Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- GE13: Wan Azizah’s absence at Opposition meetings raises questions
- 'Plot to end Wan Azizah's political career'
- DAP Johor foray in disarray
- ‘Malaysiakini manipulated my statement’
- GE13: Hadi to defend Marang, Husam Musa targets Putrajaya
- Kissinger cables: ‘Chauvinist’ Dr Mahathir disliked by non-Malay community
- Racial politics still relevant, says former IGP
- Raining on BN, PR parade, analysts say manifestos lack how-to’s and policies
- 'Pakatan plan to reduce car prices too simplistic'
- Nomination April 20 Polling May 2?
- Many ministers not to contest in upcoming election
- The mother of all elections
- EC: Airtime offer to Pakatan to be serial, not one-off
- GE13: Jui Meng to contest Segamat seat
- Tian Chua denied entry into Sabah for his own safety, says CM's office
- 'It is haram to support Pakatan'
- 'DAP shouldn't use Pas logo'
- Hadi says voters will decide who is Pakatan’s choice for PM job
- Reopen Altantuya’s case, says ex-IGP
- Rafizi: Pakatan will retain Najib’s BR1M
- DAP to retain most of its reps in NS
- DAP to reduce Indian MPs?
- Bersih wants Australia to ensure peaceful, fair polls in Malaysia
- Sabah DAP grassroots leader quits for BN
- Bersih – Anwar’s global fundraising ‘vehicle’?
- Big battle brewing in Kelantan's Gua Musang
- After Nik Aziz, poser over Kelantan’s next leader
- GE13: PAS aims to be dominant
- Mahathir returns as chief BN campaigner
- BN manifesto to have little impact: Analysts
- Bakri, Kulai Parliamentary seats belong to DAP - Kit Siang
- Malaysia’s independent radios jammed, sites hit by cyberattacks
- Pakatan delaying candidate list due to coalition clashes, admits Nurul
- Malaysia’s PM promises more cash, tougher steps to combat corruption in election sweeteners
- 'Lembah Pantai will be ours', says Muhyiddin
- Retired generals raring to do battle
- Dr M: DAP risking it with Chinese vote in BN’s Johor fort
- GE13: PAS-led govt cheques don’t check out
- Sabah opposition falling apart or cyber campaign?
- Najib: Choose me or Anwar
- Sabah, Sarawak to enjoy further devt under BN
- GE13: A Chinese will never be PM, says PAS veep Salahuddin
- GE13: BN manifesto a Pakatan ‘copy’
- Let's Talk With Sarawak Chief Minister
| GE13: Wan Azizah’s absence at Opposition meetings raises questions Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:58 AM PDT
(The Star) - Tongues are wagging over PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's absence at meetings of the three parties in the opposition pact on the allocation of electoral seats. Political analysts read her absence at the party meetings suggested her influence as president was eroding, and a rising trust for her husband and party advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali. Political analysts see a possibility of Wan Azizah contesting for a state seat in Selangor but she has not confirmed if she will do so. Wan Azizah cannot contest for a parliamentary seat because she has not completed the mandatory five-year prohibition having resigned as an MP. She had quit as an MP on July 31, 2008, to enable Anwar to contest the Permatang Pauh parliamentary in a by-election. Anwar had said that his wife would not contest in this general election but their daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah said her mother would stand. PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli told Bernama Wan Azizah had been absent from the meetings because she had been unwell over the past week. He said she was not too involved in candidate selection and had been entrusted with garnering the support of the women voters. Rafizi said Wan Azizah might hold a news conference in two or three days.
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| 'Plot to end Wan Azizah's political career' Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:53 AM PDT
(NST) - Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former private secretary has alleged that a Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader had plotted to oust the party's president from contesting in the general election. In a statement yesterday, Anuar Shaari claimed that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali used Mohd Fareez Kamal Intidzam (former political secretary to PKR Wanita chief), his wife, Shamsidar Taharin, and Anwar, to end Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's political career. Fareez had last month written to Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, urging him to "save the opposition coalition (from destruction)" from Dr Wan Azizah and her daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is PKR vice-president. The handwritten letter was published in a news portal on March 4. He denied any conspiracy behind his letter criticising Dr Wan Azizah's leadership, urging all parties to refrain from speculating or blaming Azmin for the letter as it was his own initiative and that he had done it for the party's sake. He claimed that he had sought help from other Pakatan Rakyat leaders in saying that Dr Wan Azizah had wanted to get rid of him and paint a bad picture of his close relationship with Anwar. "If I had not resorted to this, I am sure she would have fired me." Anuar said Azmin in his quest for power had used these people to take over the party's presidency and to place himself as the next Selangor menteri besar. "From Fareez's letter, we can see it was as if he could predict what would happen. While praising Azmin's leadership the letter was written at perfect timing." Anuar also alleged that Azmin's wife had urged the opposition leader to ban Dr Wan Azizah from contesting. In an interview with Al-Jazeera last week, Anwar confirmed that Dr Wan Azizah would not be contesting in the 13th General Election.
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| Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:50 AM PDT
Dissatisfaction over candidates selection threatens to derail plans (Malay Mail) - DAP's ambitious southern venture in Johor is in jeopardy as uneasiness and dissatisfaction over candidates selection threaten to derail their plans. As the DAP gears up for its "assault" in Johor, the party has run into its problem when the state's threeman committee that was tasked to come up with the candidate list resigned after a heated state committee meeting on Sunday night.
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| ‘Malaysiakini manipulated my statement’ Posted: 08 Apr 2013 06:01 PM PDT Minister Raja Nong Chik claims that Malaysiakini did so to provide an advantage to candidates favourable to them. K Pragalath, FMT Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin has claimed that two of his statements regarding an offshore company RZA International Corporation have been manipulated. "The facts were manipulated by online news portal, Malaysiakini. They tarnished my father's good name by describing him as being involved in tax evasion, black money and illegal transactions simply to give an advantage to their favourite candidates in the general election. "This clearly shows that Malaysiakini is unethical and has bad intentions by manipulating facts to gain political mileage," said Raja Nong Chik, a senator, via a statement today. Raja Nong Chik is tipped to contest against incumbent Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar who is also PKR vice-president. He said this in response to Malaysiakini's news article entitled "Politicians among 1,500 who own offshore companies". In the report dated April 5 this year, he was depicted as a prominent shareholder and director of RZA International Corporation, a British Virgin Islands entity that was incorporated on Aug 21, 2007, through Singapore. "RZA International is a mirror of a Malaysian company Kumpulan RZA formed in 1997 with dealings in real estate and equities investment. "Raja Nong Chik set up RZA International with his father Raja Zainal Abidin Raja Tachik, a number of his sisters and brothers as well as other family members," reported the news portal. According to Malaysiakini: "The minister confirmed that RZA International was set up by his father, who will turn 96 this year, for the purpose of holding legitimate offshore investments for the family". "However, the minister did not elaborate on the offshore investments made by his family through the company. He added that RZA International was de-registered in 2009. "The company was not used to obscure activities of Kumpulan RZA Sdn Bhd, and neither was it used to circumvent taxes or hide transactions overseas," Raja Nong Chik said in an e-mail to Malaysiakini. In today's statement, the minister clarified that RZA International Corporation was formed by his father on Aug 21 2007. "My father formed the company to make legal offshore investments for my family. RZA International Corporation was eventually wound up as there were no off shore investments," said Raja Nong Chik.
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| GE13: Hadi to defend Marang, Husam Musa targets Putrajaya Posted: 08 Apr 2013 05:57 PM PDT
(The Star) - PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed on Tuesday that he will be defending the Marang parliamentary seat in the 13th general election. Hadi told a press conference here that deputy president Mohamad Sabu would be contesting in Pendang while PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa has been confirmed as the candidate for Putrajaya. Another party vice-president, Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, will be standing in Pulai, Johor. Datuk Mahfuz Omaf, who is also a vice-president, will defend his Pokok Sena seat.
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| Kissinger cables: ‘Chauvinist’ Dr Mahathir disliked by non-Malay community Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:38 PM PDT
"The small, predominantly Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) has expressed some concern over Mahathir's past record but has not openly opposed his selection. Other Chinese parties or politicians have either not commented or have welcomed Mahathir's appointment in a pro forma manner." Zurairi AR, TMI The US Embassy in Malaysia expressed its surprise over Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's appointment as deputy prime minister back in 1976, in a series of recently declassified US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks yesterday. According to the cables from Henry Kissinger's run as US Secretary of State, the embassy considered the then education minister as a "Malay chauvinist" despite admiring his modern outlook on politics. "Mahathir has a reputation as an extremely capable man ... and is considered to have a relatively clean record on corruption," said Francis T. Underhill Jr, the ambassador posted between 1973 and 1977, in his confidential analysis of Malaysia's then new Cabinet. After Tun Abdul Razak Hussein died in 1975, the ailing Tun Hussein Onn was forced to choose a successor in the form of a deputy prime minister between three preferred candidates — Dr Mahathir, former Malacca chief minister the late Tun Ghafar Baba, and Kelantan businessman from a royal lineage Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. The three Umno men were elected vice-presidents at the party's general assembly, and Razak ran the risk of displeasing Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj if he chose Dr Mahathir, who had previously been expelled from Umno for criticising the first prime minister. According to the cables, Razak also considered the late Tun Ghazali Shafie despite his loss in the Umno vice-presidency race because of Dr Mahathir's reputation as a Malay chauvinist and apathy felt by some in the Chinese community towards the minister. "So far, the Chinese reaction of Mahathir's nomination has been, if not enthusiastic, at least not characterised by vehement opposition," Underhill noted. "The small, predominantly Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) has expressed some concern over Mahathir's past record but has not openly opposed his selection. Other Chinese parties or politicians have either not commented or have welcomed Mahathir's appointment in a pro forma manner." The embassy had expressed its admiration for Dr Mahathir when he was appointed as education minister two years before, as noted in another confidential analysis. "On domestic side, appointment of Dr Mahathir bin Mohamed as Education Minister, very apt in view of Mahathir's intellectual abilities and good reputation as administrator and moderniser, was note-worthy but non-Malay community is likely to consider him a Malay chauvinist (undeservedly in embassy's view). "Mahathir's appointment was however tempered by designation of MCA secretary-general Chan Siang Sun as deputy minister," Underhill wrote. Dr Mahathir has been a vocal supporter of Malay rights since his early days in politics, where he wrote a letter calling on Tunku Abdul Rahman to resign for failing to uphold Malay rights. He also wrote a book called "The Malay Dilemma" in 1970, where he espoused affirmative action to enable Malays to compete with the more economically-dominant Chinese. Affirmative action became a recurring theme in the administration of Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister as Dr Mahathir continued the New Economic Policy (NEP) with the National Development Policy (NDP) in 1990. He continues to be a vocal Malay rights advocate after leaving office, and currently serves as the patron and adviser for Malay supremacy group Perkasa.
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| Racial politics still relevant, says former IGP Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:19 PM PDT
Zurairi AR, TMI Tan Sri Musa Hassan endorsed racial politics last night, arguing that race-based component parties in Barisan Nasional (BN) are still relevant in preventing conflicts. The former Inspector-General of Police also criticised political parties that, he said, claimed to be multiracial, but would still harp on the rights of a certain race. "For me, political parties based on races are still relevant. Because we need to together share power to take care of our country's peace," Musa said at a forum here organised by anti-PKR NGO Gagasan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS). "There is no need for us to listen to people who say that it is now irrelevant." According to Musa, race-based parties are important in representing the races so that conflicts such as the May 13 incident can be solved quickly. "If not, we will be like the Arab countries, we will keep on fighting without end," he added. The former top cop has been vocal on issues regarding Malaysia's peace and security as he criticised the current police force under IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar. In February, he had also warned that an "Arab Spring" can happen here if losing parties in the general election are dissatisfied with the result. "I am confident that the losing parties will use their supporters to create chaos to topple the government just like what happened in the Middle East. "Political parties must restrain themselves and behave appropriately starting now," Musa said. The forum last night on the Lahad Datu armed conflict was also critical of the Arab Spring and non-violent resistance. A documentary played before the forum started depicted scenes of various people's uprising rallies around the world, and accused them of being sponsored by foreign elements to sow discord in various countries.
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| Raining on BN, PR parade, analysts say manifestos lack how-to’s and policies Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:13 PM PDT
Emily Ding, TMI Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) are hawking their respective election manifestos as the gold standard, but political pundits say both are scant on how to implement their solutions to the country's problems and lack a larger policy framework that unites their proposals. Analysts The Malaysian Insider spoke to agreed that both coalitions are taking a populist, vote-buying approach in their manifestos, addressing issues they see as being important enough to swing the votes of the "kingmakers" in what has been tipped to be the closest election fight in the country's history. "Both sides are a bit short on how they are going to deliver," Prof Dr Andrew Aeria, from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), told The Malaysian Insider. "On the part of BN, it's simply because they haven't taken a manifesto seriously for a long time... They keep throwing out gifts and lollipops and instant noodles right, left and centre. At ceramahs, instead of talking about their manifesto they bash the other side," he said. "On the part of Pakatan, I suspect they have very limited resources and are unable to put forward more ideas. I get the impression that the PR manifesto is the work of a small group of people who suffer the limitations of resources. Intellectual resources, not just money," he added. Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, a political scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), disagrees: "PR is not clear on how they will implement their manifesto. For BN, I think they have already shown how they have done it." The BN manifesto lays out what the caretaker government has achieved in the past four years before laying out its intentions for the new term if re-elected. However, Aeria sees the BN manifesto as one full of rhetoric that does not reflect reality. "The one that really jumps out in the BN manifesto is 'scourge of corruption'. When people read that and I read that, I roll my eyes. You've got to be kidding me. It's an insult to our intelligence," he said. "Both of them also lack a policy direction for the long term and sustainable solutions to address the economic, social and political issues in the country," Dr Faisal Hazis, a Kuching-based political scientist, told The Malaysian Insider. "For example, what kind of policy do we want for our economy? Laissez-faire state or welfare state?" he said. Aeria also provided suggestions for what the manifestos should have included: "There are a lot of goodies being given out on both sides. But what is our current debt level? How are we going to finance it? How are we going to overcome the rising debt of the country?" However, he said the PR manifesto at least points out the key problems facing the country, such as corruption and the lack of democracy. Faisal agrees: "At least Pakatan tries to address the structural problems of the country in its manifesto, though they obviously sprinkle in some populist solutions as well." He points out that both BN and PR recognise the importance of Sabah and Sarawak to voters in light of recent revelations on Project IC and Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud's alleged involvement in illegal land deals in Sarawak. He also said that both coalitions are appealing to the same groups of voters like taxi drivers, women and youths, who may turn out to be kingmakers in the upcoming elections. "In the end, what's important is what the fencesitters will be attracted to," Sivamurugan said.
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| 'Pakatan plan to reduce car prices too simplistic' Posted: 08 Apr 2013 02:48 PM PDT
DIRECT APPROACH: Auto companies reduce cost only after government approaches them, says Mukhriz (ST) - DEPUTY International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has dismissed Pakatan Rakyat's plan to reduce car prices by abolishing excise duties as "simplistic". He said cutting taxes alone would not bring down prices, pointing out that the cost of hybrid cars remained high despite the gradual removal of duties imposed on their sale over the past four years. "The car companies have higher (profit) margins now since there are no taxes, but the pricing remains subject to market forces. "Even without taxes, the cost of hybrid cars is higher here than in the United States. The (opposition's) argument that removing excise duties alone can bring down the cost of cars is simplistic." Mukhriz said car prices had already begun to go down over the past two months, following the government's own discussions with car manufacturers and companies on ways to offer better pricing for Malaysians. "Since then, we have seen some car prices reduced by about RM2,000 per unit. One car has gone down by RM14,000 per unit. "At the same time, we have not reduced duties imposed on the sale of cars. This is proof that we can help bring down car prices without sacrificing domestic revenue." He said the mechanisms involved in revising the National Automative Policy were a clear contrast to the plan put forward by Pakatan, dismissing accusations that Barisan Nasional copied the idea to reduce car prices from Pakatan's election manifesto, launched in February. Mukhriz said the government would continue negotiating with the car industry to lower prices, including introducing incentives and tax exemptions to encourage the use of components made by local manufacturers. "The companies also can, on their own, bring down prices, for example, by increasing the volume of high-demand cars to set off the reduction in prices." Mukhriz was speaking after signing the Transparency International (TI-M) Malaysia's Election Integrity Pledge, only the second person to do so after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. TI-M launched the Election Integrity Pledge in March last year to push for greater integrity in the local political realm. Mukhriz said the pledge was important to take a stand against the abuse of power and any form of bribery to make way for a fair and clean election. In signing the pledge, he wrote: "I'm signing this pledge because it reinforces my own conviction that integrity remains a core value for all layers of society, especially among leaders at all levels, and that society sees me as a serious champion of the anti-corruption cause." |
| Nomination April 20 Polling May 2? Posted: 08 Apr 2013 02:46 PM PDT
ALL PREPARED: Nomination day is usually within 10 days after the Election Commission's announcement (ST) - KUALA LUMPUR: APRIL 20 and May 2 have emerged as the likeliest dates for nomination and polling to take place. While the Election Commission (EC) will reveal these details only tomorrow, pundits say April 20 is likely to be chosen for parties to officially name their candidates. Those who spoke to the New Straits Times said this was a possible date, if one were to take into consideration that nomination had, by convention, been held within 10 days after the commission's announcement in the past. If this date is chosen, and given Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak's indication that the ruling coalition would announce its candidates a week before nomination day, the country can expect the list to be unveiled any time from this Saturday. This will be a departure from norm as BN had previously waited till the eleventh hour to disclose its line-up. Polling, said pundits, would likely be on May 2. "If nomination is on April 20, one has to consider the minimum 11-day campaigning period, which will bring the earliest potential date of polling to May 1, a public holiday that falls on a Wednesday," said one pundit. "But if you consider the fact that May 1 (Labour Day) is in the middle of the week, then you would have to factor in travelling time. A cuti peristiwa (holiday to be replaced at a later date) can be announced for May 2 to carry out polling." The pundits argue that to encourage people to travel back to their states to cast their votes, the prospect of them being able to spend a long weekend there after polling would also be a factor. "May 2 is a Thursday. In Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu, Friday is not a working day and that would take care of voters in these states." Some argue along a simpler line. Early May, some of them contend, was ideal because "people would have had their salaries banked in". "Because they have money, they will be more likely to travel to vote. It is a common perception that polling should never take place in the middle or end of the month." Another theory is that the digits of 2, 5, 1 and 3, which represent the day, month and year that is May 2, add up to 11, which happens to be Najib's favourite number. There are also 11 days between April 21 and May 1. Najib's affinity for 11 is widely known as his car's licence plate is 11, while one of his homes is numbered as such. Coincidentally, his late father, second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was born on March 11, 1922. It is also possible that polling could take place on May 4 or 5. A pundit, however, argued that May 4, falling on a Saturday, would not be a good date if one considered states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. "These are states with weekends on Friday and Saturday. Two of these states are opposition-held. It is common for Friday sermons to carry political intonation and this may have some effect on fence-sitters at the eleventh hour." Another combination is for nomination to be held as early as April 13 or 14, with polling set for April 27. "However, April 13 and 14 would put a damper on the prime minister's plan to announce the BN line-up a week before nomination day," said an analyst. "That said, one has to remember that the prime minister does not have to announce BN's list of candidates before nomination day. It is not a legal requirement." Najib had said, after last week's BN and Umno supreme council meeting, that revealing the candidates sooner than usual would provide ample time for them to introduce themselves to their constituents, while leaving enough time for campaign preparations. "It will also allow us (BN) to gauge the public's reaction to them (candidates) so that we can mitigate any problem that arises." Pundits have been speculating on the dates of nomination and polling since the April 3 dissolution of Parliament. Other than these two dates, EC will also announce dates for the advance voting dates for military and police personnel and their spouses, and the postal voting day for certain personnel, EC workers and Malaysians living abroad. Political analyst Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said nothing less than a 14-day campaigning would be good for the people to "savour" the election process. "This is a celebration of the people's democratic right and they should be allowed to savour it. "A pilihanraya (election) is a form of raya (celebration). The people should be given enough time to celebrate this democratic process and enjoy this important moment that comes only once every four or five years." Some 13.3 million voters, including 5,200 living abroad, are eligible to vote in this election. A total of 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats will be contested.
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| Many ministers not to contest in upcoming election Posted: 08 Apr 2013 02:00 PM PDT
Sin Chew Daily learned that a number of BN senior ministers have been informed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that they would not be fielded to contest in the upcoming general election, including Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. In addition to ministers, some Umno senior leaders would also not to contest this time, including former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and incumbent Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has said earlier that he has no intention to contest and Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui is also firm about not contesting. As for Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, he is expected to give up contesting for a parliament seat and move to a state seat, paving way for him to take over as Mentri Besar of Johor. If Khaled leaves the Pasir Gudang parliamentary constituency, he is expected to consider contesting for the Tiram state seat. A source told Sin Chew Daily that many ministers have received calls from the Prime Minister, informing them of being replaced by fresh candidates or candidates with greater winning odds. Nor Mohamed is the incumbent Tasek Gelugor MP. He was the prior Minister of Finance II and later became a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, in charge of Economic Planning Unit. He was intended to seek for re-election but due to the deterioration of local Umno infighting, there are voices opposing him. Former Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar hopes to return to Tasek Gelugor this time. Shariff Omar is an experienced leader of Penang Umno. He served as the Tasek Gelugor MP for three terms and he had also been a state assembly member for three terms. Under the strong attack of Pakatan Rakyat in Penang, he is seen as the candidate with the highest winning odds. In addition, Rais Yatim, who had taken the post of Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar, would not be contesting, too. It might be the end of his political career. Rais Yatim is a veteran leader in Umno. He had taken a few ministerial posts, including the Minister in the Prime Minister in charge of legal matters. He had experienced ups and downs, including a political downturn during the 1987 party crisis. He defeated PAS' candidate with 11,610 majority votes in the 2008 general election. As for Ng Yen Yen, she might be forced to abdicate due to the Raub cyanide gold mining and ministry issues. Although she is the only woman vice president of the MCA, she is still unable to resist the opposition voices. It is learned that Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has obtain the Prime Minister's blessings to seek for reelection in the Pandan parliamentary constituency.
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| Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:16 PM PDT
(Today Online) - Malaysia's most crucial general election (GE) in decades will be a titanic battle between two leaders for whom the polls will also be a referendum on their respective political futures. Once close allies in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Prime Minister Najib Razak and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will clash directly for the first time in an electoral test of wills and skills — after having gone separate ways, carried by the tide of hard-knock politics. Who between them will go on to lead the country, and who will be consigned to history, will be known only after the 13th GE is fought and concluded. Indeed, Mr Najib is turning this into a referendum on his leadership, offering himself as the true visionary leader — and not Mr Anwar nor Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) chief Hadi Awang — deserving of the people's mandate. The big question is whether GE13 will be conclusive, given the monumental fight ahead, and whether there will follow a period of uncertainty, if not instability, and what this will mean for Malaysia and the region. It is significant that on the day Parliament was dissolved, April 3, both Mr Najib and Mr Anwar gave assurances of a smooth and peaceful transition of power regardless of the outcome.
PAKATAN AND ANWAR
Unlike previous GEs, it has been unusually difficult to predict with confidence the winner for this one, though most agree it will be very closely and bitterly fought, and the margin of victory likely wafer-thin. Various opinion polls have been projecting narrow wins. While most project a slim victory for Barisan Nasional (BN), predictions of an opposition win have also surfaced. One such instance floated by the Chief Economist of the government-linked Bank Islam led to his immediate suspension. It shows just how potentially explosive GE13 has become. If Mr Anwar's opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat does win, he is most likely to be the new Prime Minister. This is not, however, as foregone a conclusion as it used to be, given the pockets of resistance to him in some circles within Pakatan component party PAS, and the shadow play by others that has rattled the opposition ranks. At one point, an UMNO veteran and former opposition leader Razaleigh Hamzah emerged in one scenario as a possible Prime Minister in a Pakatan-led government — in anticipation of an inconclusive outcome in which neither BN nor Pakatan has a sufficient majority to form a strong government. The idea of Mr Razaleigh becoming an alternate candidate for Prime Minister should the opposition win has been immediately dismissed by Pakatan leaders and, curiously, denied by Mr Razaleigh himself. It just goes to show how fluid things have become. The proposal was first floated by a group of Mr Razaleigh's former office-holders, Amanah, as part of its bargaining attempt to support a Pakatan win should Mr Anwar be removed from the scene for one reason or other. Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/mother-all-elections |
| EC: Airtime offer to Pakatan to be serial, not one-off Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:13 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The government's airtime offer to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to present its election manifesto on national television was to have been part of an ongoing series and not a one-time deal, the Election Commission (EC) has said. Its chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said opposition leaders had misunderstood the proposed 10-minute airtime offer and rejected it before the election regulator could finalise any deal with the bloc. "Before we could give a briefing and discuss, they already rejected," he told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview, referring to PR leaders. "Actually, the 10-minute offer was not for a one-off broadcast, but for a few episodes... perhaps one episode on the economic issue, a second episode on the social aspect or even others that they wished to tell people about their manifesto," he added. Abdul Aziz (picture) said he was disappointed that PR leaders had soundly snubbed the proposed 10-minute offer without first meeting the EC. "We have made the effort to give them mainstream media space, but they rejected... our effort all this while has been wasted. "They should consider," he said, and repeated the offer made last month. PR had turned down the government's 10-minute airtime offer on Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), with anchor party PKR saying it was an "insult" as the channel only screened Barisan Nasional-friendly (BN) news and advertisements at all other times. Its ally the DAP also refused the offer, saying it did not want to give BN the justification that the ruling coalition was practising freedom of speech, while PAS said it was concerned because its manifesto presentation would not be shown live. Abdul Aziz defended the government's decision to pre-record the manifesto presentation, saying it was necessary as the clip would be screened repeatedly and not because the authorities wanted to manipulate the broadcast as alleged by PR leaders. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ec-airtime-offer-to-pakatan-to-be-serial-not-one-off/ |
| GE13: Jui Meng to contest Segamat seat Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:59 PM PDT
(The Star) - Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng has been named as the candidate for the Segamat parliamentary seat. PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement at aceramah in Tangkak last night, during which he also named five other candidates. Johor PKR vice-president Hassan Karim will be contesting the Ledang parliamentary seat while state election committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar will stand in the Sri Gading parliamentary seat. The candidate for the Sekijang parliamentary seat is Juleily Semani while Onn Abu Bakar will contest in Sembrong and Johor PKR deputy chief Dr Ahmad Faidi Saidi in Pasir Gudang.
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| Tian Chua denied entry into Sabah for his own safety, says CM's office Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:57 PM PDT
(The Star) - PKR vice-president Tian Chua was barred from entering Sabah for his own security and safety, the Office of Sabah State Affairs and Research in the Chief Minister's Department said. Secretary Dr Moktar Ajam said the state government has never had any problems with Tian Chua being in Sabah prior to his remarks on the intrusion of Sulu militants into Lahad Datu as part of some political drama. "However, in light of his remarks that has upset a lot of people in Malaysia including Sabah, we have cause to believe that his presence here may be a risk to his own personal safety and may possibly spark off public disturbance," he said in a statement. "Tian Chua has been in and out of Sabah countless times. "So have other PKR leaders like Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang, who are allowed to come here and move freely," he said. "However, when you have an individual who has ignited anger among so many people, we must take precautions to avoid any untoward incident," he said. Tian Chua, who arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.05am on Sunday was denied entry to Sabah.
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| 'It is haram to support Pakatan' Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:48 PM PDT
(NST) - UN-ISLAMIC: Ulama conference says opposition politicising Islamic issues SUNGAI PETANI: A GROUP of ulama have issued a declaration that it is haram (forbidden) for Muslims to support the opposition. Minda Pondok information chief Harun Yahya said the declaration was nothing political and urged the Muslim community to treat the matter as a threat against Islam. "We are concerned with many Islamic-related issues which have been politicised by the opposition," he said at a conference of some 200 Islamic scholars from "pondok" schools, Islamic religious schools and Tahfiz Al-Quran schools nationwide. Other NGOs which attended the conference were Ikatan Cendekiawan Islam Kelantan, Yayasan Pondok Malaysia and Muafakat Jaringan Melayu Muslim. Harun said: "This is why we had decided to meet and share as well as raise our concerns with all Muslims regardless of their political affiliation. "Taking all factors into consideration, especially based on the tenets of the Sunnah Al-Jamaah, we have unanimously agreed that it is haram for Muslims to support Pakatan Rakyat." On the use of the word "Allah", Harun said if non-Muslims were allowed to use the word, then it could also be interpreted that all religions belonged to Allah. "This is not true. The only religion created by Allah is Islam and the great Prophet Muhammad is our Messenger." Another participant, Mohd Zawawi Awang, urged Pas spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to declare his stand over Pakatan's pledge to maintain and adopt the Federal Constitution. "Previously, Nik Aziz labelled Umno as khafir (infidels) for adopting the Federal Constitution, which he claimed was a constitution created by the colonial powers then. "However, I learned recently that Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had expressed his support for the Federal Constitution if Pakatan Rakyat wins Putrajaya. "I just wonder what is Nik Aziz's stand on that now." Zawawi also said it was wrong for Nik Aziz to label Umno as infidels. "Umno upholds an article in the Constitution, which states that Malays must be a Muslim. This means Umno is a party that upholds Islam and the Islamic struggles." |
| Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:33 PM PDT
(NST) - "We are also made to understand that DAP and PKR would welcome a bisexual to be prime minister. I believe it is only right that DAP uses PKR's logo" DAP is better off pairing up with Parti Keadilan Rakyat rather than Pas. Commenting on Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub's offer to lend DAP the party's moon symbol should it be de-registered by the Registrar of Societies over its recent party elections scandal, former Terengganu Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief Fakhrul Azman Abu Bakar said DAP should instead use the PKR logo in the general election. He said although many "Anwar-ians" would want DAP to use the Pas logo to win Chinese votes, the PKR logo would better suit DAP as both parties shared many similarities. "DAP and PKR members are multiracial and both parties are run by family members. Both parties have no morals or dignity and like to blame others for their mistakes. "We are also made to understand that DAP and PKR would welcome a bisexual to be prime minister. I believe it is only right that DAP uses PKR's logo," he said in a statement yesterday. Former Pas deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa had also taken a swipe at Salahudin for allowing DAP to use the Pas logo without understanding the repercussions. He said DAP should explain their stance on an Islamic state, hudud law and the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, before being allowed to use the party's logo. Several complaints had been lodged from January by DAP members to the RoS, urging action against the party over its central executive committee election fiasco.
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| Hadi says voters will decide who is Pakatan’s choice for PM job Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:15 AM PDT
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today that voters would ultimately decide who gets to be prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins Election 2013. The former Terengganu menteri besar said the pact would first focus on winning the upcoming polls before discussing on the matter. Hadi also refused to state if he felt he was a suitable candidate for the country's top post, saying the issue would be determined by the voters. "This thing we need to go through the democratic process. I would not say more on this, we should be ensuring the victory of all our candidates first," he told reporters after giving a talk on the party's "welfare state" push here. Hadi added that whoever from PR becomes prime minister has to be accepted by voters and noted that this included non-Muslim voters. The president of the Islamist party also emphasised that the candidate must be a Muslim and also accepted by the King. "What is important is that the candidate is accepted by the people including non-Muslims. We also have a King. The candidate must be accepted by both the people and the king," he said. The pact had previously agreed that the post should be given to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. PR parties have repeatedly had to reaffirm their endorsement of Anwar as prime minister-designate to deflect criticisms from their political foes in Barisan Nasional (BN) that they were unable to achieve consensus on numerous issues. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Anwar admitted that the coming 13th general election may be his last shot at power, saying that he may quit politics if PR fails in its bid to claim Putrajaya.
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| Reopen Altantuya’s case, says ex-IGP Posted: 07 Apr 2013 07:59 PM PDT Former IGP Musa Hassan believes Altantuya's case should be reopened following latest revelations by the Bar Council. Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan wants the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case reopened following new "evidence". He said the case should be reopened following revelations that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had instructed senior lawyer Cecil Abraham to prepare the second statutory declaration for former private investigator P Balasubramaniam. Musa said this when asked if further investigations must be carried out following the startling revelation by the Malaysian Bar last month. "If there is new evidence… the case must be reopened. Further investigation must be carried out," Musa told a press conference here. "So if there is new evidence in this case, then there should be an investigation," he added. When asked who had the power and authority to reopen the case, he pointed at the police and the Attorney-General Chamber's. "I don't know what he [Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar] meant by old stuff put in new way," Musa said, referring to the former's statement that there was no need to reopen the case as it was revealed previously that a "Tan Sri" lawyer and his son had been involved in the "It must be reopened because there is new evidence," he added. The late Balasubramaniam, in his second SD, retracted all his shocking allegations linking Najib to the murder of the Mongolian model. Balasubramaniam's lawyer Americk Sidhu claimed he met Abraham who apologised to him (Americk) over the drafting of SD2 and admitted that it was done on the instruction of Najib. Investigate Lahad Datu allegations On the Lahad Datu incident, Musa believed the claims that opposition leaders were involved in the incursion must be investigated to clear the matter once and for all. "They [the government] say that the reports [that opposition leaders are involved] are obtained from overseas. I say they must open an investigation to confirm if they [Pakatan Rakyat leaders] are involved," Musa said. "To me, an investigation is to show proof… if there is proof, then action can be taken," he said. "If there is no investigation and no proof, then the claims are just slanders. That's why an investigation is important," he added.
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| Rafizi: Pakatan will retain Najib’s BR1M Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:18 PM PDT It is, however, pointless to increase cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy, says the PKR leader. G Vinod, FMT Pakatan Rakyat would not phase out direct cash aid to those in need, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said today. He said this after being questioned by reporters on whether Pakatan would phase out Najib-initiated Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) if it takes federal power. "However, there is no point in increasing cash aid without addressing the structural problems plaguing the economy," Rafizi said at a press conference held at the party headquarters. He said that the structural economic issues Barisan Nasional failed to address in its manisfesto, among others, are corruption, monopoly and poor education quality. "On top of that, BN talks about increasing aid under BR1M but never came up with proposals to reduce prices of goods and controlling inflation. "Without addressing those matters, whatever cash aid given will be diluted by soaring prices," said Rafizi. On Saturday, BN chairman Najib Tun Razak unveiled the ruling coalition's manifesto at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, in an event attended by about 50,000 people. Among the promises made by Najib was to increase the BR1M aid from the existing RM500 to RM1,200 gradually to each household if voted back to power. He also took a leaf from Pakatan's manifesto and promised to build the Pan Borneo Highway in East Malaysia and slashing car prices between 20% and 30%. Pakatan's manifesto better Rafizi, who is also the PKR candidate for the Pandan parliamentary seat, said there is nothing new in the BN manifesto as many of the ideas were copied from Pakatan's manifesto. "It's either copied from our manifesto or it's something they are already implementing right now," he said.
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| DAP to retain most of its reps in NS Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:12 PM PDT Loke Siew Fook, the party's chief in the state, may move to the risky seat of Chennah. Zefry Dahalan, FMT SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan DAP looks set to retain most of the candidates the party fielded in the 2008 election. So far, the names of seven candidates for state seats have been mentioned at low-profile functions held in the respective constituencies. State DAP chief Loke Siew Fook said these names were among those submitted to party headquarters. Topping the list is Loke himself, who will contest in Chennah, the only state seat DAP did not win out of the eleven it contested in 2008. It is a bold move for Loke, who is leaving his Lobak constituency for the risky seat. Besides Lobak, DAP also won the state seats of Temiang, Nilai, Kepayang, Rahang, Mambau, Senawang, Lukut, Repah and Bahau in 2008. It also won both the parliament seats it contested for—Seremban and Rasah. Chennah remains the toughest seat for DAP to capture because of the high number of Malay voters there. They account for 45.03% of the electorate. The Chinese represent 52.52% and the Indians 2.45%. Lobak would be much safer for Loke. The Chinese make up 74.51% of voters there, the Indians 20.23% and the Malays only 5.15%. State DAP legal bureau chief Siow Kim Leong is expected to replace Loke in Lobak. Cha Kee Chin and Ng Chin Tsai will be retained in Bukit Kepayang and Temiang respectively. Cha is the secretary of Negeri Sembilan DAP. Deputy state DAP chief P Gunasekaran will defend his racially mixed state seat of Senawang. The electorate there is composed of 53.50% Chinese, 23.54% Indians and 22.95% Malays. S Veerapan and Ean Yong Tin Sin will go for another term in Repah and Lukut respectively. DAP national youth chief Teo Kok Seong is likely to stand in Bahau again. However, the party may field new faces for three state seats.
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| Posted: 07 Apr 2013 04:10 PM PDT DAP has been accused of sidelining its Indian leaders by reducing the number of MP seats to be given to them for the GE. K Kabilan, FMT Indian leaders in DAP are deeply concerned and worried that the party would reduce the number of seats given to them for the coming general election. Their fear stems from movements within the party to allocate seats, especially parliamentary seats, to parachute candidates and new faces who are mostly Chinese. The Indian leaders who spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity for fear of party reprisal said todate the party has not made any moves to dispel their fears. "Instead, based on what we are hearing and seeing, it looks clear that the party leadership is seriously thinking of dropping some of the incumbent Indian MPs," said a party leader. The leaders told FMT that the DAP leadership could only offer four to five MP seats at most to Indian leaders, including to the incumbents. "Parliamentary seats that could be taken back to be given to non-Indian candidates include Batu Kawan, Seremban, Teluk Intan and Klang," said the source. Batu Kawan was won by P Ramasamy, Teluk Intan by M Manogaran, Klang by Charles Santiago and Seremban by John Fernandez in 2008. They are all first-time MPs. The other MP seats held by Indians in DAP are Puchong (Gobind Singh), Bukit Gelugor (Karpal Singh) and Ipoh Barat (M Kulasegaran). "The party leadership has been silent on the fate of these MPs. From what we gather, some of them could be dropped," said the source. Lost Indian support However, another Indian leader in the party said not all four of the leaders could be dropped. "Maybe two, and the other two could be reassigned to contest elsewhere," he said. DAP Indian leaders also pointed out that not only incumbents were in danger, but also several grassroots leader who were promised seats and now told that those seats would be allocated to others.
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| Bersih wants Australia to ensure peaceful, fair polls in Malaysia Posted: 07 Apr 2013 03:18 PM PDT Boo Su-Lyn, TMI Polls watchdog Bersih urged Canberra today to ensure a peaceful and fair Election 2013 in Malaysia, pointing out that violent incidents have increased in the lead-up to the polls. Global Bersih — the international arm of Bersih 2.0 — also said that it would similarly call on Britain and the United Nations to address the violence and allegations of tainted electoral rolls ahead of the 13th general election, which is expected to be the most keenly-contested in recent times. "Given Australia's claim in upholding democratic values and political freedoms in the region following its new membership of the United Nation's Security Council, Australia's ALP government and Senator Carr (Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr) have an obligation to publicly call on Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) government to respect and observe free and fair elections in practice as well as in principle," said Global Bersih in a statement. Putrajaya, however, deported independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon last February shortly after he arrived in Kuala Lumpur to review the country's electoral system. Global Bersih also pointed out that no action has been taken after death threats were issued against the opposition. "When Malaysia's Parliament was dissolved on April 3, Najib's Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wrote on Twitter: 'We shall move to the warzone to kill all adverse political intruders'," said Global Bersih. Umno party workers also shouted "Kill Tian Chua" during a gathering last month when Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein urged them to rally behind BN and "eliminate traitors" like PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, whose Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies have been accused of instigating the Sulu incursion in Sabah. Najib and his coalition have come under fire for their muted response to several violent attacks on the opposition recently, allegedly perpetrated by BN supporters or members of hardline groups linked to Umno. PR MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar and Charles Santiago also failed in their recent attempts to get the court to compel the Election Commission (EC) to clean up the electoral rolls in their Lembah Pantai and Klang constituencies respectively. "Australia can and must play a critical role in ensuring a close UN member, Commonwealth friend and long-standing ally like Malaysia heeds its democratic obligations and respects the rights of its citizens without resorting to widespread violence, intimidation and electoral fraud," said Global Bersih.
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| Sabah DAP grassroots leader quits for BN Posted: 07 Apr 2013 03:08 PM PDT Upko president Bernard Dompok's call for the revoking and re-issuing of MyKad to bona fide Sabahans is drawing support back to the party. Queville To, FMT PENAMPANG: With elections in the air, some of Sabah's hundreds of wannabe politicians are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. DAP's Stephen Jimbangan is among them. The party's Kapayan branch chief called it quits as far as his support of the opposition is concerned and joined the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Upko), a party aligned to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Speaking at a ceremony where he and 127 other former DAP members handed in their applications to join the BN party here, Jimbangan said his election-eve conversion was to help unify his community under one party. He said he had "sleepless nights" before deciding to join the BN coalition through Upko after the three KDM based parties Upko, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah pledged to unify the community. "I feel at home because its like coming back home and I am happy to see a lot of familiar faces here today. There is a feeling of solidarity and unity here," he said. Upko president Bernard Dompok's efforts in raising issues in Sabah especially the presence of illegal immigrants in the state, he said had also motivated him to switch parties. Jimbangan also claimed that he had read all 25 volumes of Upko's research and suggestions pertaining to the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah and the documentation had proven to him just how determined the party was towards getting the government to find a solution that can finally address the issue. "It is because of that and Gelombang Tataba that I decided to join Upko. I spoke to a few friends and managed to convince them to also make the move. "We have been divided for far too long and I believe the 'Gelombang Tataba' is the right first step towards a united and progressive KDM," he said. The 2008 DAP candidate for the Kapayan state constituency who narrowly lost to the BN's Khoo Keok Hai added that he agreed with Upko's proposal for all Sabah Identity Cards to be returned and re-issued only to genuine Malaysians. "I hope (Tan Sri) Bernard (Dompok) will continue his struggles … we need you Tan Sri. You are our leader," he said in a direct message to the Upko leader pledging full support for his bid to retain his Penampang parliamentary seat.
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| Bersih – Anwar’s global fundraising ‘vehicle’? Posted: 07 Apr 2013 02:59 PM PDT Former Transparency International president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said he was the first choice to head US-funded Malaysian election watchdog for free and fair polls. Athi Shankar, FMT Election watchdog, Bersih, is a vehicle created by Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to obtain foreign funding for his political activities, alleged Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, the former president of Transparency International Malaysia TIM today. Tunku Aziz suggested that Bersih co-chairpersons S Ambiga and A Samad Said could have been wittingly or unwittingly engaged by Anwar, to conceal his international funding network. "Anwar makes good use of his international networking to get these funds. I don't know whether Bersih leaders knew it or not. "But Bersih is Anwar's vehicle to receive international funds under the guise of democracy and free and fair elections. "Bersih is not a non-partisan independent organisation. "It's Anwar's baby," Tunku Aziz, the former DAP vice-chairman and senator, told FMT. He said he knew about Bersih's foreign funding when he was invited for talks by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah a few years ago on the possibility of heading then an unnamed election watchdog. At the time, Tunku Aziz was still involved in TIM. He had not joined the DAP. He said Nurul Izzah, certain PKR leaders, Anwar's aides and two Americans were present when he attended the meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. International funding Tunku Aziz said he understood that the two Americans were heading different US-based foundations. He said during their discussions, it was the foreigners who were calling the shots and outlining the functions and operations of the imminent watchdog. "In the meeting, I was offered to head the watchdog because they said I have the credentials, integrity and credibility for the post. "They told me that the movement was to ensure free and fair elections in the country," said Tunku Aziz, disclosing that he was offered some US$4,000 monthly plus other perks and allowances for his position
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| Big battle brewing in Kelantan's Gua Musang Posted: 07 Apr 2013 02:41 PM PDT
(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A battle is shaping up for the Gua Musang parliamentary seat in Kelantan, the bastion of Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, with PAS' Kota Baru MP Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah the likely challenger. It is learnt that the 61-year-old PAS veteran has abandoned his plan to retire and agreed to contest one last time in the general election. If the battle does take place, it will not be the first in Gua Musang between 74-year-old Tengku Razaleigh, Malaysia's longest serving parliamentarian and Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim. The Kota Baru MP was defeated by the Kelantan prince in the 1986 general election. Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim, a former Kelantan Legislative Assembly Speaker, said on Sunday he was optimistic of beating Tengku Razaleigh this time. He dismissed as "mind games" speculation that Tengku Razaleigh would be dropped in favour of Gua Musang Wanita Umno head Senator Wan Hazani Wan Mohd Nor. "I feel Umno is trying to hoodwink PAS. I am preparing my campaign on the basis of taking on Ku Li," he said. Tengku Razaleigh is affectionately known as Ku Li in Kelantan. Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim, is known here as one of the "Three Abduls" the others being Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman, 74, and Bukit Tunku assemblyman Datuk Abdul Fatah Mahmood, 65. The trio form the core of PAS veterans in the state who have been in politics for three decades. They are credited with having approached Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to contest in Kelantan in the 1970s and had played a role in convincing the latter to become MB after PAS won the state in 1990. Meanwhile, Datuk Abdul Halim said he would not change his stand on wanting to retire while Datuk Abdul Fatah said he would leave it to the party leadership to decide. |
| After Nik Aziz, poser over Kelantan’s next leader Posted: 07 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - After two decades of Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat's administration in Kelantan, the state ruling party may be better served if it readies a new leader to replace its ageing mentri besar, a Singapore paper has suggested. In a news analysis today, the Straits Times' Salim Osman wrote that doubts have been rising over the 82-year-old PAS leader's grip on power and ability to continue taking Kelantan, described as "a rural state of farmers, fishermen and small businessmen", forward and meet the aspirations of its much younger electorate who form two-thirds of the state's population. "People outside Kelantan are wondering how PAS can maintain its hold for more than two decades when records show that, in terms of achievement, there is nothing much in the ruling party's history that can show it provided good governance," the writer quoted former Election Commission chief Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman as saying in a newspaper commentary in January. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/after-nik-aziz-poser-over-kelantans-next-leader/
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| Posted: 07 Apr 2013 01:00 PM PDT
(The Star) - PAS is positioning itself as the dominant party in Pakatan Rakyat, by seeking to contest more than a third of the 222 parliamentary seats. Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed that the party would contest 76 parliamentary seats and that negotiations were still going on for it to contest a total of 237 state seats. In the 2008 general election, PKR contested 97 parliamentary seats the biggest number in the Opposition pact and won 31. PAS candidates stood in 66 parliamentary seats and won 23 while DAP contested 47 and won 28. As for state seats, PAS contested the most with 232, against PKR's 171 and DAP's 102. If the party gets its way in the 13th general election, it would contest in an additional 10 parliamentary and five state seats. "We will not let go of any seat but we are willing to swap," he said when asked if PAS was prepared to give up a seat in Kedah to DAP following a deadlock in discussions with PKR. Hadi, who was in Kedah to launch Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto on Saturday night declared that PAS would definitely not work with the "devil" it knew. Asked if he was likening Umno to a devil, Hadi said he was merely repeating part of a phrase often used by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to urge voters to support Barisan Nasional.  A DAP rocket symbol is seen at the Jalan Paya Terubong in Penang.Hadi also dismissed objections by former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa against PAS' willingness to allow DAP to use its logo in the general election. "DAP is allowed to use PAS logo on the basis of mutual understanding," he said, adding that Nasharuddin had no right to air his view as he was only an ordinary member now with no access to the latest developments in the party. Earlier, Hadi said PAS' candidates list was more than 99% completed, adding that the candidates would be named even before Barisan unveils its list. Barisan is scheduled to announce its candidates on Wednesday. Hadi is tipped to defend his Marang parliamentary seat, while the party's deputy Mursyidul Am, Datuk Harun Din is likely to contest the Arau parliamentary seat. PAS has confirmed that it would retain Khalid Samad in Shah Alam, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud in Kota Raja and Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof in Rantau Panjang. Others expected to be retained are Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (Tumpat), Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai), Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) andDatuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar) PAS is expected to field Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Najmi Ahmad in Baling, Federal Territory deputy PAS commissioner Ahmad Zamri Asa'ad Khuzaimi in Titiwangsa, Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi in Temerloh and Mohd Nasir Zakaria in Padang Terap. Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali is tipped to contest the Kuala Nerus parliamentary seat in Terengganu. PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu is tipped to contest the Pendang parliamentary seat in Kedah, while vice-president Salahuddin Ayub is likely to contest the Pulai parliamentary seat in Johor.
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| Mahathir returns as chief BN campaigner Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:11 PM PDT
(Straits Times) - Political analysts said Dr Mahathir's increasingly pro-Malay positions may have alienated some urbanites and non-Malays but could galvanise Malay voters who feel insecure with the push towards liberalism. Former premier could help shore up Malay votes, win back PR-held states MRS Julia Talib needs a walking stick but even the thunderstorm on Saturday did not deter her from wading through the water puddles that soaked the hem of her baju kurung. The 59-year-old Shah Alam resident had a date with her idol - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "Ever since he was prime minister, I have tried to watch him speak live," Mrs Talib told The Straits Times of the man who led Malaysia for 22 years, from 1981 to 2003. "He is a charismatic leader and that's why he is my idol." People such as Mrs Talib are the reason why, even a decade after stepping down, Dr Mahathir continues to be a key figure in Malaysian politics. Now free of the encumbrances of power, the 87-year-old seems to be enjoying himself on the stump, directing his trademark barbs at opposition figures and taking pro-Malay positions that resonate with the older generation of Malays. "It was the lack of unity among Malays that made Barisan Nasional lose more seats in the 2008 general election," Professor Shamsul Adabi Mamat, a political analyst at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, told The Straits Times. "That's why Dr Mahathir is such an asset to Umno currently - he is able to unite its members as well as the Malays." At Saturday's rally, Dr Mahathir was at his oratorical best, taking digs at his former deputy- turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, and praising current Prime Minister Najib Razak as a man who kept his word to the people. "We were all cheated, including me, by this certain person that had claimed to be fighting for BN and Umno," he said, referring to Mr Anwar. "He is a liberal and promotes homosexuality." His star power undimmed, Dr Mahathir had the people jostling for a better look when he and his wife made their way into a canopy tent before he spoke at the rally in Shah Alam, the state capital of opposition-held Selangor. The BN had its worst electoral outing in 2008, while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took four states and increased its share of state and parliamentary seats. "I am here to help save Selangor," Dr Mahathir declared as the crowd of several thousand applauded loudly. "Selangor cannot continue to fall into irresponsible hands." |
| BN manifesto to have little impact: Analysts Posted: 07 Apr 2013 12:08 PM PDT
(Straits Times) - "The corporate personnel I spoke to expected something new and groundbreaking from Najib but it did not come," Mr Ibrahim Suffian, who heads the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, told The Straits Times. "The election impact will be minimal." THE Barisan Nasional (BN) election manifesto is seen as an extension of Prime Minister Najib Razak's reform programme, showcasing his government's consistency and commitment while extending more goodies to the people. As its contents are similar to earlier reforms, analysts say its impact may be reduced because there is no real game-changer. "The corporate personnel I spoke to expected something new and groundbreaking from Najib but it did not come," Mr Ibrahim Suffian, who heads the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, told The Straits Times. "The election impact will be minimal." Datuk Seri Najib called the 17-point manifesto he launched on Saturday night a pledge, in a dig at the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance, which has said manifestos are not promises. "What is the use of a new manifesto if it is not a promise? To the BN, a manifesto is a serious matter," he told tens of thousands of party faithful at a rally that night. Reactions to the BN's new "pledge" were largely split. "BN's election manifesto provides the country with a long-term plan for development," Mr Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component party of the BN, said in a statement yesterday. Some analysts called the manifesto "realistic" and "achievable" and said it had a clear and unifying "People First" theme. This harks back to Mr Najib's 1Malaysia rallying cry from his first weeks after becoming prime minister on April 3, 2009. "The BN manifesto uses this theme because as a pledge, it can and must be fulfilled," said Professor Shamsul Ababi Mamat, a political analyst at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. But critics said the manifesto could encourage a culture of reliance on government handouts rather than real change. "Everyone wants free stuff. That's Malaysian," wrote one Gordon Lim on Facebook. Politicians offer things "at whose expense", he asked, adding "taxpayers".
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| Bakri, Kulai Parliamentary seats belong to DAP - Kit Siang Posted: 06 Apr 2013 10:15 PM PDT
(Bernama) - DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said the Bakri and Kulai Parliamentary seats belonged to the party to be contested in the coming general election. When met after launching the party's election machinery here, Lim declined to elaborate. "You will know when we announced the names. Feel free to speculate but Bakri and Kulai seats belong to us. That's all," he said. There were rumours that these seats were eyed by Johor PKR chairman Datuk Dr Chua Jui Meng after his hopes of contesting in Gelang Patah Parliamentary seat was dashed. Lim was scheduled to announce the candidacy for Bakri during his campaign in Muar yesterday.
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| Malaysia’s independent radios jammed, sites hit by cyberattacks Posted: 06 Apr 2013 10:06 PM PDT
(TMI) - Two independent radios, Radio Free Sarawak and Radio Free Malaysia, have been jammed in Malaysia and their web sites inaccessible due to cyberattacks, says its founder. The two stations broadcast from London on short-wave frequencies and are available online through their websites and online database Soundcloud. "There have been attempts at broadcast interference on both radio stations by jamming from different parts of the world over the past few days. These have had limited success so far and we have been working on tracing the perpetrators," founder Clare Rewcastle-Brown was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini. Coordinated cyberattacks on their respective web sites were recorded all yesterday; they "came from all over, it appears, but mainly from the US and Malaysia, and our servers had to close down", she added. The Sarawak Report web site, the first launched by Rewcastle-Brown, similarly came under attack but was holding out. "I think that all such attacks only show the weaknesses of the people behind them, who are evidently so dishonest and fearful that they resort to these underhand tactics against even the slightest attempt at a free broadcast media. "The BN is throwing in very large sums of money to suppress our voice, but all the BN is doing is demonstrating to the world that its pretence of holding a democratic, free and fair election is a sham," Rewcastle-Brown said. "If these two radio stations are doing nothing else, they are showing Malaysia's BN coalition for what it really is to the rest of the world." Podcasts of Radio Free Sarawak and Radio Free Malaysia programmes are, however, still available at Soundcloud, the online audio database, the Malaysiakini report said.
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| Pakatan delaying candidate list due to coalition clashes, admits Nurul Posted: 06 Apr 2013 09:56 PM PDT
(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) delay in announcing its candidate line up despite launching its manifesto two months ago is due to clashes between certain quarters within the coalition, admitted Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. "That is true. It is a challenge for us and we are doing our best in this difficult situation," she said at the PKR Klinik Rakyat medical camp programme at Kampung Kerinchi on Sunday. She said the staggered announcement of candidates by PR as opposed to the releasing a complete candidate list was due to key factors the leadership had to consider. "The most important is the winnability factor and we have to take that into account. "We must also ensure that in the end, the people are able to choose a party that they can trust. If we make a mistake, it will cost us dearly in the upcoming polls," she added. Ms Nurul, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, described the issue as "teething problems" that will be addressed by PR. She was asked to comment on PR's staggered candidate announcement despite launching its election manifesto on Feb 25, resulting in clashes within certain opposition camps. Last Wednesday, PR failed to resolve seat negotiations despite assurances that the matter was finalised by its leadership council. It was learned from an opposition party official that PKR will unveil its candidate list at a function in Bandar Tun Razak on April 10. Several quarters within the coalition, including its Sabah allies Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), have been at odds following the staggered announcement of candidates. The unhappiness was seen following the public tussle for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in Johor between Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng and his Democratic Action Party (DAP) counterpart Dr Boo Cheng Hau, which was finally resolved when DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang annouced he would contest there. Rumblings were also heard following Parti Islam SeMalaysia's (PAS) recent announcement that it would be fielding candidates in the Kangar and Temerloh parliamentary constituencies with PKR announcing later that it would be taking over the Bera, Labuan and Setiawangsa seats. Sabah PKR also pre-empted any hijacking of seats when it hastily announced its seven candidates for the state's west coast region last Wednesday. |
| Malaysia’s PM promises more cash, tougher steps to combat corruption in election sweeteners Posted: 06 Apr 2013 09:51 PM PDT
(AP) - Malaysia's leader has promised more cash handouts for the poor along with cheaper cars and homes, and vowed to take tougher steps to combat corruption as his long-ruling coalition seeks to fend off a resurgent alliance in upcoming national elections. In a nationally televised address late Saturday, Prime Minister Najib Razak also offered improved transportation, education and health care in an election manifesto as he urged 13 million voters to stick to the National Front coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain in 1957. He promised his coalition would do better and warned that voting for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's three-party alliance would be akin to gambling away Malaysia's future. "This mandate that I seek is about continuity and sustainability against disruption and stagnation, about moving forward versus regressing," Najib said. "We have to safeguard what we have already achieved. We cannot put at risk what we have, we cannot gamble away our future." The National Front manifesto was unveiled three days after Najib dissolved Parliament, paving the way for a vote widely expected in the next few weeks. The Election Commission will meet Wednesday to set a polling date. Anwar's People's Alliance currently holds slightly more than one-third of Parliament's seats after the National Front endured its worst electoral results ever in 2008 polls amid public complaints about corruption and racial discrimination. Although the opposition has a strong chance at the polls, most analysts believe Najib's coalition will have the upper hand because of its support in predominantly rural constituencies that hold the key to a large number of Parliament's seats. The opposition alliance, in a bid to break the National Front's hold on power, has also made generous promises to lower the cost of living, through cheaper cars and fuel and free university education. It also has vowed to create new jobs, raise incomes and curb long-entrenched problems, including corruption and racial discrimination, if it wins power. "This election is a race to be more populist. It is about which coalition can promise to give more to Malaysians. It's setting a very unhealthy trend in Malaysian politics," said Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who heads the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, a Malaysian think tank. In the manifesto, Najib pledged to gradually raise an annual handout for millions of poor households from 500 ringgit ($164) to 1,200 ringgit ($392), build 1 million low-cost homes and lower car prices by up to 30 percent over the next five years. He laid out the country's strong economic growth and said the government aims to woo 1.3 trillion ringgit ($425 billion) in investment by 2020 to create 3.3 million jobs. He promised to bolster the police force to fight crime, set up more specialist graft courts and improve transparency with public disclosure of government contracts. Najib's government has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on financial handouts for students, low-income families and government employees in the last two years. The prime minister has also intensified efforts to win back support by abolishing security laws that were widely considered repressive. "The National Front is trying to play catch up with us, but what the people want is not just more money. They want a real systemic reform in the economy. They want a cleaner and a fairer society," said opposition lawmaker Liew Chin Tong.
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| 'Lembah Pantai will be ours', says Muhyiddin Posted: 06 Apr 2013 04:46 PM PDT
(NST) - BARISAN Nasional is confident of regaining the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat in the 13th General Election, said BN deputy chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said there was no doubt the seat would return to BN after Parti Keadilan Rakyat failed to carry out their promise to serve the people of Lembah Pantai well. "Based on the response we received from the people here, we are confident of wresting Lembah Pantai this time," he said after a breakfast session with residents of Kondo Rakyat Desa Pantai here yesterday. Muhyiddin, who is also BN Federal Territory chairman, said the response to the government's transformation programmes proved that people were more confident and appreciated the efforts to reduce costs, especially through the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) programme. However, he said BN leaders must not be complacent and should continue their commitment to ensuring the goal was achieved. Reminding BN representatives not to be "overconfident", he said: "I do not want us to be too optimistic that we underestimate the opponent's ability, because anything could happen at the last minute". He said the development and progress enjoyed by the Lembah Pantai people were initiated by BN leaders who represented the area for years before 2008. "On the whole, the local community say they will vote for BN and are just waiting for polling day. I have asked them what PKR's Nurul Izzah (Anwar) has done for them so far. Mostly nothing was the reply," he said. He added this was unlike BN's Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, who is Umno Lembah Pantai division head and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister. He said even though Raja Nong Chik was not the elected representative for the area, he still went all out to ensure that the grouses of the people were addressed. "I'm sure the grassroots and voters see his hard work and understand BN's struggle for them." Raja Nong Chik is expected to be nominated the BN candidate for the constituency. In the 2008 general election, Nurul Izzah won the Lembah Pantai seat, beating BN's Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil by a majority of 2,895 votes. Muhyiddin urged the people to be wary of possibly false allegations made by the opposition in the campaigning in the election. "Do not fall prey or be fooled by the opposition's tricks." He also expressed his disappointment over a misleading fatwa made by Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat recently. "Pas is promoting deviant teachings and its leader, who claims to be a religious scholar, tends to act like God," he said in commenting on the remark by Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, that Umno members' prayers would not be rewarded and had no meaning as that party rejected Islamic principles. "This is not the first time he has done this. Nik Aziz has issued fatwa to penalise and belittle Umno many times. "We have even been called infidels in the Amanat Haji Hadi (Haji Hadi message)." Muhyiddin said the recent fatwa by Pas only showed that the party stood for Parti Ajaran Sesat and not Parti Islam SeMalaysia. On the other hand, he said Umno's effort to champion Islam was clearly proven in the drafting of the Federal Constitution in which Islam was designated the official religion of the Federation. "Umno has championed Islam from the very start, even before independence." |
| Retired generals raring to do battle Posted: 06 Apr 2013 04:20 PM PDT The five generals who have joined Pakatan Rakyat want to bring about political change in the country. Humayun Kabir, FMT Five retired generals who have joined Pakatan Rakyat are all ready to bring out their "firepower" to battle the Barisan Nasional government in the coming 13th general election. The five are former deputy army chief Lt-Gen (R) Abdul Ghafir Abdul Hamid, former chief of logistics at headquarters air logistics Brig-Gen (Rtd) Abdul Hadi AlKhatab, former chief of staff logistics Navy fleet headquarters Rear-Admiral (Rtd) Imran Abdul Hamid, former director of the Army Corps of religion Brig-Gen (Rtd) Najmi Ahmad and chief of staff of army, Gen (Rtd) Md Hashim Hussein. These retired generals, who feel the BN government has neglected the armed forces personnel, are hoping to bring about political change through the ballot box. They will be contesting in parliamentary seats and are keen to debunk the public perception that the armed forces has always been supporting the BN in past general elections. Both Ghafir and Hashim are slated to contest in the Johor constituencies of Pasir Gudang and Johor Baru respectively. Imran and Hadi are likely to fight it out in the parliamentary seats of Lumut and Tanjung Malim, Perak, respectively while Najmi in Baling, Kedah. Last week, FMT spoke to three of them: Hamid, Hadi and Imran, who had attended a PAS ceremah at Bukit Gantang here. Hadi said that there was a public misconception that the armed forces was always supportive of the ruling BN government in previous polls. He blamed this on the alleged postal rigging of the armed forces votes for prevailing wrong notion. Democratic rights "There should be more transparency now for soldiers to vote according to their conscience," he added. "Now the armed forces wants to go for the change. We do not know what had happened to all the postal votes [in the previous elections]," he said. "Now the military votes will be going to Pakatan as the soldiers want changes in their lifestyle and improvement in their standard of living after decades of BN rule." "The votes of the soldiers will go to [PKR de facto leader] Anwar [Ibrahim] as they have expressed their view that it's time for change for a better life in the [armed forces]," he said. However, Hadi was quick to point out that the five generals were not against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the sultans. Rather, he said the armed forces is against the alleged rampant corruption of the Umno-BN and its cronies. He cited the many closed tender projects that were given to Umno cronies who had wasted public funds. He also took a swipe at former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for allegedly enriching his son and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for allegedly enriching his brother Nasir Abdul Razak through various projects. "We want to have a system that is answerable to the public and Najib is now frightened of the rising people's power," he said.
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| Dr M: DAP risking it with Chinese vote in BN’s Johor fort Posted: 06 Apr 2013 03:47 PM PDT
Ida Lim, TMI DAP is taking a risk by counting on Chinese votes in Johor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said, dowsing the opposition party's southern campaign in doubt by insisting that the state is still a Barisan Nasional (BN) fortress. The former prime minister shrugged off DAP's strategy of fielding heavyweights like veteran politician Lim Kit Siang to take on Gelang Patah, an urban MCA-held stronghold in Johor, saying he wondered why the party believes it could be victorious. "That's a risk taken by them. Johor is a BN stronghold. Don't know how they think (they) can win there," Dr Mahathir said in an interview published in Utusan Malaysia's weekend edition today. "Don't know. Maybe, they received information that we don't know. But as far as I know, Johor is not a safe area for opposition parties although we find that the attitude of the Chinese is not as before. But, we find now they return to support BN," the former BN chairman and Umno president said when asked about the federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR)'s bid to take over Johor in Election 2013. He suggested that DAP was setting its sights on Johor because the party believes it has the support of the Chinese community there. He commented on the opposition's strategy of aiming at Chinese votes in Johor seats, accusing DAP for allegedly being racist, claiming it is a "Chinese party" despite the party saying it has a multiracial membership and leadership.
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| GE13: PAS-led govt cheques don’t check out Posted: 06 Apr 2013 03:43 PM PDT
(The Star) - ALOR SETAR: The PAS-led government made a major blunder when it handed out RM229,000 in allocations to 58 Tamil schools in the state four days ago. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Bakar gave out the cheques to the Parent-Teacher Association representatives of the schools. However, the cheques could not be cashed. The cheques, dated Dec 31, 2012, had a three-month validity period until March 31, but were only distributed on April 2. Many of the PTA representatives were shocked by the timing of the handover and left wondering if it was an attempt to ensure Indians' support for Pakatan Rakyat. Kedah DAP committee member S. Neelamekan described it as an "an unwanted embarrassment" to the government. "The state government should have been more careful and avoid being ridiculed by Barisan (Nasional)," he said. "The cheques must be replaced as soon as possible." State executive councillor S. Manikumar has since apologised to the schools for the mistake. "The cheques were prepared last December and were rendered invalid because they did not bear the signature of the State Financial Officer," he said. "We apologise for the technical error. "However, we have already asked the school PTAs to exchange the cheques with new ones from the state finance office," he added. Manikumar said the contribution was for school activities and programmes, adding that the schools received between RM3,000 and RM10,000 each, depending on the size of the enrolment. MIC Baling division Youth chief M.A. Ramasamy said this bungle clearly showed weaknesses in the Kedah state administration. He said each of the schools was given RM10,000 during the previous rule under Barisan.
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| Sabah opposition falling apart or cyber campaign? Posted: 06 Apr 2013 03:14 PM PDT Caution is being thrown to the wind and a free-for-all is emerging with potential candidates and incumbents panicking and lashing out over the possibility of being overlooked by their parties. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: The scramble to be selected as candidates for the various parties in restive Sabah is swiftly exposing the sham of unity and solidarity within each. Caution is being thrown to the wind and a free-for-all is emerging with potential candidates and incumbents panicking and lashing out over the possibility of being overlooked by their parties. So far the fallout has been felt mainly in the opposition while the ruling coalition maintains a semblance of order. At least that's how some are portraying it. Sabah PKR which was first to come under "unity scrutiny" barely a day after its Northern West Coast Zone chairman Ansari Abdullah in pre-emptive move to forestall "interference" by its leaders in Kuala Lumpur announced a proposed candidate list for seven parliamentary seats. Ansari, who is Tuaran PKR chief said he would be contesting in Tuaran constituency, his comrade Dr Chong Eng Leong would stand in Sepanggar. The others on his list were Mazhry Nasir (Putatan), Anthony Mandiau (Kota Marudu), Mursalim Tanjul (Kudat), Saidil Semoi (Kota Belud) and Johanathan Yassin (Ranau). But national PKR deputy president Azmin Ali dismissed Ansari's candidate list. Sabah PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin has also denied Ansari's list. Barely a day later, Borneo Insider, a newly established website, reported disunity within Sabah DAP and unhappiness by certain leaders within the party. The website reported a leadership crisis in Sabah DAP with "one winnable candidate" who had contested previously said to have change his mind on his political allegiance and would be joining the BN
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| Posted: 06 Apr 2013 03:11 PM PDT 'President' Najib has pitted himself directly against Anwar, despite the country practising a parliamentary and not a presidential system of government. Anisah Shukry, FMT BUKIT JALIL: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak tonight stressed that the general election boiled down to choosing between him or Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, confirming rumours that the Barisan Nasional was banking solely on the "Najib factor" to sail to a victory in the coming polls. This is despite the fact that Malaysia practises a parliamentary system, in which the prime minister is elected by party members, and not the rakyat. "Now, in this 13th general election, the crux of the matter is whether the rakyat places any trust in Anwar, Hadi Awang [PAS president], or me as the leader of the government," thundered Najib to a roaring crowd of BN supporters. But the mention of the PAS leader's name was clearly perfunctory, as Najib launched into a diatribe about Anwar without mentioning Hadi again in his speech. "The opposition leader has lost many close friends… out of 34 PKR founding members, only two remain: his wife and the rather strange Tian Chua. "If even the founding members have lost trust in their leader, surely the rakyat will not be duped into lending their support towards a leader with no track record, no credibility." In promoting himself, Najib then compared his political career directly to Anwar's, and pointed to the latter's infamous role as finance minister in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. "Anwar always says that he has spent a long time in government, that he has felt the pain and suffering. But the question is not of how long he spent in government, but what he did. "When the financial crisis happened, what did he do? He wanted to hand over the responsibility to others. If that's the case, even you [the audience] can be finance minister. If any problem happens, leave it up to others," said Najib mockingly. "He said he has been in government for a long time, but so have I: 37 years. From thick, black hair to my hair situation now," he joked, outlining the progression of his political career. Najib said that unlike Anwar, he had not stabbed anyone in the back throughout his years in politics.
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| Sabah, Sarawak to enjoy further devt under BN Posted: 06 Apr 2013 12:47 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Sabah and Sarawak are assured of more progress under a Barisan Nasional (BN) government, with numerous projects expected to take off in the next five years if the coalition is returned to power.
According to the BN election manifesto launched by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here last night, one of them is the construction of the 2,300-km Pan-Borneo Highway stretching from Sematan in Sarawak to Serudung in Sabah.
The highway is expected to spearhead new growth areas, better business opportunities and enhanced communications.
Themed 'People First', the manifesto was unveiled in the wake of the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat on April 3, paving the way for the country's 13th general election.
There is also the pledge to build 2,500 kilometres of paved roads in Sabah and 2,800 kilometres in Sarawak, while the rural electrification project will benefit 60,000 households in Sabah and 80,000 in Sarawak.
The BN is also committed to extending clean water supply to another 320,000 homes nationwide in the next five years.
In a bid to provide better access to quality healthcare services, the BN, in its manifesto, pledges to set up a heart centre and cancer centre in every major hospital in both states.
The coalition also promises to improve access to quality education for rural and minorities communities, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak.
Meanwhile, in the economic sector, the 31-page manifesto said the effectiveness of the bumiputera agenda, including for bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, will be enhanced by providing business opportunities, a stronger eco-system and institutional support.
The BN, meanwhile, pledges to gazette all native customary land in close consultation with state governments should it be returned to power in the upcoming general election.
The coalition is also committed to providing more income-generating opportunities within indigenous communities and increasing the intake of indigenous youth into tertiary and vocational education.
In addition, the BN promises to set up special courts with the same status as the High Court under the present justice system to deal specifically with native customary rights issues. |
| GE13: A Chinese will never be PM, says PAS veep Salahuddin Posted: 06 Apr 2013 12:45 PM PDT
(The Star) - A Chinese will never be Prime Minister or the Johor Mentri Besar if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, said PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub. He said that it was impossible for DAP to offer a Chinese candidate for these positions as they were only contesting 50 of the 222 Parliament seats. "I do not think that the Chinese and Indians are interested in becoming the Prime Minister or even the Agong," he said. "As for the position in the state, it says in state bylaws that only a Malay and a Muslim can be the Mentri Besar in Johor." He added that the same accusations surfaced when Datuk Chua Jui Meng was appointed the Johor PKR chief and had resurfaced with DAP advisor Lim kit Siang contesting in Gelang Patah. Salahuddin is tipped to contest the Pulai parliamentary and the state seat of Nusajaya. |
| GE13: BN manifesto a Pakatan ‘copy’ Posted: 06 Apr 2013 12:38 PM PDT
(The Star) - "When Barisan criticises us that the Opposition will bankrupt the country with our manifesto, they should be looking at themselves" The Opposition has called Barisan Nasional's manifesto a carbon copy of Pakatan Rakyat's policies. DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said that the Barisan's promise to gradually increase the BR1M handouts to RM1,200 for each household and RM600 for single people was clearly aimed at giving out goodies to win the general election. He added that increasing the BR1M handouts by more than 100% would increase the financial allocation for BR1M to about RM6bil a year. "In the Pakatan manifesto we only promise cash handouts for senior citizens as a form of appreciation to them. "When Barisan criticises us that the Opposition will bankrupt the country with our manifesto, they should be looking at themselves," he said. PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, who is head of the party's Lower Car Prices campaign, said that Barisan's promise to revamp the National Automotive Policy and lowering car prices by 20% to 30% would be meaningless unless the excise duties were abolished. "Barisan's revamp on car prices is mostly cosmetic and won't appease the public. Anything short of a complete revamp will backfire on them," he added. PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said that increasing the 1Malaysia People's Aid would not address the issue of rising living costs. He said it was more important to expand the people's disposable incomes by reducing oil tariffs, removing toll charges for the North-South Expressway and abolishing excise duties for vehicles. "Such measures will have more far-reaching effects in reducing the prices of consumer goods," he added. PSM central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said the Barisan had allowed commercialism to get out of control, causing the prices of food, housing, healthcare and education to go up. "The Barisan had offered to build homes at RM200,000 each. Such houses will not be affordable to those earning RM3,000 and less," he added. PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said that no target had been set in the Barisan manifesto on the participation of women in national decision- making policies. "There is no yardstick on how this will be achieved and as it is, we only have one woman minister (Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen)," she said. |
| Let's Talk With Sarawak Chief Minister Posted: 06 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT
Let's Talk! catches up with answers by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abd. Taib Mahmud on several issues including accusations made by Global Witness (a London-based non-governmental organisation), about alleged corruption and illegality concerning land deals and deforestation within Sarawak which sparked several parties. He also spoke on the up-coming 13th General Election in Malaysia that would take place in a couple of weeks. Watch at: http://www.mobtv.my/talkshow-3094.html |
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