimed that Anwar is not confident of "misleading the people alone" and thus hides behind PAS and DAP. "Anwar is hiding behind the likes of Karpal Singh, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Lim Kit Siang just to up the odds of him becoming prime minister," he said.
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| Posted: 11 Apr 2013 02:57 PM PDT
DAP Pahang is upset that PKR is taking over it seats in Johor and other states. Athi Shankar, FMT A DAP leader said that PKR should stop being greedy and not usurp seats belonging to Pakatan Rakyat allies. DAP's Pahang vice-chairman J Apalasamy is upset that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim failed to respect DAP's influence and its grassroots strength in Johor. Referring to PKR's "theft" of Segamat parliamentary constituency, he said Anwar and company had denied DAP a chance to field an Indian candidate for the seat. PKR is fielding former MCA leader and former health minister Chua Jui Meng in Segamat against Barisan Nasional incumbent S Subramanian, a MIC strongman. "PKR should put a stop to its greediness if Pakatan is serious in capturing the federal government from BN," said Apalasamy in a statement to FMT. In the last 2008 general election, PKR contested nine parliamentary and 10 state seats in Johor. It lost all. Apalasamy said Chua candidacy in Segamat would virtually be a "walkover" victory for Subramaniam. He said Chua's public spat with Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau over Pakatan's seat formula had spoilt the former MCA man's winning chances. Moreover, he said Chua had also lost all credibility as a Pakatan leader after DAP supremo Karpal Singh launched seething criticisms on Chua's long stay in MCA and BN. Due to Anwar's scheming, he lamented that DAP has missed an opportunity to field a talented Indian candidate against a MIC heavyweight in Segamat. Multi-racial politics It's learnt that the DAP wanted to field Malaysian Indian Busieness Association (MIBA) president P Sivakumar and later party national vice chairman M Kulasegaran for Segamat. "Being a pan-Malaysian party, the DAP has fielded and tested many of its leaders across the country.As a multiracial party, the DAP is duty-bound to field racially balanced candidates," he said. He pointed out that PKR had a knack of stealing DAP's Indian seats to field non-Indian candidates on grounds of multi-racial politics. Segamat aside, he said other seats were Teluk Kemang federal seat in Negeri Sembilan, Ijok state seat in Selangor and Lunas state seat in Kedah. In 2000 by-election in Teluk Kemang, he said the DAP was forced to make way for PKR candidate Ruslan Kassim. "Until now PKR failed to return Teluk Kemang to DAP," said Apalasamy.
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| GE13: Rough ride for Nurul Izzah in Lembah Pantai Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT
(fz.com) - If the results of an Barisan Nasional survey are anything to go by, incumbent PKR Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is losing ground in the battle for Federal Territory's hottest parliamentary seat. According to the Barisan Nasional Youth Volunteers (BNYV), roughly one-third of about 200 Lembah Pantai constituents who took part in a phone survey over the last month are leaning heavily towards Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, the BN candidate for the seat. (The remaining 70% was unevenly split between fence sitters and opposition supporters, according to the survey, which is only meant for BN's internal use.) BNYV is a volunteer programme under BN Youth that was set up June 2012 to provide a platform for BN youth supporters outside the official party campaign machinery to play a role in GE13. The group has an estimated 10,000 volunteers who are spread over its seven state chapters, and its headquarters in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar has been working the ground and phone lines in Lembah Pantai. Pakatan captured the BN stronghold in the 2008 general elections when Nurul Izzah defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil by a majority of 2,895 votes. Since then BN has been on a warpath to reclaim this prized seat from the first-term politician, whom they claimed rode to victory on her father (opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim)'s coat tails. And so PKR's Puteri Reformasi is expected to face Umno's Lembah Pantai chief in one of the fiercest fights that will officially begin come nomination day on April 20. An Umno personality, however, has observed that Nurul Izzah is in "big trouble" due to the reactions that BNYV has been receiving from the survey respondents. "When asked who their MP is, many of them are already naming Raja Nong Chik because they see him more and relate to him better," said the source, who asked not to be named due to the confidentiality of BNYV's survey results. "Izzah is strong in Bangsar Utama and Lucky Garden but not in Kerinchi. But we're not too worried about residents in these two areas because many of them are either expatriates or non-constituents." Lembah Pantai's 72,533 voters are divided between the urban, wealthy Bangsar and Pantai Dalam, which houses a combination of affluent and working class Malays. When asked to weigh in on the survey results, BNYV's Director and National Coordinator Zaidel Baharuddin pointed out that for voters to recognise Raja Nong Chik as their MP instead of a national figure like Nurul Izzah spoke volumes. He added that Nurul Izzah's position as a national figure is a double-edged sword as far as her groundwork is concerned as it took her away from her constituents. "She's famous but she travels a great deal throughout the country and Lembah Pantai hardly sees her," Zaidel stated. "When Izzah speaks at ceramahs outside Kuala Lumpur, Raja Nong Chik will be attending five functions in Lembah Pantai." Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-rough-ride-nurul-izzah-lembah-pantai |
| Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:21 PM PDT
(The Sun Daily) - MCA was in fact merely "returning" the seat to Umno. Political horse-trading on seats to contest has resulted in some dissatisfaction which now appears to threaten Barisan Nasional (BN) component cooperation, but MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday allayed such fears, citing his confidence that the BN spirit of consensus will prevail. One such seat of contention is Wangsa Maju, which was contested by MCA in 2008. In the face of speculation that BN will be represented by Umno this time around, the Wangsa Maju MCA division has said it will pull out of all campaigning efforts if its chief, Datuk Yew Teong Look, is not fielded. It has been speculated that Umno Wangsa Maju has been eyeing the seat since 2008, and plans to field its division chief Datuk Shafie Abdullah, the political secretary to prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is Umno president. Speaking to newsmen after chairing the MCA central committee meeting yesterday, Chua confirmed that the Kuantan parliamentary seat as well as the Tanah Rata (Pahang) and Kota Laksamana (Malacca) state seats will be "loaned" to Umno, Gerakan and PPP respectively. "We exchanged Tanah Rata for Ketari, and Sabah BN has also given us the Luyang state seat. "However, we are not giving up the Padang Serai and Tebrau parliamentary seats," said Chua, adding that no consensus has been reached on other hot seats traditionally held by MCA. They include Wangsa Maju, Pandan, Gelang Patah, Jelapang and Tronoh, which other component parties have voiced interest in contesting. Reiterating that MCA did not give up any seats without a fight and that "loaning" and seat swapping was done "in the spirit of the BN coalition", Chua said it was also based on the understanding there will definitely be more parliamentary and state seats drawn up in the delineation exercise after the general elections. "The seats that are loaned out by MCA will come back to us after the delineation," said Chua. BN secretary-general Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, however, denied that Umno was "taking away" the Wangsa Maju seat from MCA. Tengku Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general, said MCA was in fact merely "returning" the seat to Umno. He claimed that in 2004, when he was Federal Territory state liaison chief, it was suggested that an Indian candidate from BN contest the newly-formed constituency of Wangsa Maju, on the grounds that there were over 100,000 Indian voters in Kuala Lumpur. "I suggested an Indian should be a candidate but I don't know what happened along the way, but the seat was given to MCA, on loan. "Now MCA is returning it to (Umno) because they are rational and understand the situation. "We (Umno) are not taking away any seats. BN has never done that because we discuss matters until we reach a consensus," said Tengku Adnan after officiating the 2013 KAR1SMA aid presentation programme in Putrajaya yesterday. Pressed further to confirm if Wangsa Maju will be contested by Umno, Tengku Adnan replied: "As of now, perhaps." Meanwhile, Chua declined to elaborate on the fate of incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, saying negotiations with Najib are still underway. The Chinese press had reported that Ong had received blessings from Najib to defend Pandan, which raised concerns among party leaders. He also confirmed he will not be contesting any seat to make way for fresh faces to represent the party. "I want to prove a point that I am fighting for a cause, that MCA is still relevant. So I will continue to lead the party without standing for elected public office," he added.
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| GE13: Analysts: Husam's chances of winning Putrajaya difficult Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT (fz.com) - In his bid for the Putrajaya parliamentary constituency, Datuk Husam Musa is expected to beat a path to only one destination – a journey into oblivion. Factors which might serve as stumbling blocks to the PAS vice-president are many. One of them is that he is an unknown contesting in a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold. The other is the strong support from public servants for the legacy of the charismatic Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the two-term incumbent who is close and popular among the constituents. According to several political analysts, these factors are among several which will pose major obstacles for Husam to get the support of the 15,798 registered voters. "Through Tengku Adnan, BN has an excellent service record in Putrajaya. What more, he also established the Putrajaya Umno division," Datuk Dr Junaidy Abu Bakar told Bernama here yesterday. The Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs) said public servants in Putrajaya and nationwide leaned towards the BN government which was responsible for the current healthy national economic environment. "They definitely want (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has successfully transformed the government, to continue ruling, and by extension, the BN. "Thus, PAS is confused and has calculated erroneously if it thinks Husam has a chance to win in the 13th general election. "Or, maybe, PAS is not confused, after all. On the other hand, it could be gambling on Husam's political future as he is probably, unwelcome by other PAS leaders in Kelantan. "And, the best way to marginalise him is by kicking him out of the state?" asked Junaidy. He noted that Husam was often mentioned as a potential replacement for Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and this 'factor' was certainly not to the liking of his political rivals who might have similar aspirations. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-analysts-husams-chances-winning-putrajaya-difficult |
| Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:15 PM PDT
(The Star) - Another sex scandal has rocked Pakatan Rakyat, this time involving a video implicating a high-ranking senior PAS leader. Political blog Kedahan69ers.com had first uploaded a four-second preview of the clip at about 8.30pm yesterday. It depicted a man resembling a PAS leader putting on his underpants while seated on the edge of a bed in what appeared to be a hotel room. The man was clad only in a white singlet. Later, another political blog Medan Info Kita uploaded a longer version of the video at 9.04pm. In addition to the previous footage, this 25-second teaser showed the man in bed with a woman in the same room and screenshots of the duo getting dressed separately. On this blog, it is stated that a source said the footage had been taken using a hidden camera placed directly across the bed in a hotel room. At about 11pm, the blog posted a few screengrabs from the video, some showing the man and the woman undressing, having sex and later getting dressed. Blogger PapaGomo also posted images taken from the video, which showed the woman clad in a white towel as well as the man dressed in a white singlet and loose white pants. Terengganu police have seized 16 VCDs allegedly depicting the sexual act of the man resembling the PAS politician. It is learnt the videos were distributed along with nude photos of the man in Jalan Sekolah and Taman Hidayah in Besut, Terengganu, at about 7.40am yesterday. Terengganu CID chief Asst Comm K. Manoharan said the VCDs and the photos were packed in envelopes. "Villagers who alerted the police claimed several unknown men distributed the items. Police personnel were dispatched to the scene and seized the items," he said yesterday. ACP Manoharan said no arrest had been made and called on witnesses to help with investigations.
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| MCA president to sit out May 5 election Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:13 PM PDT
(Straits Times) - MALAYSIAN Chinese Association president Chua Soi Lek has announced he is not a candidate in this general election, the first time that a sitting MCA president has opted out from contesting national polls. "I will be leading the charge in the election campaign running up to the polls but will not be offering myself as a candidate," he said in a statement yesterday. This is part of a "renewal process" to groom new leaders, he said. The MCA is the second-largest party in Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, after Umno. The decision to avoid the contest suggests pressure on Datuk Seri Chua from the opposition, which is gaining in the contest for the Chinese vote, as well as forces within his own coalition. It also comes among widespread speculation on who will stand and who will be dropped as Malaysia heads into its most keenly contested election in years. As PM Najib's BN fights to retain power, it would not want to field anyone not considered a "winnable candidate". Chinese support for the MCA has waned since 2008, and Dr Chua previously warned that the trend could lead to the community having no representation in a future BN government. The status and electability of Dr Chua, 66, has been a topic of speculation. In 2008, a secretly filmed video was leaked showing him having extramarital sex. He resigned from all ministerial and party posts, and did not contest the 2008 general election. He came back to helm the MCA in 2010, following a fierce internal power struggle after the party performed poorly in the 2008 elections. Dr Chua is now busy trying to quell dissent among MCA grassroots members over its diminished share of seats among BN component parties. At a press conference yesterday, he urged members to accept the "loan" of seats to allies, in the spirit of ensuring victory and harmony for the BN.
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| Malaysians in Singapore scramble to make plans to vote Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:11 PM PDT
(Straits Times) - MINUTES after Malaysia's election date was announced, Mr Lim Khoon Yang was at his computer feverishly searching for flights to Penang, his home state. The 30-year-old software developer, who has been working in Singapore for the past two years, has never voted before. Now, with the date of Malaysia's highly anticipated electoral contest finally revealed, he cannot wait to be home for the May 5 polls. "I'm so relieved, I've been waiting for far too long," he said. Wednesday's announcement galvanised some of the 400,000 Malaysians living in Singapore. While not all will be going home, especially those who failed to register in time, those who did register are scrambling to make travel plans. Postal voting was finally allowed for overseas Malaysians this year, but not for those living in Singapore, Brunei, southern Thailand and Kalimantan in Indonesia. Malaysians in these places must return to cast their vote. A check with four coach companies that operate buses from Singapore to Malaysia revealed that tickets for the weekend of May 5 are running out or fully sold for destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Taiping, Ipoh and Penang. Tickets have also been selling fast for buses leaving on May 1 and the night of April 30. May 1 is Labour Day, a public holiday in both Singapore and Malaysia. Some customers do not care what time the bus leaves, so long as they get a ticket, said Mr Leong Ying Ken, a manager at Golden Coach Express. Five Stars Tours, which has 50 buses going to Malaysia every day, is considering doubling services to 100 a day for the May 5 weekend.
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| Posted: 11 Apr 2013 12:40 PM PDT
There are fears of violence, but observers think they're overblown - or hope they are John Bethelsen, Asia Sentinel Malaysia's May 5 national elections are taking place against the backdrop of the most rancid ethnic and political atmosphere since 1969, when race riots shook the nation and led to the deaths of hundreds of ethnic Malays and Chinese. |
| Umno files defamation suit against Tian Chua Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:53 PM PDT
(NST) - Umno has filed a defamation suit against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, over an article posted in KeadilanDaily.com relating to the Lahad Datu intrusion. The legal action filed through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak last March 15 by Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh also named KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazallah Pit and the writer of the article, Aisha Geoffrey, as defendants. Counsel Nor Hazira Abu Haiyan, who represented Ab Rauf at the mention of the case today before Justice Rosilah Yop in chambers, said the court had fixed April 23 for Tian Chua, who is also Batu member of parliament, to file his defence and for case management. In his statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged that Tian Chua had made disparaging statements against Umno during an interview by a portal journalist, which were posted through an article, 'Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno" (Shooting incident in Lahad Datu an Umno orchestrated conspiracy) on March 1. Ab Rauf claimed that the PKR vice-president had damaged Umno's image as the intrusion in Lahad Datu involved the sovereignty of the country and was also a sensitive issue, with regard to the bloodshed and arbitrary claim on Sabah which rightly belonged to Malaysia. According to the plaintiff, he sent a notice of claim dated March 4 to Tian Chua for the latter to issue a written public apology and to withdraw the defamatory statements but did not receive any response.
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| PSM: No three-cornered fights, please Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:06 PM PDT
PSM would be meeting PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim by this Sunday to settle the issue over the seats that it is contesting in Selangor. K Pragalath, FMT Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) wants PKR to come to its senses and avoid any three-cornered fights. PSM maintains that if this happens, the only winner will be Barisan Nasional. The "troublesome" seats are Kota Damansara and Semenyih state seats in Selangor and Jelapang state seat and Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to meet PSM on Sunday. The PKR list of candidates for Selangor will be announced on Sunday. Kota Damansara seat is held by PSM chairman Nasir Hashim. PSM secretary-general, S Arutchelvan, wants to contest in Semenyih. "We are supposed to meet Anwar by this Sunday to resolve this issue. We hope to come to some sort of compromise to avoid a three-cornered fight," said Arutchelvan. On Sunday night, Anwar would be announcing PKR's candidates list for Selangor in an event that would take place in Hulu Klang. The issue over the two seats was raised because PKR wants to field its candidates in both the seats. Last week, Arutchelvan confirmed that he would be contesting in Semenyih amidst attempts by a Serdang PKR leader Hamidi Hasan to go for the semi-urban seat located in Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency. Selangor PKR wants to field its own candidate in the two seats because PSM had contested under PKR's banner in the last election held in 2008. "In the last election, they [PSM] contested under PKR's ticket, and they used our banner. However, I don't have the authority to make the decision or announcement. "I will let Anwar make the announcement this Sunday," said Batu Caves state assemblyman Amirudin Shari of PKR at the party headquarters today. Arutchelvan also said that in the event a three-cornered battle is unavoidable, the two states seats and Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak would fall to BN. "Why allow BN to take over the seat when PSM is Pakatan-friendly? Our common goal is to take over federal government," he said and confirmed that PSM would back Pakatan in all the state and parliamentary seats in the event of a three-cornered fight. Best candidate During GE12 held in 2008, PSM won the Kota Damansara and Sungai Siput seat respectively. Arutchelvan also expressed confidence that Jelapang would remain in the hands of Pakatan even if there was a three-cornered fight involving DAP, MCA and PSM.
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| Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:59 PM PDT
PKR leaders R Sivarasa and Saifuddin Nasution, however, imply that they are not agreeable to Parti Sosialis Malaysia using its own logo to contest in the general election. G Vinod, FMT PKR today denied any rift with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) in regard to which party would be contesting for the Kota Damansara state seat. However, the party implied that it was not comfortable with PSM contesting using its own logo. "We are offering the Kota Damansara state seat and the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat to PSM provided they contest under any of the Pakatan Rakyat party logos," said PKR supreme council member R Sivarasa at a press conference held at the party headquarters. Also present was PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution. Recently, it was reported that Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali had given the green light to lawyer Razlan Jalaludin to start campaigning for the Kota Damansara state seat. The seat is currently held by PSM chairman Nasir Hashim. "We're friends fighting together against a common enemy. I don't know why PKR is fussy about us. "To say that PKR has an issue with our socialist ideology doesn't make any sense… we never had any problems for the past five years," Nasir was reported saying. Elaborating on the matter, Saifuddin said the Pakatan presidential council had already advised PSM to contest using any of the opposition pact's party logo via a letter some time ago. "But we didn't receive any response from them. Since they are not part of the Pakatan pact, we advised them to use our logo," he said. Overlapping demands On why PSM was not admitted into Pakatan despite the former's application several months back, Saifuddin said, "I cannot answer that now. The issue now is about the logo."
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| 7 DAP leaders show support for BN Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:16 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Seven DAP senior branch leaders in the state have stated their support for Barisan Nasional (BN) after realising BN's Aku Janji provides more for the Indian community compared to the opposition's manifesto. Ladang Paroi DAP vice-chairman David Dass said the BN Aku Janji announced by charmain Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak last Saturday clearly showed BN's commitment in championing the welfare of Indians, compared to the opposition's unconvincing manifesto. "We saw the oppostion's manifesto during the 2008 general election in Selangor, but (after they failed to fulfill it) they said their manifesto wasn't a promise and this is different from the Aku Janji made by BN. "The Aku Janji is not like a manifesto, it's more of a personal promise and personal promises are better than a manifesto," he told reporters after delivering a ceramah at Ladang Rajent, Gemencheh, here last night. Joining him in stating their support were Desa Dahlia DAP chairman Richard Francis, Desa Dahlia DAP vice-chairman Jesu Dason, Desa Dahlia DAP secretary S. Karthiyaini, Ladang Rajent DAP secretary Chelvam Katham, Ladang Rajent DAP vice-chairman M. Subramaniam and Ladang Paroi DAP secretary K. Mahendran. Last Saturday, Najib announced the BN Aku Janji which will provide a RM500 million trust fund to increase the equity of Indians as well as set up a special unit to ensure the successful implementation of government policies to improve the lives of the Indian community. Dass, who still remains in the DAP, said he was confident that the Aku Janji would be another promise fulfilled. Meanwhile, Dass strongly criticised DAP's leadership especially party adviser Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and chairman Karpal Singh who he claimed were only concerned about some parties but denied the rights of members of the Indian community. He said this was proven by the selection of the DAP central executive committee (CEC) in Penang which raised the issue of democracy in the party over an alleged mistake in tallying of votes. "We urge the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to tell us the status of complaints on the matter and hope it will be done quickly," he said. Dass, who will announce his resignation from DAP soon, said more party members especially at the branch-level will join him as DAP was no longer a democratic party, but a rather dramatic one.
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| Wan Azizah hints Abdul Khalid may not be retained as Sgor MB Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:04 PM PDT
It was reported that Abdul Khalid might not be retained as MB against the backdrop of purported differences between him and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali. (Bernama) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has hinted that Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim may not retain his post as Selangor menteri besar if the opposition continues to rule the state following the May 5 general election. She said PKR had several potential candidates for the post other than Abdul Khalid. "(It) doesn't matter who is going to be the MB in Selangor as long as the person has the right policies," she told a press conference at the PKR headquarters, here, today. She was responding to queries on Abdul Khalid's future position since PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday announced that Abdul Khalid would only defend his Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat in the upcoming polls. Asked on the potential candidates for the top post in the state, Wan Azizah said: "Those who are contesting Selangor state constituencies." It was reported that Abdul Khalid might not be retained as MB against the backdrop of purported differences between him and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali. |
| Badrul's candidacy stirs up hornet's nest within PR Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT
(The Malay Mail) - PKR's announcement that Badrul Hisham Shahrin, otherwise known as Chegubard, would be contesting Sungai Acheh has stirred up a hornet's nest as PAS has also set its sights on it. The sudden announcement took some by surprise, as it was thought that the parties had agreed for the seat to be returned to PAS, adding an extra seat to the party's present five. State PAS commissioner Datuk Mohd Salleh Man sounded miffed over the phone after learning of PKR's decision at the eleventh hour. "We still want that seat. It is our seat. We will announce a candidate for that seat too. Wait for the announcement," he told The Malay Mail. Asked if PAS was giving up the Bayan Lepas state seat to PKR, Mohd Salleh slammed that speculation saying that they would also be contesting that seat. Chegubard said he was familiar with the area and that his father-in-law was the party division chief in 1999. "In fact, I was arrested by police here in 2002. By being in the supreme council, I also have been around the country," said the PKR supreme council member. When told the contention was that he was a parachute candidate, the former teacher said these issues could be easily sorted within the party leadership. "Of course, we do not discount the contribution by PAS because there are a lot of PAS supporters there. We look forward to PAS helping us secure this seat during the election." As for contesting in Penang after doing so twice in Negri Sembilan, he said his presence here would also help increase PKR membership and support among youths and the people. Sungai Acheh, which is a Malay-majority seat on the mainland, was originally a PAS seat until 2008, when it was given to PKR. However, Dr Azhar Ahmad lost by a mere 250 votes to BN's Mahmud Zakaria. Meanwhile, PKR sources said it was initially agreed that the seat would be returned to PAS but the agreement fell through after it realised that PAS did not have any representation on the island. "If we took the Bayan Lepas seat, PAS would not have any representation on the island. In any case, the Sungai Acheh seat is ours and Chegubard is a good candidate," the source said. They also said PKR was the "victim" within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition when it had to sacrifice a few seats, including the Gelang Patah parliament seat in Johor, which was given to DAP. "We can't afford to be pushed around like this. Hence, Mansor's announcement a day before PAS' line-up is a way to pre-emp the latter's announcement," they said.
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| Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:14 PM PDT
Dr Mahathir, a one-time Third World champion, Islamic spokesman and fierce critic of the West, has put Prime Minister Najib Razak on notice that if he does badly in the election he will lose the prime ministership in an internal party coup, ruling party sources say. Lindsay Murdoch, The Sydney Morning Herald When Mahathir Mohamad stepped down after 22 years as Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister in 2003, he promised not to interfere in government affairs or politics. ''No, I have already made it very clear that when I leave I will leave completely,'' he said. But 10 years later, as Malaysia prepares for its most closely fought election - announced on Wednesday for May 5 - the abrasive and outspoken 86-year-old has been criss-crossing the country as if he was still in power, launching tirades at opposition contenders and meddling in the fractured coalition that has ruled since independence from Britain in 1957. Dr Mahathir, a one-time Third World champion, Islamic spokesman and fierce critic of the West, has put Prime Minister Najib Razak on notice that if he does badly in the election he will lose the prime ministership in an internal party coup, ruling party sources say. As Mr Najib has introduced reforms to contain a growing clamour for greater accountability and democracy, Dr Mahathir has been urging a return to his authoritarian-style rule under which security forces routinely locked up government critics. ''We have now abolished the ISA [Internal Security Act] on the grounds that it is not right to detain a person without trial … this is an injustice and violation of human rights,'' Dr Mahathir wrote in his blog, adding that the United States killed anyone it designated an enemy in its war against terrorism. ''I wonder what Malaysians who object to detention without trial think of execution without trial,'' he said. As Mr Najib attempted to calm voters in the key state of Sabah following an incursion by a group of armed Filipinos in February, Dr Mahathir flew in to declare that vast water villages where wooden houses are connected by rickety gangways are a dangerous anachronism that should be demolished. Referring to more than 800,000 Filipinos who live in the state, Dr Mahathir declared that ''non-citizens'' should be deported, accusing them of co-operating with terrorists and hiding weapons. There are few issues Dr Mahathir does not speak out on. ''Europeans do not want to admit that they are poor, that Humpty-Dumpty has fallen off the wall,'' he wrote in a blog last month. Charismatic opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is one of his favourite targets, warning voters his former deputy will organise street protests that will destabilise the country when he faces certain defeat at Malaysia's 13th election. ''This is the way of Anwar,'' Dr Mahathir said of the man who spent six years in jail on dubious charges after the two men had a spectacular falling out. ''If he cannot get what he wants, he will prevent others from getting it.'' Mr Anwar said in February he no longer responded to Dr Mahathir's vilification. ''It will be just fine when there is a chance to counter Mahathir's arguments in a free national media, because now it's all one-way,'' he said. During his time in power, Dr Mahathir took rigid control of the media, which still refuses to publish criticism of the ruling party. But as the internet has emerged as an important forum and government scandals previously not aired are being openly debated, Dr Mahathir is crying foul. He complained that hackers had tampered with his blog at least five times so that people could not access it. ''Effectively I was silenced,'' he said. Malaysia's 13 million voters face a stark choice at the election between the ruling party that has brought decades of strong economic growth or a new era of sweeping change under Mr Anwar's three-party alliance.
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| GE13: DAP's Dr Boo challenged to step down as state party chief after polls Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:10 PM PDT
(The Star) - Johor DAP vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng has challenged state party chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau to step down after the 13th general election. He said he wanted Dr Boo to honour his announcement that he would step down, made at the the state party committee meeting held on Sunday, April 7, at the Gelang Patah service centre. Ong said Dr Boo was no longer suitable to lead the party in Johor due to his style of leadership. "Instead of uniting party's members, he has caused fractions in Johor DAP," he claimed in a press conference here Wednesday. Meanwhile, Dr Boo Cheng Hau, when met at a function in Johor Baru later, was evasive on the subject. "Ong claimed that I had said those words in a recent meeting, but did I?," he questioned. Dr Boo said that he would have to review the minutes of the meeting before making any statements pertaining the matter.
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| GE13: Boo sees red over Guan Eng’s meddling in candidates list Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:05 PM PDT
(The Star) - Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau has blown his top over the alleged meddling of secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in the state's candidates list. In an e-mail to the party's top brass, with copies sent to central executive committee (CEC) members and elected representatives from the party, he blasted Guan Eng for turning a casual discussion at a coffee shop into an official party decision. Dr Boo, who resigned from the Johor DAP candidate selection committee on Sunday together with state deputy chairman Norman Fernandez and secretary Tan Chen Choon, was referring to the naming of state youth chief Tan Hong Pin as a candidate for the Mengkibol state seat. Former assemblyman Ng Lam Hua was reported to have been dropped to make way for Hong Pin, who was earlier said to be slated for the Pekan Nenas state seat. Dr Boo said there was a discussion on Hong Pin's candidature during supper, with beers, at a coffee shop on April 2. But there was no decision. "How could a casual discussion in a coffee shop with beers be taken as an official party decision? It is irresponsible of Guan Eng to convince (former DAP chairman) Dr Chen Man Hin and other selection committee members that I had agreed to the arrangement," he said. Dr Chen, in reply, suggested Guan Eng review the selection of candidates in Johor to find an amicable solution. "It is most regretful that there was no discussion when the DAP decides seats, differently from that recommended by the state selection committee," he said. Responding to the angry mail, national DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the selection of candidates lay solely with the party's top leadership. "The state committees will recommend their list to the four-man national selection committee. Most of the time it's okay except for here and there." "Then the four-man committee decides and it's final. That, they should know," added Karpal, who is in the committee with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Guan Eng and party deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai. Karpal took Fernandez to task for voicing his displeasure to the press over the purported surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng. "This is wrong and (Norman) should not have done that. Someone must have the last say, and that is the party leaders," he said. Kok Wai, who is also the party's disciplinary committee chairman, said it was stated in the party constitution that the selection of candidates was the sole prerogative of the CEC. Meanwhile, state DAP vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng has asked Dr Boo to step down after the polls because he is no longer suitable to lead the party in Johor. "If he refuses to step down gracefully, I will make sure he will lose in the state party election in October," Ong said in Kulaijaya, Johor, yesterday.
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| MCA: Fuss about Ghani shows DAP’s true colour Posted: 10 Apr 2013 03:38 PM PDT
Gan Ping Sieu questions why DAP's cybertroopers have been attacking MCA over the reports that the Johor MB may contest in the Chinese-majority seat of Gelang Patah. Leven Woon, FMT MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu has questioned DAP's criticism against his party for allowing Umno's Abdul Ghani Othman to contest the Chinese-majority constituency of Gelang Patah in Johor. He said the criticisms came despite DAP's frequent claims of being non-racial. Conveying this at a forum on the 13th general election last night, Gan said MCA has come under attack from DAP's cybertroopers since news emerged that Ghani, the Johor menteri besar, might stand in the traditional MCA seat to square off with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang. Gelang Patah comprises 52% Chinese voters, 34% Malay and 12% Indian. MCA's division chief there Jason Teoh was initially thought to be the BN candidate. "After the news come out that Ghani wants to contest, (DAP) keeps attacking us, saying that we can't even defend a Chinese seat. In other words, they don't want Ghani to contest a Chinese seat. "If MCA were to contest a Malay seat, then they will again accuse us of hiding behind Umno," he said, adding that DAP practiced "double standard" with regard to its non-racial approach. Gan said this in response to a question during the Q&A session in the forum themed "What Are The Key Issues That Determine The Outcome of 13th GE". He and Umno supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah took on DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong and PAS central committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa. Liew said one major determining factor of the election would be whether PAS' Malay supporters and DAP's Chinese supporters would embrace each other. "If that crossing happens, than it will be the end of BN," he said. "I think it may happen, because more and more Malays are accepting DAP and more and more non-Malays are accepting PAS. PAS will be fielding non-Malay candidates and DAP has announced some Malay candidates," he said Who copied who During the Q&A session, the political rivals also accused each other of plagiarising their respective election manifestos, with Mujahid saying the title of BN's manifesto "Menepati Janji Membawa Harapan" launched last Saturday was similar to Pakatan's "Pakatan Harapan Rakyat". "We came out with the Buku Jingga (Pakatan common policies framework) in 2009. So if someone releases their manifesto with similar contents later, I call them a copycat," he said. Liew said the spirit of the Pakatan manifesto is to combat corruption and use the money saved to finance a series of programmes, which target the lower-income group.
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| Grudge Match Shapes up in Key Malaysia State Posted: 10 Apr 2013 01:56 PM PDT Chuin-Wei Yap, Wall Street Journal Heavy campaign-related spending by the ruling National Front coalition in the opposition stronghold state of Penang has put the incumbent Democratic Action Party on the defensive ahead of Malaysia's general and state elections on May 5. Penang is a key electoral battleground. The northwestern state is the third-largest contributor to the national gross domestic output after Selangor and Johor. More importantly, the unprecedented win by the opposition of Penang five years ago marked a watershed decline in the ruling coalition's fortunes there. Penang's 13 seats out of 222 total in the Parliament may not be hefty in numbers, but the opposition's five-year ascendancy has enabled it to showcase the state as an example of its policies in action to the national voter. The DAP, which mainly draws support from the ethnic Chinese minority, said it expects the National Front to wage a bitter campaign to regain control of the state. Penang has emerged a big draw for investors, with many from China and Singapore snapping up luxury properties and companies like U.S. electronics manufacturer Bose and chip-maker Intel Corp. INTC +2.34% pledging cash to build hi-tech factories. In recent months, the ruling coalition and its allies have financed a lavish round of goodies and giveaways in Penang. This has included a Lunar New Year concert by Korean "Gangnam Style" rapper Psy, organized by the Penang branch of the National Front. Opposition leaders say National Front allies are using their financial clout to invite Taiwanese and Hong Kong entertainers – playing to the state's plurality of Chinese, an ethnicity that accounts for a quarter of Malaysia's population – for a second concert in late April, though an official with the ruling coalition said the event hasn't been confirmed yet. The Malaysian Chinese Association, a member of the National Front, has also given out thousands of plush toys. Government-controlled newspapers have been printing the National Front's election manifesto, and opposition leaders say non-governmental organizations allied to the National Front are handing out donations in a bid to shore up support. Acknowledging that the DAP has been heavily outspent by the National Front on its home turf, DAP's assistant national publicity secretary Zairil Khir Johari said Tuesday his party is counting on social media to narrow its financial disadvantage and court a critical segment of active voters. Read more at: http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/04/10/grudge-match-shapes-up-in-key-malaysia-state/
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| Soi Lek: Don’t ask me about MCA seats, all up to PM Posted: 10 Apr 2013 01:45 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek berated the media today for constantly pushing him to answer questions on his or his MCA's contest in the polls, pointing out that the final decision lies solely in the hands of Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Met on the sidelines of the Barisan Nasional (BN) divisional meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) this afternoon, the MCA president refused to entertain the questions and turned around instead to question the motive behind them. "PM already told you people that there is no final decision. Why must we keep repeating the same thing again and again?" he said. "You all must understand. The PM already has the final say. No final decision (has been made). So you don't need to sibuk-sibuk (be busybodies), hoping that I say something different from the PM. "And then you can create another crisis - (that MCA has) differing views. What's the purpose? No purpose," Dr Chua added. Dr Chua (picture)was asked at first to reveal if he would be entering the coming polls contest and to state his chosen seat, to which he replied, "Don't talk about myself. Talk about BN first." Sources recently told The Malaysian Insider that the former minister had recently declined the offer to contest in Gelang Patah where Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is fielding DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, leaving BN to consider other choices for what is expected to be the hottest battle in Umno's home state of Johor. The Malaysian Insider also understands MCA is pushing for caretaker Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman to fight the DAP adviser but an unsettled Malay ground and pro-opposition Chinese voters could scuttle those plans. "Some in the BN war room thought it would be a titanic fight and that Dr Chua is strong enough to face Kit but the MCA president said no," a BN source told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the veteran opposition leader by his moniker Kit. "Now other choices are being considered as the final list must be ready by Tuesday," the source added. PR announced last month that Lim was to run in Gelang Patah, and spearhead the opposition pact's push to pick up more federal seats in Johor. Soi Lek was then dared by the DAP to face Lim but the MCA president declined the challenge last week. The MCA had earlier named local division leader Jason Teoh to run in the federal seat won by Johor Wanita MCA chief and deputy national vice-chairman Tan Ah Eng in Election 2008 when she retained the seat by defeating PKR's Zaliha Mustafa by 8,851 votes. Lim's political arch-foe Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called the move from Ipoh TImor "ridiculous", calling BN members to bury the DAP adviser's political career and said the local Chinese would not give support. Lim then asked Dr Mahathir to run against him but was turned down. Since then, MCA-controlled newspaper The Star has been reporting that Ghani was popular with the electorate and would be ideal to face the veteran DAP leader. However, it is learnt that BN has not included the caretaker Johor mentri besar in its candidates list due to a pushback from the local Malay community upset with rising costs and being elbowed out of the fast-developing and pricy Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/soi-lek-dont-ask-me-about-mca-seats-all-up-to-pm/
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| Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:59 AM PDT
(Foreign Policy) - Last month, a young opposition member of Malaysia's Parliament, Nurul Izzah Anwar, was scheduled to speak at a university forum on the country's impending general election. You'd think that that wouldn't have been a problem: Malaysia's rulers, after all, routinely portray their country as a thriving democracy. In this case, though, the guardians of democracy weren't having any of it. Anonymous officials quickly intervened, pressuring the university to pull the panel and replace its members with speakers less inclined to criticize the government. But Nurul Izzah refused to leave it at that. She attended the event as a member of the audience, and then used the question-and-answer period to speak her mind. Nurul Izzah is used to fighting the odds. At the age of 32, she's spent a lifetime battling the powers-that-be. And now, as Malaysia embarks on awatershed national vote on May 5, she finds herself at the center of a vicious battle to defend her seat. The ruling party is pulling out all the stops to defeat her. But the question remains: Why would this mother of two pose such a threat? Nurul Izzah became an opposition member of Malaysia's parliament in 2008 after winning in a multi-ethnic, mixed-income Kuala Lumpur suburb where she plans to run again. How she fares in the coming election will mirror Malaysia's political journey from a one-party system, sustained by sectarian politics and ethnic patronage, to a competitive, multiethnic, and egalitarian polity. The People's Pact, an opposition coalition led by Nurul's father, the 64-year-oldAnwar Ibrahim, is up against the National Front (Barisan Nasional, or BN), which has ruled Malaysia for the past 56 years. BN is dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), a party that serves as a political vehicle for the ethnic Malays who make up over half of the country's population. (Malaysia also boasts strong Chinese and Indian ethnic minorities, both groups that are represented especially heavily in Anwar's coalition.) Cracking the dominance of BN won't be easy. During his four years in office, the current prime minister and BN leader, Najib Razak, has presided over strong economic growth (5.6 percent last year) and has attempted to placate discontent by implementing a few modest liberalizing reforms. But the biggest challenge facing the opposition is BN's deeply-rooted control over Malaysia's most important institutions, from the mainstream media to the national election commission. In the run-up to the national election, indeed, Nurul has seen fit to file a claim with the commission alleging tampering with the voter lists for her constituency. One of her party workers was also recently beaten up by unknown assailants. Despite these obstacles, however, she does have some powerful advantages on her side. An articulate and charismatic speaker, the U.S.-educated (and confessed Radiohead fan) Nurul Izzah has considerable appeal among the educated and globalized elements within her country's remarkably diverse society. (After getting her undergraduate degree at a leading private university in Malaysia, she earned an MA at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.) As a headscarf-wearing Muslim, she combines her cosmopolitan credentials with both a sense of religious propriety and decorum that has put her in good stead with the staunchly conservative ethnic Malay society. She also enjoys excellent name recognition, thanks to the long political saga of her father. Anwar Ibrahim lost his position as deputy prime minister in September 1998 in a showdown against Malaysia's long-entrenched prime minister and political strongman, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Placed under arrest, Anwar was beaten while in police custody, and then charged with sodomy (a crime in Malaysia) and corruption. He spent the next six years in prison, and in 2004 was acquitted on the charge of sodomy and released. But the "sodomite" label stuck. Mahathir used it to justify Anwar's inability to be a leader, and today supporters of the BN government still use it to demonize the People's Pact. Read more at: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/09/the_princess_of_reform?page=0,1 |
| GE13: Federal-state row threatens Pakatan's record in Penang Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:54 AM PDT
(fz.com) - The current sentiment in Penang is that a majority of the people there expect Pakatan Rakyat to be returned to power in the island state for a second term in the 13th general election. Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said it is possible for Pakatan to retain the state but it needs to attend to certain pressing issues, including enhancing cooperation with the federal government to undertake development and provide key services. He said at the moment there were still no long term policies being planned, implemented or executed "properly" because of a gap in the federal-state relations. "Penang Paradigm requires the state government to work together with the federal government. This puts a lot of doubt on the execution of the state's plans if things remain at status quo. "They have to accept a new reality where both parties work together and include everyone in their plans," he said in an interview with fz.com recently. Penang Paradigm is DAP's 10-year development master plan, launched in February this year, with the objective of getting Malaysia out of the middle-income trap. Illustrating his point with the traffic congestion issue in Penang, Khoo said the state could not introduce additional bus services as the permits would have to come from the federal government. All public transportation systems throughout the country come under the charge of the Land Public Transport Commission. "With this situation, perhaps the state needs to change its engagement approach. I think, Penangites want to see a relationship where they will work together," said Khoo. Khoo believed it would be a problem if the political scenario remains at status quo, with Penang firmly entrenched in the hands of Pakatan, while BN continues to hold Putrajaya, and both governments being hostile towards each other. In this situation, he said, things will come to a "breaking point" when Penangites cannot take the uncooperative relationship between the two governments anymore. "We're trying to gauge the breaking point. I don't know when or what will be the breaking point. It's difficult to conduct business after the general election if both sides bicker. "The whole atmosphere is not suitable for governance and I don't know if the people will see this as a risk," said Khoo. While expressing confidence that Pakatan will hold on to the majority of the seats on the island, he warned the coalition not to be complacent as Penang voters might surprise them. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-federal-state-row-threatens-pakatans-record-penang |
| Najib demands BN unity in ‘explosive’ speech Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:45 AM PDT
(Today Online) - Malaysian PM drives home importance of fielding 'winnable' candidates in coming polls Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday demanded complete co-operation from all the leaders from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, pointing out it would be "impossible" to please everyone when drawing up the party's final candidates list. The BN Chairman, in what leaders later described as an "explosive" speech ahead of the May 5 polls, repeated his message of unity to a hall of hundreds at the Putra World Trade Centre, reminding them that their most important goal is to form a strong government after Election 2013. "I took the opportunity to tell them the few factors that we need to take into consideration in the division of seats and the identification of candidates, so that they understand that this is a complex and complicated process and we are unlikely to be able to fulfil the wishes of all or to satisfy every individual," Mr Najib told a press conference here after the briefing. "It is impossible for this to happen," he firmly added. Mr Najib and his close associates have kept the BN's candidates list a guessing game among even the pact's more senior leaders, believing that this strategy would help stop internal sabotage during the actual polls. Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/najib-demands-bn-unity-explosive-speech
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| Malaysian general election set for May 5 Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:41 AM PDT
(Today Online) - Nomination Day is on April 20, 15-day campaign period is the longest in three decades Malaysians will head to the ballot box on May 5, for what is shaping up to be one of the most closely-fought elections in the history of Singapore's next-door neighbour. While speculation was rife that Polling Day would be earlier, political pundits were not surprised by the 15-day campaign period — the longest in about three decades — decided upon by the country's Election Commission, given the expected intensity of the electoral contests. Nomination Day is on April 20. There are 222 Parliamentary and 505 state seats at stake. Sarawak will sit out this round of state elections as it went to the polls in 2011. Some 13.3 million Malaysians are eligible to vote this time around, with first-time voters making up about 2.6 million of this number. Analysts have noted that the election is crucial to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is seeking a mandate to carry on with the country's economic transformation after taking over in 2009 as the country's sixth Prime Minister. Election Commission Chair Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said in a televised press conference: "We have checked and decided on May 5 as the date for elections, because the date is free from any important events." While the political parties are only allowed to campaign from Nomination Day onwards, election fever has gripped the country since Mr Najib dissolved Parliament last Wednesday. Yesterday's announcement was a prelude to a flurry of election activities in Malaysia's capital: The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition organised a closed-door session at the Putra World Trade Centre where Mr Najib gave an "explosive" speech — in the words of members of the audience — to hundreds of BN leaders. About 1,000 United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Selangor activists also gathered in Shah Alam, where they were asked by BN deputy chief for Selangor Noh Omar and BN's Selangor coordinator Mohd Zin Mohamed to support the candidates that Mr Najib puts up for the 22 Parliament and 56 state seats at stake in Selangor. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat also held a rally last night where about 2,000 people turned up despite a drizzle. Opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim, who was the star attraction at the rally, said the BN was "at a disconnect with the people". Speaking in Malay, he said: "UMNO leaders are blind with both their eyes and their hearts — they don't know the hardship of the people. I'm making promises ... but why is Najib making promises when he is the Prime Minister? He should just be doing (things instead)." In the previous elections in 2008, political parties were allowed to campaign officially for 13 days. The results were described as a political tsunami, with the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, capturing five states. The BN won 50.27 per cent of the popular vote, while Pakatan took 46.8 per cent. Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/malaysian-general-election-set-may-5 |
| Malaysia: Drop Sedition Charges for Opposition Leader Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:38 AM PDT
(Human Rights Watch) - "A top priority for the next government of Malaysia should be the immediate repeal of the Sedition Act, an anachronistic, rights repressive law that should have been scrapped long ago," Robertson said. "Malaysia should resist calls to replace it with a more cheerfully named yet equally oppressive piece of legislation, and trust in the existing penal code to preserve peace and order." (New York) – Malaysian authorities should drop sedition charges against a political opposition leader that violate rights to free expression, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 12, 2013, a court in Kuala Lumpur will bring proceedings against Tian Chua, vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party, PKR) and a member of parliament.
"Charging an opposition leader with sedition for expressing his views in the media ahead of a general election is a direct assault on the democratic process," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director. "Prosecutors should end this charade and immediately drop their politically motivated charges against Tian Chua." The authorities charged Tian under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for making seditious remarks over the phone on March 1 to a reporter at the Suara Keadilan (Keadilan Daily). He is accused of saying the February fighting at Lahad Datu, in Sabah, between Malaysian security forces and armed men from the Philippines was part of a "planned conspiracy" by the "UMNO government" in order "to divert attention and frighten citizens." He is also alleged to have raised concerns about the "UMNO government" engaging in a "shadow play" connected to an election registration conspiracy in Sabah. The Sedition Act includes vague offenses such as uttering "any seditious words" without defining what constitutes "sedition" or "seditious words," Human Rights Watch said. Instead the act broadly outlaws any "seditious tendency" that would "bring into hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government." Read more at: http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/10/malaysia-drop-sedition-charges-opposition-leader |
| Malaysians in Britain eager to vote Posted: 09 Apr 2013 07:37 PM PDT
(Bernama) - LONDON: More than 70,000 Malaysians are now residing in United Kingdom (UK). Some are studying in colleges or universities and mostly working. Many have brought along families and have been staying in UK for more than a decade. With the polling date for the 13th General Election (GE13) set on May 5, and Malaysians overseas for the first time allowed to vote as postal voters, Malaysians in Britain are eager to exercise their rights as voters. Bernama's writer had the opportunity to look into the preparations being made by Malaysians in London for the GE13 as postal or absent voters. "As of 24 March 2013, a total of 839 Malaysians have registered as postal voters in UK to vote during GE13," explained Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong to Bernama when met in London recently. This is the first time in the country's election history, Malaysians have been allowed to vote from another country. Previously, only civil servants stationed overseas had the privilege of voting in absence but not the other employees and students. Zakaria expects the number of Malaysian voters in London to increase on the run up to the election. "Those who have registered as voters have to be at the High Commission office to certify their identity through their IC or passports before they are handed over their voting slip, on the polling day meant for postal voters,"explained Zakaria. The Election Commission (EC) has set an early polling date for postal and absent voters on April 30. The postal voters voting for the first time in UK will be receiving voting slips based on their respective parliament and state assembly seats. Yet there are other loyal Malaysians who are planning to return home for the GE13 to vote at the respective polling centres. Nevertheless, the postal vote facility helps to save cost as they don't have to waste money on air tickets to return home and there is no need to take long leave to be back home to vote in GE13 and the subsequent elections. Moreover, postal voters need not have their fingers marked with indelible ink according to Zakaria because of the limited numbers of voters and as there is only one voting centre in London, the Malaysian High Commission. A Malaysian, Wan Nur Suryani Firuz Wan Ariffin when met at the Kings College campus at The Strand, London, pointed out how easily she registered as a postal voter. "It just took me a short while. I went into the EC website as required and submitted my application, received a message that my submission has been received in less than 10 minutes," explained Wan Nur who is into her sixth month of her Phd degree in telecommunication engineering at the prestigious college that boasts for 25,000 undergraduates and postgraduates. When asked if her application to vote was successful, Wan Nur nodded with asmile. "Alhamdulillah. I definitely want to vote in PRU13. Me and my husband who works at the immigration section of the Malaysian High Commission here will exercise our rights as citizens," he added, while walking to a restaurant for a tea break. Meanwhile, S.Devina from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, who continued her stay in Britain after completing her studies also concurred with Wan Nur that registering as a postal voter was easy. "When is the election? I have been waiting all this while, and have been asking on the date. When ever I meet fellow Malaysians, I ask the same question," said Devina with a giggle. Devina, who is fluent in the Malay language, is attached to the Southeast Asian and African Studies (SOAS) Department at the London University in Bloomsbury, got to know of the postal voting and the registration process involved through social websites. "I welcome the opportunity to vote given to Malaysians overseas. This is a wise move of the Malaysian government. As soon as I heard of the announcement, I was exhilarated and waited for the postal voting registration to be activated,"added Devina when met at the Brunei Gallery, located right opposite of the SOAS building. Malaysians working for locals or multi nationals in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also underwent same registration process recently. While the returning officer is in charge of the polling centres, the polling centre at the High Commission will be managed by an official and his assistant both appointed by the EC. Apart from that, the agents for candidates also given the opportunity to observe the voting process like back home. A clerk will be appointed to counter check the voters list at the polling centre in London and hand over to the voters the respective ballot papers. After receiving the ballot papers, the voter then proceeds to the polling booth to make his choice and the marked ballot is then cast into a bag. After the voting is closed, the bag will be taken by the official back to Malaysia using the fastest route. "From London's Heathrow, there are two return flights to Malaysia daily, therefore the ballot papers can be dispatched speedily," explained Zakaria. After the ballot papers arrive in Malaysia, they will be sent to the respective Parliament and state assembly polling centres. Those who have registered as postal voters should take advantage of this opportunity introduced recently by the Malaysian government. Malaysia is among a handful of countries that now allows its citizens to vote from outside. Apart from that many of the outstanding contention that haunted the voters hither to will be over once they mark the ballot papers. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had signed a MoU with Transparency International to monitor and ensure GE13 freely and fairly to fulfill the Malaysians aspirations
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| Bersih, Pakatan accused of using dirty tactics Posted: 09 Apr 2013 07:04 PM PDT Former Transparent International-Malaysia president Tunku Aziz claims election agents and voters have been trained to create chaos on polling day. Alyaa Azhar, FMT Former Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim today urged Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat to state their stand on the purported strategies designed to create "chaos" on polling day. "We have received related documents that appear to indicate that there are plans by certain parties to disrupt the 13th general election by creating chaos and besmirching the Election Commission [EC] to undermine the public's confidence in the integrity of the democratic electoral process. "Training sessions, known as PACABA, have been conducted for polling and counting agents by the NGO Tindak Malaysia. One particular aspect of such training sessions is to teach the voter to guard the secrecy of his or her vote," he said. He further claimed that people are being trained to demand for random ballot paper in order to guarantee the secrecy of their votes. Tunku Aziz said asking for random ballot paper means that a voter will demand for a ballot paper from the middle or bottom of the pile and not the one on the top. "The people attending such training are encouraged to challenge the election clerks on duty of committing an electoral offence if they refuse to issue a random ballot to the voter, while polling agents have been trained to support such a request by the voter. "These people are specially trained to cause trouble and when the police have to intervene and remove the people involved, this would make it look like the election is dirty and video recordings of such instances will attract a lot of international attention," claimed Tunku Aziz. He said that such training sessions have been conducted at various places, in "certain state-owned venues under the administration of the Pakatan state governments." "They are teaching people to make a mockery of the democratic system. These are also strategies to demonise the EC and to make Malaysia look like a country run by a bunch of dictators. "We have also seen an internal PKR document dated Dec 15, 2012 which lists out various steps to create chaos and dissatisfaction against the EC on polling day by raising repeated protests at the polling station so as to cause the other voters waiting in the queue to be unhappy and dissatisfied with the EC," he said. Negative perception "All these are designed to cast a negative perception on the EC and stir public outrage against the EC, bringing it into disrepute. "The PKR document and what that has been promoted by Tindak Malaysia show how easily chaos can be created at polling stations on polling day," he said. Tunku Aziz also urged Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga to state her stand in the issue.
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| Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:23 PM PDT
The Batu Gajah MP cited personal reasons for her decision and said that she had informed of her intentions to Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh in September. G Vinod, FMT Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan will not be contesting for any seat in the 13th general election. She cited personal reasons for her sudden departure from mainstream politics. "I have informed party adviser and chairman, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, of my intention way back in September itself," Fong said in a statement. However, she vowed to play her role as a DAP leader to ensure Pakatan Rakyat captures federal power in the general election. She also conveyed her appreciation to the party and voters of the Batu Gajah parliamentary constituency for giving her the opportunity to serve them since 1999. "I would like to thank reporters and civil servants who have assisted me in serving my constituents over the years," said Fong. On what is her future plans, Fong said with a chuckle, "Look for a job." Fong won the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat for the first time in 1999 general election, held after the sacking of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Not only was she the youngest elected MP then, Fong also won the seat with a majority of over 2,000 votes. Since then, Fong has made her mark as an outspoken MP and even earned the monicker "cili padi". However, Fong almost quit politics in the run-up to the 2008 general election but was persuaded to stay on by Lim. It was said that she made the decision after having a fallout with the Perak DAP leadership. On March 25, several DAP members, on condition of anonymity, alleged that the Perak DAP leadership would be sending Fong to contest in Johor, in an attempt to bury her political career.
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| EC: GE13 not dirtiest, but the best Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:11 PM PDT EC chief Abdul Aziz Yusof says contrary to the opposition's claims, the coming polls will be the best ever. Leven Woon, FMT Election Commission chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof has dismissed the opposition's claim that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest polls ever, saying that the EC has put in place various reforms to ensure the integrity of the contest. Commenting on the claims that the frequent occurrence of political violence is a sign that the country is heading towards the dirtiest polls ever, Abdul Aziz said detractors failed to see EC's efforts of introducing 19 new rules to improve the conduct of the polls. The regulations included the indelible ink, registration of advanced voters and postal voters, allowing advanced voting for military personnel and spouses instead of postal voting, abolishing the process of protest on nomination day, and allowing the disabled to bring a companion to help them to vote. "I disagree that it will be the dirtiest. We have put in place so many changes… So we hope it will be the best election ever held," he said. Abdul Aziz was addressing media queries at a conference after announcing the nomination and polling dates. He contended that the level of political violence "is not very serious" and hoped leaders from various political parties can advise their supporters and members to be rationale. Using government asset to campaign On the concerns of the caretaker government using state assets to campaign for party interests, he said each state by right should abide by the code of ethics imposed by respective state administrations. "However, the code of ethics is only a guideline, it is not a form of stipulated laws which can be tendered in court," he said.
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| GE13: Intense horse-trading among PKR hopefuls Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:11 PM PDT
(The Star) - With just less than a day until the Election Commission (EC) announces the polling and nomination dates for GE13, PKR saw intense horse-trading by candidate hopefuls. The PKR headquarters here was abuzz yesterday with potential candidates jostling and doing some last-minute lobbying for a place in the general election. Journalists had also taken to camping out below the headquarters, waiting for any announcement from the party over the finalisation of their seat allocations as well as the candidates' list. Party deputy president Azmin Ali had previously said that the seat negotiations between Pakatan Rakyat parties would conclude earlier this week before the the EC's announcement of the nomination and polling dates today. However, it was not to be as it is understood that several seats in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are still in contention. This has not stopped many of the party's elected representatives as well as potential candidates from lining up to meet PKR's top guns president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin. Both Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah, who were seen leaving the building together, were tight lipped over the candidates, with the president blaming her sore throat for declining to answer questions. "This is just PKR's meeting on the general elections," said Anwar. Meanwhile, Azmin told reporters that Pakatan should conclude their talks today, adding that they were already "so close" with less than 10 seats still in contention. "That I think is already quite an achievement. We only have less than 10 seats left out of all the 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats in the country," he said, playing down talks of discord within Pakatan. However, he expressed surprise when told that PAS had announced most of their candidates. Negotiations with former Barisan Nasional men Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing's Angkatan Perubahan Sabah and Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin's Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah had also concluded and they would announce their candidates on Thursday and Friday, added Azmin.
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| GE13: Fernandez: Segamat surrender an act of treachery Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:58 PM PDT
(The Star) - An "act of betrayal and treachery." That's how DAP state deputy chairman Norman Fernandez described the surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to PKR. "(DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng must be answerable to party members in Segamat and Johor for this," he said when commenting on the announcement by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Johor PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng would be the opposition front's candidate in Segamat. Norman's remarks came after the disbanding of Johor DAP candidates' selection committee, of which he was a member together with state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and secretary Tan Chen Choon. Segamat which has more than 47,000 voters and encompasses the state seats of Jementah and Buloh Kasap, is regarded as DAP's "traditional" seat in Johor. Norman said the hand over of Segamat to PKR proved that the decision of the selection team to disband was correct and justified. It is understood the panel had faced criticism over the way in which the party leadership "parachute" candidates at the expense of diehard local campaigners. Among those who opposed the move were Johor DAP vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng and Mengkibol assemblyman Ng Lam Hua, who was reported to be dropped to make way for state Youth chief Tan Hong Pin. Tan, who was earlier slated for the Pekan Nenas state seat, is expected to be moved to Mengkibol to help secure votes for prospective Kluang parliamentary candidate Liew Chin Tong, the incumbent Bukit Bendera MP in Penang. Norman said Chua had no desire to contest a state seat, proving that he was a state chairman who had neither the confidence nor the gumption to contest any seat allocated to his party. "Instead, he only covets DAP seats. This speaks volumes about the candidate for Segamat," he said. Human Resources Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has been the MP for Segamat Barisan Nasional since 2004. Dr Boo said PKR should give up one of its parliamentary seats as a replacement for Segamat. He said DAP would only contest six parliamentary seats in Johor compared with 12 by PKR, with PAS taking eight seats. A total of 26 parliamentary seats and 56 state seats are up for grabs in Johor. Among the parliamentary seats PKR would be contesting are Johor Baru, Tebrau, Batu Pahat, Muar, and Segamat while Gelang Patah and Kluang would be contested by DAP.
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| RPK’s articles hurt my reputation, says lawyer Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:33 PM PDT
(The Star) - Lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah contended that his reputation was tarnished due to the publication of three defamatory articles by Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin. His lead counsel S. Ravindran said Muhammad Shafee had given evidence of his reputation during the hearing on assessment of damages in his defamation suit in chambers yesterday. Speaking to reporters later, Muhammad Shafee said he had also given a copy of his curriculum vitae to the court. "The CV shows what sort of reputation I have," he said. Muhammad Shafee added that the articles were still available on the website although the court had held it was defamatory. Raja Petra's lawyer Jadadish Chandra said he had asked Muhammad Shafee on the appointments and awards he had obtained after the publication of the articles on Aug 6, 7 and 11, 2008. "He continued to get awards. He even got a Datuk Seri award in 2009. There was no damage (to his reputation) as alleged," he said. Senior assistant registrar Farah Hana Hashim ordered parties to send written submissions by May 9 for assessment of damages. In February 2011, Muhammad Shafee succeeded in getting a judgment against Raja Petra over three defamatory articles. High Court judge Justice John Louis O'Hara held that the offending words in the articles were false, malicious and defamatory of Muhammad Shafee. Muhammad Shafee made an application on Jan 26 for the disposal of his August 2008 suit based on a point of law without going for a full trial.
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| Malaysian Police Ready Two Election Plans Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:29 PM PDT
One if Anwar wins, the other if Najib does Other sources say that the mood inside the "war room," or election headquarters at the United Malays National Organization is brimming with confidence. "I don't know why," an independent source said. "They must know something." John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel For the first time ever, according to sources in Kuala Lumpur, the Royal Police have formulated two contingency plans for the night of Malaysia's 13th general election, expected to be on April 27 or after. Other sources say that the mood inside the "war room," or election headquarters at the United Malays National Organization is brimming with confidence. "I don't know why," an independent source said. "They must know something." Read more at: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5324&Itemid=178
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| Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:21 PM PDT
(Sin Chew Daily) - Candidate selection has always been a problem for the ruling and opposition parties in election. The situation in the BN, however, is more complicated than Pakatan Rakyat, particularly the BN is adopting the strategy of fielding only candidates with high winning odds this time. It is puzzling that the BN has started from a relatively easier task, namely vote canvassing, and leaves the thorny problem of candidate selection until the last minute. Deciding the candidates first can at least leave room for remedy if they receive strong rebound from local members or an outbreak of factional problem. However, deciding the candidates only when it is close to the nomination day will leave no space to save the situation once there is an error. Finalising the candidate list earlier also allows them to start the election campaign earlier, instead of leaving component party leaders and their grassroots to keep guessing. It is unusual this time. BN leaders Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have respectively met retired civil servants and education practitioners on Monday. Najib had also visited Perak on Tuesday. The previous practice was, BN chairman would call for a meeting with component party leaders to decide on candidates once the Parliament was dissolved. Uncertainty is detrimental for the BN. For instance, it was widely rumoured that the People's Progressive Party (PPP) leader M. Kayveas, instead of a Gerakan member, would contest for the Kepong parliamentary seat. In this case, Kepong Gerakan would stop canvassing for the candidate. Similar situation takes place in Gerakan's Kota Alam Shah (Selangor) and Jalong (Perak) state seats, as well as MCA's Kuantan (Pahang), Wangsa Maju (Wilayah Persekutuan) and Gelang Patah (Johor) parliamentary seats, and Kota Laksamana (Malacca) and Tronoh (Perak) state seats. It is chaotic in Bandar Tun Razak even before the election. Banners opposing MCA's Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho and his son can be seen in that area as the candidate has not yet been decided. The DAP has decided to field Liew Chin Tong to contest for the Kluang parliamentary seat, while there is no official announcement yet from the MCA on whether to field Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung or Gan Ping Sieu. If undercurrent within the party is not subsided as soon as possible, dissatisfaction emotions would be brewed and spread. It could then lead to an obstacle and thus, it is necessary to immediately pacify and appease them. The BN has not done enough in this part. Of course, Pakatan Rakyat also faces the candidate selection problem, particularly in the front-line state of Johor. After missing for 18 days and claimed he was homeless, Johor PKR chairman Chua Jui Ming returned and was named the PKR candidate for the Segamat parliamentary seat. And now, it is Johor DAP's turn to be unhappy. State DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez lashed out at secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and demanded him to explain to party members in Segamat, while describing the surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to PKR as an "act of betrayal and treachery". It was reported that Johor DAP candidate selection panel chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau has quit, along with Norman Fernandez and Tan Chen Choon. Sources said that they were unhappy when state DAP youth chief Tan Hong Ping was fielded by party central leadership to contest in Mengkibol state constituency. In addition, Johor PKR is facing a problem, too. For example, the grassroots are not happy with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's decision to field former army chief Jen Tan Sri Md Hashim Hussein to contest for the Johor Bahru parliamentary seat. However, there is still time to calm down and Pakatan Rakyat's candidates for Johor state seats have gradually unveiled, while the BN's candidate list is still undecided. If the nomination day really falls on 20 April, the BN would then have only 10 more days to finalise its candidate list. In politics, one day could be one year. It is a misstep of the BN.
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| Najib sets up Malaysian poll thriller Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:45 PM PDT
Anil Netto, Asia Times Malaysians are gearing up for what are expected to be the most closely contested general elections in the country's history. Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the dissolution of parliament on April 3, ending nearly two years of speculation over when the polls would be held. The Election Commission meets this week to set a date for polls, which must be held within 60 days. Najib's earlier reluctance to call an election likely reflects his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's hesitation faced with the resurgent challenge of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition coalition. Parliament's current five-year term expires on April 28; no previous premier has ever dissolved the legislature so close to the end of its term. Some political analysts believe the opposition is poised to make historic gains, or even win the election outright. PR won five of 13 national states at the 2008 general election, notching nearly 47% of the popular vote for federal level parliamentary seats. The result denied the BN a two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to change the constitutional and represented the BN's worst yet electoral showing. The then prime minister Abdullah Badawi took responsibility for the slippage and handed the premiership to Najib the following year. Najib, who has not yet faced the electorate as BN's leader, has fared well in opinion surveys, despite a significant erosion in public perceptions of the wider BN coalition and its associated politicians. A Merdeka Center poll from February showed that popular support for the ruling coalition had fallen below 50%. Najib has governed under the heavy shadow of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled with an iron fist for two decades from 1981-2003 and publicly sparred with Badawi during his tenure. Despite certain reforms, including abolishment of the notorious Internal Security Act (only to have it replaced by a new security law that also allows detention without trial), Najib's administration is viewed by many as carrying much of the legacy of Mahathir's old order, characterized by corruption, patronage and environmental destruction. At the same time, Najib has notably shied from public debates with PR leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was famously sacked as finance minister and later imprisoned on corruption and sodomy charges under Mahathir after the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. In the wake of the opposition's 2008 electoral gains, Anwar vowed to bring down the BN government through parliamentary defections that never materialized. He faced down new charges of sodomy - a criminal offense in predominantly Muslim Malaysia - that many analysts believed were politically motivated to drain his coalition's political momentum. Najib has warned that voting for the opposition would represent a step backward for economic reform and that a PR-led government would subvert the US$400 billion Economic Transformation Program (ETP) his government launched in 2010. The policy aims to lift Malaysia to high-income nation status by 2020. Officials have pointed to rising household incomes, up from 4,025 ringgit (US$1,315) per month in 2009 to 5,000 last year, as indication of the policy's early success. Those income gains have been padded by a series of government hand-outs, including pay hikes and other financial perks for civil servants and employees of government-linked companies and agencies, that critics have said are tantamount to vote-buying. Higher household incomes, opposition critics argue, mask the net economic pinch of faster-rising costs of living, including inflation in the prices of basic foods, education, health care and rental properties. They argue that the ETP policy is ultimately unsustainable and has wholly failed to address the still yawning income gap between rich and poor. Over the weekend, Najib promised a raft of new handouts if elected, including direct cash payments to unmarried Malaysians of voting age, reduced car prices and a 20% reduction in Internet service charges. He also promised a pan-Borneo highway project to match the one on offer by the PR. For its part, the PR has vowed to scrap the New Economic Policy, a race-based affirmative action program to uplift the economic position of the majority Malays and other indigenous groups known as bumiputras, long championed by the BN. The NEP expired in 1990 but its race-based philosophy has continued to underpin BN's economic policies. Minority ethnic groups, including Chinese, who make up 25% of the population, and Indians, who represent around 7%, believe the policy has purposely discriminated against them. Only 34% of the Chinese population now supports the BN, according to the Merdeka Center poll. The PR has said it will replace the NEP with a non-ethnic, needs-based approach that will broadly assist the poor, including many bumiputras. The PR has targeted the BN's history of official corruption and political favoritism, promising a more clean-hands approach to governance. By plugging corruption and leakages and reducing gas subsidies to independent power producers, the PR promises to save 46 billion ringgit lost each year to leakage. This money saved, the coalition says, would be used to raise oil royalty payments to the oil-producing states where many of the poor in Malaysia live to 20% from the current 5%. The PR also wants to abolish highway tolls and study loans while providing free education and more affordable housing. Despite these campaign promises, the PR is no shoo-in to win. ''It is going to be very hotly contested but hopefully we can go for a change,'' said Abdul Rahman Kasim, information chief for PR's PAS party in Penang state's Tasik Gelugor division. ''But it is very unpredictable… They are told if they vote for other parties they will lose [ethnic] Malay supremacy.'' The Islamic party PAS is one of PR's three component parties, the other two being Anwar's People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party.
Read more at: http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-080413.html |
| '400 armed sultanate supporters arrive in Sabah' Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:43 PM PDT ARMED. A captain of the Royal Security Force displays his bladed weapon inside their camp in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. File photo by Karlos Manlupig (Rappler) - At least 400 armed men from Mindanao arrived in Sabah to help the Royal Security Force (RSF) of the sultanate of Sulu who are faced with a full military offensive by Malaysian authorities, a member of the sultanate said on Tuesday, April 9. Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, said these men volunteered to pursue the fight not just for the Sabah claim but also for Filipinos who allegedly continue to suffer from human rights abuses there. "These are not members of the RSF. They volunteered to fight," Kiram said. Kiram said the reinforcements reached Lahad Datu in two batches -- on March 20 and April 5. Kiram's claim could not be independently confirmed at this time. There have been no reports from Malaysian media about this arrival - a contingent that is twice the number of RSF members, estimated to be about 200, that first sailed to Lahad Datu in February. On April 1, Malaysia activated the Eastern Sabah Security Command, a body tasked to watch the 1,400-km coastline of Sabah villages Lahad Datu, Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, and Sandakan. After violence erupted between the Sabah claimants and Malaysian authorities in Lahad Datu, Malaysian security forces launched a crackdown on RSF members in Sabah -- setting up checkpoints and arresting those without proper documents. This caused a mass evacuation of Filipinos over fears of getting caught in between the conflict. Sabah evacuees recounted stories of human rights abuses against Filipinos, especially against Tausugs. At least 70 people have been killed since violence erupted in Lahad Datu, according to Malaysian authorities. As of April 7, a total of 135 individuals have been arrested under the Security Offences Act of 2012, state news agency Bernama reported.
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