Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Insight: Malaysia opposition sees state model guiding path to power
- The NATO Syndrome
- Kedah police deny arresting Anwar look-alike
- Let race decide
- Army peers in JB reject PKR’s Hashim
- Battle intensifies for eight super hot seats in Sarawak
- ‘PAS tried to sabotage Chegubard in Sg Acheh’
- Ansari questions PKR’s choice of Ku Li’s men
- Anwar defends taking Sg Acheh seat for Chegubard
- Candidate vs party: How to choose?
- GE13: PKR and PAS chaos over Panti seat
- Candidates' list for the 222 parliament and 505 state seats in the 13th GE
- Hindraf’s objectives remain the same
- Feiz Mohammad: Radical Muslim Preacher Who Inspired Boston Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev
- Open letter to Nurul Izzah and Raja Nong Chik
- Report card on Nong Chik
- Malaysia GE13: A clenched fist - and a RM40,000 problem
- Malaysia elections: Sex, sabotage and videotape in Malaysian campaign
- If I were Chua Soi Lek
- Kerjaya politik Ong Tee Keat berakhir?
- Zul Noordin confident of his image, Selangor BN sweep
| Insight: Malaysia opposition sees state model guiding path to power Posted: 21 Apr 2013 11:34 AM PDT
(Reuters) - "It would be a model to say that if we are financially prudent, with a little money we can do a lot of things," said Tony Pua, a leading opposition parliament member. "There's a lot more we can do with the federal budget." Lim Guan Eng, the hyperactive chief minister of Malaysia's Penang state, is not the type to miss a good photo-opportunity, so there were plenty of witnesses when he handed over the keys to his government Mercedes ahead of a May 5 general election. Integrity is a central battle cry for Malaysia's disparate three-party opposition as it pursues its best chance of ending 56 years of rule by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. "The official cars should not be misused for our own personal use," Lim, a 52-year-old ethnic Chinese, told reporters as his administration shifted to caretaker status this month. "This is the integrity held by the state administration." Five years after the opposition took control of four state governments, northwestern Penang will be Exhibit A in its case that it can make Southeast Asia's third-largest economy cleaner and more competitive. Malaysia's second-smallest state topped the state investment league for the first time in 2010 and again in 2011, bolstering its position as a hub for high-tech manufacturers such as Intel and Honeywell. Overall investment doubled in 2008-12 compared with the previous four years, a powerful rejoinder to the BN's claims that the opposition cannot be trusted to run the economy. The BN, or National Front, led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, points to a 73 percent slump in Penang's investment last year and mounting traffic congestion in the state, which also draws tourists to its beaches and the colonial elegance of its capital Georgetown, as evidence Lim's touch is wearing thin. But the opposition hopes Lim's reforms to tackle corruption linked to laws favoring majority ethnic Malays will resonate with a bulging younger generation of voters angry at graft and less attached to race-based politics. Polls suggest a narrow win for the BN, which lost the two-thirds parliamentary majority that allowed it to change the constitution for the first time in 2008. POTENTIAL SHAKE-UP The "Penang model" also highlights risks to investors from an opposition victory, which promises to unravel five decades of cozy relations between the government and business in what would be the biggest shake-up since independence from Britain. Led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, it says it will review suspicious contracts and cancel some, including a controversial $800 million rare-earths plant built by Australia's Lynas Corp. Its manifesto also pledges to break up "monopolies" in certain sectors. "We wouldn't want to take any action that would destabilize the market, but at the same time it doesn't mean they can get off scot-free, no," Lim, who will campaign nationwide, told Reuters in an interview. "The imperative should be there are no crony-driven contracts." Major firms and tycoons seen as having close ties with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in the ruling coalition, could suffer. "On individual stocks, (it would be) disastrous, I should think," said Gerald Ambrose, managing director at Aberdeen Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur, adding that the overall stock market had likely priced in some risk of an opposition win. Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/21/us-malaysia-election-opposition-insight-idUSBRE93K0D920130421 |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2013 04:45 AM PDT
And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin The nation reeled in shock last week as private investigator P. Balasubramaniam abruptly passed away, just days before, declaring he would continue to seek justice for the murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu. But as the shock wears off and Malaysians move on, his family is left picking up the pieces of a shattered life – a life already strained five years ago, when Balasubramaniam's declarations regarding the prime minister forced his family to flee the country. Now, with Balasubramaniam dead, his wife, A Santamil Selvi, and three teenaged children are stranded in Malaysia with diminishing funds and a rapidly dimming future. Funeral expenses, education fees and mortgages are weighing heavily on the widow's mind, who is currently homebound in accordance with Hindu tradition. "I visited Bala's wife last night to talk about how her family was coping – she showed me her IOUs, how she is well in debt. She has even resorted to pawning the items she owns," Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gow Burne told reporters today. "Unfortunately, despite Bala's sacrifice for the country, his family is now in serious trouble." In a bid to keep the bereaved family afloat, Loh is now initiating a fund-raising campaign and is appealing to the public to donate any money they can spare for the widowed Santamil Selvi and her fatherless children. "The priority is for Bala's children to be given the opportunity to finish their education, and to ensure that someone who sacrificed all he had for the nation, would not have his family left in poverty," said Loh. Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, said the funds would immediately be used to help Santamil Selvi and her children return to India, where they had been residing for the past five years. "His children must go back to India as they have been schooling there for five years. It would be too difficult for them to adapt to the school system here, especially after all the trauma they recently went through," said Americk. "The funds will also go towards basic requirements such as food, clothes, mortgage, education… Monthly expenditure can easily reach up to RM15,000," he added. ****************************************** The above was what was reported one month ago on 20th March 2013. Do any of you reading this know where Bala's family currently is? Do you know how much money was collected and are they now out of their financial predicament? Are Bala's children back in school in Chennai? I think a more important question to ask is: do any of you care now that Bala is no longer of any use to the ABU cause? Yes, tell me honestly, do any of you reading this know and care? Malaysians suffer from the NATO Syndrome. Do you know that 53% of the voters are women? And do you know that the manner in which Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was treated will have some effect on the women voters, especially the Malay women from the Malay heartland? Yes, I bet you did not know this. And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway? And then when the Malay women vote Umno you scream and say that the Malays are still sleeping. Really? Is it the Malays who are still sleeping or is it you who is still sleeping? Haris Ibrahim posted this in his Blog early this morning: A bad case of rhinitis in the early hours of Saturday morning kept me from going to the nomination centre to lend support to Arul's candidacy in Semenyih. Later that day, tracking all the nominations and seeing so many multi-cornered fights, especially in Sabah, only served to remind me again why I am pro-rakyat, and not pro the opposition parties. I would just like to say "welcome home Sam." I thought I had lost you. I am glad that we still share the same doctrine -- which is we are pro-rakyat and not pro-party, either ruling or opposition. I admit that we may have different methods in trying to meet our objective but, as we say in England, there are many ways to skin a pussy, or even pricks for that matter. And we must admit that Malaysian politicians are a bunch of pricks, no doubt about that. Well, you as an avid Qur'an believer will be very familiar with the verse 'show me the straight path' and 'to you your path and to me mine'. Ultimately, our journeys are both the same -- to seek the truth. And while there are many routes to the truth there is only one truth. I trust now that Nomination Day is over and we are all awaiting Polling Day, you can reflect on the fact that God made us of different creeds on purpose, as Islam says, so that we may know one another, and that you can accept that this diversity, therefore, makes us differ in how we think and do things. Nevertheless, as long as we can remember that we were placed on the face of this earth to serve the ummah and not the rulers, then God's mission and vision would have been served. And that, in the final analysis, is what it is all about as we wait to take our place in the land of the dearly departed just like how our comrade Bala did recently and whom we shall all be joining in the not too distant future. My salam to you my friend and comrade and may we accept whatever happens as takdir or God's will, the ultimate decider of all things.
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| Kedah police deny arresting Anwar look-alike Posted: 21 Apr 2013 12:27 AM PDT
(The Star) - Kedah police denied arresting any "clone" of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Kedah CPO Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said they did not come across any individual from Thailand who looked like Anwar. "Allegations that we detained Anwar's clone is baseless," he said, adding that looking like someone else was not a criminal offence that warranted arrest. He said this in response to an article on an online portal that claimed that Anwar's clone had returned to Thailand and vowed to return (to Malaysia) to reveal the truth. PKR's Sungai Acheh candidate Badrul Hisham Shahrin had reportedly claimed that two individuals from Thailand had failed to attend the "Revelation of Anwar clone" ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Friday because the police had arrested them in Kedah. The ceramah was aimed at clearing Anwar's name following the release of a sex video two years ago showing a man resembling Anwar in compromising positions with a female dubbed the "China doll".
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| Posted: 20 Apr 2013 07:32 PM PDT At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support? THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin (Channel News Asia, 21 April 2013) - Actress Michelle Yeoh has defended her decision to openly support Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The actress has been heavily criticised since she announced that she would be attending a banquet held for the prime minister by the Chinese association in Selangor (which was held last night). A Facebook page supporting the Malaysian opposition drew more than one thousand comments condemning the actress as a traitor and a government stooge. However Yeoh has urged netizens and her fans not to judge her negatively. She said: "This is a democratic country. We're all free to voice our opinions. I think people shouldn't be personal. I think all of us want to do good for our own country. And I believe they want to do the same thing." **************************************************** Jean Todt, the president of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the Formula One motor sports governing body, with his wife, Michelle Yeoh. RM1m for ex-Ferrari F1 boss to promote Malaysia Sharon Tan, The Edge, 25 June 2009 Tourism Malaysia has allocated RM1 million for former Ferrari F1 boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt to promote the country. The sum is for a two-year budget that has been set aside for Todt, who was appointed ambassador for Tourism Malaysia in May. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was clarifying a statement by Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) that Todt was offered RM1 million to be ambassador for Tourism Malaysia. "The RM1 million allocated to him is not cash to him," said Ng. "It is given when he travels, and whenever he meets people. So this is a two-year budget set aside for him. "We need him to go and promote the country. When you want to go on a promotion in Europe, RM1 million gets you nothing. So yes, he has been allocated the money, but not in his pocket. It is in the ministry," she said during a press conference at the parliament lobby on June 24. Ng said Todt's presence and connectivity in Europe and around the world would be able to bring more visibility to Malaysia. "We also want him to promote the Malaysia My Second Home programme," she said. Tourism Malaysia would spend accordingly and would be transparent and accountable, said Ng. The money would be used on air tickets and meetings. Ng said that Tourism Malaysia had yet to spend the allocation for Todt. "This budget is not for his pocket. This budget is for expenses incurred when he needs to go (and) meet people such as top media people or top television people," she said, adding that Todt also arranged for her to meet top film producers while she was in Paris. She said the appointments would not have been possible without his help. Ng also dismissed Azmin's allegation that Todt and his fiancee Datuk Michelle Yeoh were offered a piece of land in Pulau Besar, Terengganu. Earlier, Azmin had raised the question in the House during the question and answer session but Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sulaiman Taib Mahmud had refused to answer as it was not related to the original question. **************************************************** Tony Fernandes and Michelle Yeoh named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors (January 2013) - DAVOS: AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh have been named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland. The Malaysian Night held on Friday was the highlight of Malaysia's participation in this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak attended the function, which highlighted Malaysia's best success stories and potential for the international market to see. **************************************************** Jean Todt (the then General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari) and his fiancé (at that time), Michelle Yeoh -- guests-of-honour of Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Seven years ago back in 2006, Malaysia Today published the photograph above that proved the close relationship between the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, and his then fiancé, Michelle Yeoh, with those that walk in the corridors of power (at that time Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Malaysia Today also revealed that the couple had been appointed Malaysia's 'unofficial tourism ambassadors' with a generous fee that included fully paid expenses, which was expected to run into millions of ringgit. Many whacked me for that expose and alleged that the only reason I am raising this matter is because Michelle Yeoh is Chinese and a Malaysian Chinese heroine to boot. Hence it is all about race, alleged my detractors. I understand that the best form of attack is to make allegations of racism. That will cause most people to back down. So I decided to back down and allow this matter to rest since everyone was not concerned about the millions that were going to be spent but rather the fact that Michelle Yeoh is Chinese. Even the issue of why Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh should both receive the title of Datuk Seri (meaning what have they done for the country?) when they were already being handsomely rewarded with great sums of money for the 'ambassadorial' work they are doing was regarded as 'nitpicking'. (And note that Michelle Yeoh has her own Datuk Seri title and she is not Datin Seri by virtue of her husband's Datuk Seri title). Anyway, now it seems that the Chinese are upset with Michelle Yeoh after all. And this is because she attended Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's dinner in Kelang last night (but it is okay for her to attend Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dinner). And this, I suppose, is because the Chinese view this as a boost to Barisan Nasional and hence a setback for Pakatan Rakyat. I am not concerned about who Michelle Yeoh supports politically but more whether the millions she spent is productive and brings benefit to the country's tourism industry. If it has resulted in a boost in tourism then well and fine. But we will need tangible figures to convince us that the millions spent were well worth it. At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support? Take the Kamilia Ibrahim and Jenice Lee issues as another example. Kamilia Ibrahim of Umno has been hailed as a heroine for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate in the coming general election on 5th May 2013 while Jenice Lee of DAP is being called a traitor for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate. That is what many of you are commenting in Malaysia Today. Some comments that I deleted were downright nasty -- such as you wanting to insert your dick into her mouth, and so on. I just don't understand why many of you are so crass and uncouth in your comments. It is like you never went to school and yet the Malays from the kampong who also did not go to school are not like that at all. I suppose what Tun Dr Mahathir said in June 2006 in his speech in the dialogue that Malaysia Today organised explains everything. You can read the text of the speech below. Do you know that many of the top leaders from DAP, PAS and PKR attended that dialogue and even went up to Dr Mahathir to shake his hand and joined him for tea afterwards? They even invited Dr Mahathir to other events that the opposition was planning. Yes, in 2006 Dr Mahathir opposed Umno and the Prime Minister and the dialogue session that Malaysia Today organised was the platform for him to launch his attack and declare war on Umno and the Prime Minister -- that eventually resulted in Barisan Nasional getting a beating two years later in March 2008. Hence the leaders of DAP, PAS and PKR supported Dr Mahathir and attended the dialogue session. What about the 22 years of draconian rule under Dr Mahathir? What about the 22 years of corruption and abuse of power under Dr Mahathir's rule? What about the damage to the legal system and judiciary that Dr Mahathir did? Are all these no longer issues? Apparently they are no longer issues now that (meaning in 2006) Dr Mahathir is attacking Umno, the government and the Prime Minister. Hence he is now a friend -- and therefore the DAP, PAS and PKR leaders have no problems attending the dialogue session and treating him as a friend. Such is the concept of an enemy of my enemy is my friend while a friend of my enemy is my enemy. That means this is no longer about freedom of association. It is about no matter how bad you are but if you are an enemy of my enemy then I can forgive all your evil deeds and take you as my friend. Is this what 5th May 2013 is all about? **************************************************** Saya dulu pun pernah dapat sokongan macam itu. Ada yang cium tangan, banyak. Dia sokong, tapi sekarang barulah saya tahu, sokongan itu tidak ada kualiti sama sekali. Kata Shahidan Kassim, kata Tajol Rosli, kami sokong pasal dia Perdana Menteri. Jadi saya jadi Perdana Menteri, mesti sokong, kalau saya buat apa pun sokonglah? Saya ingat, dulu, mereka sokong kerana apa yang saya lakukan untuk negara. Itulah sebabnya mereka sokong saya. Itulah pendapat saya. Tapi sekarang, baru saya tahu, mereka sokong saya pasal saya Perdana Menteri. Saya buat apa pun kami sokong. Saya baca Hikayat Hang Tuah. Dalam Hikayat Hang Tuah, apabila sahaja Raja memberi arahan, titah, maka jawab Hang Tuah dan lain-lain juga, Bendahara pun jawab, mana titah patik junjung. Mana titah patik junjung. Saya macam dengar yang ini. Bila menteri saya sokong, mana titah patik junjung. Sebab itu entahlah Hang Tuah suruh bunuh kawan dia pun, dia bunuh. Dia begitu sekali taat. Kita taat pada-padalah. Saya dulu pun, tahulah masa Tunku pun saya tak begitu taat. I am not a very loyal person. I am loyal only to what you do, not what you are. I am sorry. Buat benda yang betul saya sokong, buat benda tak betul saya tak sokong. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).
TEXT UCAPAN Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Dialog Bersama Malaysia Today Kelab Century Paradise Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur 24hb Jun 2006 READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH HERE: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html |
| Army peers in JB reject PKR’s Hashim Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:58 PM PDT Malaysia Ex-Army Association's chief Onn Mohd Yassin described former servicemen who supported the opposition as an "ungrateful" lot who sulked because they didn't get enough from BN. Leven Woon, FMT PKR's attempt to ride on Hashim Hussein's reputation as a former army chief to attract Malay voters in the Johor Baru parliamentary constituency has hit a snag. Some 200 former army officers, in uniform, here rallied together today and loudly rejected him. Calling Hashim "ungrateful", the members of Malaysia Ex-Army Association's (PBTM) Johor chapter gathered at a canopied spot outside the BN election operation room today and decried Hashim's candidacy under the PKR ticket. "PBTM Johor supports BN, rejects the hobo former general who joins the traitor of race, religion and country," read one banner. The emcee of the anti-Hashim gathering also led the crowd to read a pledge declaring their support to BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak before BN's incumbent candidate Shahrir Abdul Samad. The emcee also led the crowd to chant "Vote BN, reject Hashim". PBTM Johor chapter chief Onn Mohd Yassin, in his speech, said ex-servicemen who supported the opposition were those who sulked because they did not get the things they wanted from BN. "They are never grateful about what was given. They only want more," said Onn, who is an outgoing BN assemblyman in the state. Taking over the microphone, Shahrir first expressed gratitude to the crowd waving the BN flags before he went on to criticise PKR for using ex-servicemen in their campaign to bring BN down. "PKR's recruiting of ex-servicemen is nothing but a movie play. (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim only intended to show the world that the ex-servicemen, corporate leaders and lecturers have risen against the Najib administration," he said. "What do PKR and Anwar have in mind for the future of Malaysia? Reduction of fuel price? "This has proven to be inapplicable in Indonesia," he said, adding that Indonesia is now suffering an economic backlash due to heavy subsidies on fuel price.
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| Battle intensifies for eight super hot seats in Sarawak Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:50 PM PDT
Sulok Tawie, The Sun Daily Saratok tops the list of super hot seats in Sarawak as the State Barisan Nasional is fending off relentless onslaughts by the Opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the parliamentary election on May 5. PR is aiming to win the maximum 13 seats, with most of these would come from the urban constituencies. Up for grabs are 31 parliamentary seats. Before the dissolution of parliament on April 3, BN has 29 while the Opposition (DAP) has two seats. The other hotly contested seats are Stampin, Sarikei, Baram, Sibu, Lanang, Mas Gading and Bandar Kuching. Saratok becomes a hot seat after Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Tan Sri William Mawan was named as the SPDP-BN candidate, replacing incumbent and caretaker Deputy Transport Minister Jelaing Mersat in the last minute. Over 300 SPDP members in Saratok, including some from the supreme council, resigned a day after Mawan was named as the candidate on April 16. Mawan will be facing Sarawak PKR vice chairman and Krian State Assemblyman Ali Biju, who in the April 16, 2011 state election, convincingly defeated SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok. The third candidate is former State Election director Datuk Abang Roselie Abang Paleng, who stands as an Independent. Sararok has 27,096 eligible voters comprising 57 % Dayaks, 36 % Malays/Melanaus and 7 % Chinese. Another super hot seat is Stampin, where caretaker Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng is fighting an electoral battle of his life, against a 34-year aerospace engineer Julian Tan Kok Peng of the DAP. The third candidate, Lina Soo,54, of State Reform Party (Star), is a mere bystander in the battle. The DAP wants to retire Yong, 73, after he reneged on his pledge not to contest anymore. The election on May 5 could well be Yong's last. The three state seats under Stampin – Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawa – were won by PR in the last state election. The total number of votes garnered by the Opposition from these three seats was 33,268 compared to 19,520 obtained by SUPP. Stampin has 84,273 eligible voters, the highest in Sarawak. They comprise 76 % Chinese, 12 % Dayaks, 11 % Malays/Melanaus and 1 % others. Sarikei is a seat to watch. Incumbent Ding Kuong Hiing, 56, won the seat after beating his nearest challenger, Dr Wong Hua Seh of the DAP, by a mere 51 votes, in a five-cornered fight. This time around, Ding's sole challenge is Andrew Wong Ling Biu of the DAP. Wong is a former political assistant to Datuk David Teng Lung Chi, SUPP's present treasurer-general. A serious internal squabble among the SUPP members in Sarikei could result in the party and BN to lose the seat to the Opposition. Members of the rival faction are reported to be throwing their support to the DAP. Moreover, the two state seats of Repok and Bintangor under Sarikei were won by the DAP in the 2011 state election. Sarikei has 36,324 eligible voters comprising 70 % Chinese, 26 % Dayaks and 4% Malays/Melanaus. There are too many controversial issues that make Baram a super hot seat. The fight for Baram is between Anyi Ngau of SPDP-BN, lawyer and Christian preacher Roland Engan of PKR and businessman Patrick Sibat Sujang, an Independent. For years, Dayak-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been fighting hard against issuing of provisional leases to plantation companies on lands the natives claimed they have customary rights over. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of lands have been leased to plantation companies over the years. The natives, with the help of the NGOs, have also been opposing the issuing of licences to log timber from tropical rainforests in middle and upper Baram. The state's proposal to build a RM4 billion dam in Baram is also being vigorously opposed by the natives. Some 20,000 natives will have to be resettled elsewhere once the construction work on the dam begins. Baram has 29,024 eligible voters comprising 83% Dayaks, 11% Chinese and 6% Malays/Melanaus. Sibu is another seat to watch. It has always been a traditional seat of SUPP until the party lost it to the DAP in a by-election on May 16, 2010, caused by the death of SUPP vice chairman Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew. Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng edged Robert Lau Hui Yew of SUPP-BN by only 398 votes. Wong is not defending the seat, but instead his personal assistant Oscar Ling Chai Yew, 36, is contesting. SUPP, on the other hand, is fielding tycoon Lau Lee Ming, 56, to reclaim Sibu from the DAP. A government pensioner Narawi Haron is contesting as an Independent candidate. Nangka and Bawang Assan, two of the state seats under the Sibu parliamentary constituency are held by BN and while the third, Pelawan, is held by the DAP. Sibu has 64,381 registered voters comprising 67% Chinese, 15% Dayaks and 18 % Malays/Melanaus. Lanang is an interesting super hot seat to watch. SUPP-BN is letting Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, 67, to defend the seat which he has won for many terms. Tiong, coming from one of the richest families in Malaysia, is facing DAP Sibu Women chief Alice Lau Kiong Yieng, 32, a pin-sized daughter of another tycoon, who happens to be a senior member of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), a component party of the BN. Lanang consists of the two state seats of Bukit Assek and Dudong, both won by the DAP in the April 16, 2011 state election. Lanang has 56,830 registered voters comprising 76% Chinese, 19% Dayaks and 5% Malays/Melanaus. National Service Training Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe's presence is making Mas Gading a super hot seat. He was denied by the BN leadership to be a direct BN candidate so he could defend the seat, which he won three terms. Though he is contesting as an Independent candidate, political observers believe that his chance of retaining the seat, which he won in 1999 on Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket, is good. His main challenger will be Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, a former senior government officer, of SPDP-BN. The other candidates in Mas Gading are political novice Mordi Bimol of the DAP and battle-hardened Patrick Anek Uren of Star. Mas Gading has 25,493 registered voters comprising 74% Dayaks, 21% Chinese and 5% Malays/Melanaus. The SUPP-BN is making all efforts to capture Bandar Kuching by fielding SUPP Youth chief Tan Kai against Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen. Though it is quite an uphill task for SUPP-BN to win in this predominantly Chinese majority seat, they are not about to surrender. In the 2008 parliamentary election, Chong, the Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, beat Alan Sim, then SUPP Youth chief, and in 2004, he defeated Datuk Wee Kok Tiong, a son of the Tan Sri Wee Boon Ping, a famous Sarawak tycoon, in Bandar Kuching. It is, therefore, natural for SUPP-BN to win in Bandar Kuching, being the State Capital of Sarawak and the pride of all Sarawakians. The two state constituencies – Pending and Padungan – are currently held by the DAP. Bandar Kuching has 53,374 registered voters comprising 91% Chinese, 5% Malays/Melanaus and 3% Dayaks.
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| ‘PAS tried to sabotage Chegubard in Sg Acheh’ Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:45 PM PDT
Supporters of PKR's Badrul Hisham Shaharin claim that members of Penang PAS youth wing had tried to sabotage the former from filing his nomination papers yesterday. (FMT) - Trouble is brewing between PAS and PKR over the Sungai Acheh state seat in Penang. Sungai Acheh is one of seven seats being contested by both PAS and PKR, resulting in a three-cornered fight with Barisan Nasional. In Sungai Acheh, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who is better known as Chegubard, will face off Pakatan Rakyat partner PAS' Mohd Yusni Mat Piah and BN candidate Mahmud Zakaria. The seat was won by Mahmud in 2008 by defeating PKR's Dr Azhar Ahmad by 250 votes. While leaders from PAS and PKR had said that they would resolve this issue in the next couple of days, a close associate of Badrul today revealed the extent of which PAS members had gone to ensure Badrul would fail to stand as a candidate for this seat. Blogger and an official from Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Edy Noor Reduan, said members of PAS youth wing from Penang had attempted to stop Badrul from filing his nomination papers in Nibong Tebal yesterday. "The PAS youth members and their voluntary unit members tried to stop Badrul from entering the nomination centre yesterday morning. "He was also assaulted by these people, his wife and children were shoved…all this so that he would not be able to submit his nomination papers," claimed Edy Noor. Badrul is the chief of SAMM. He said that there were many witnesses to this act of sabotage by the PAS members against Badrul. Edy Noor said after failing to stop Badrul from entering the nomination centre, the PAS members had then tried to spread rumours that the PKR man was contesting as an independent, or that he was withdrawing from contesting. He said PAS had been involved in this psywar from the very beginning in their attempt to derail Badrul's chances of contesing for this seat. "If the same was done by Umno, we would have had a good go at them…but if it is done by our own ally…we are just confused by what's happening," he said.
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| Ansari questions PKR’s choice of Ku Li’s men Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:20 PM PDT
Tuaran PKR chief Ansari Abdullah will lodge an official complaint with ROS about APS' involvement in politics. Queville To, FMT Tuaran PKR division chief Ansari Abdullah has accused PKR leaders of preaching and practicing 'fake justice'. "How can we proclaim ourselves as a party that is fighting for the people's justice when we can't even ensure justice within the party?" He was alluding to the PKR central's contentious decision to field members of Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) led by former deputy president of Upko Wilfred Bumburing. Bumburing is contesting under the PKR ticket for the Tuaran parliamentary and Tamparuli state seats. Another APS candidate is Gulabdin B Enjih who is contesting the Sulaman state seat. Ansari, a lawyer, has questioned the propriety of APS joining the fray since it is supposed to be a NGO, which he said is contravening the Societies Act. He said he would lodge an official complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on the matter. According to Ansari the only bonafide PKR candidate is Rhodes B Panilau for the Kiulu state seat. "After 14 years of hard work building up the party in Sabah, I only manage to get one PKR member to stand as a candidate while Amanah (APS) got three candidates, courtesy of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is currently still a Umno member," he lamented. Bumburing is a vice president of Razaleigh-led Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) which seeks to reinstate the policies and spirit expounded by first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, is an Umno member and is defending his seat in Gua Musang in Kelantan.
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| Anwar defends taking Sg Acheh seat for Chegubard Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:17 PM PDT
Both PAS and PKR are contesting for the state seat. (Bernama) - PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim defended his decision to field Badrul Hisham Shaharin or better known as Chegubard for the Sungai Acheh state seat although the decision was opposed by PAS. He said PKR and PAS were fielded for the state seat due to a misunderstanding between both parties when nominating their respective candidates. "Give us another two or three days to resolve the matter," he said during a political campaign at Kampung Tok Keramat, near here, last night. Sungai Acheh will see a three-cornered fight featuring Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mahmud Zakaria, PKR's Chegubard and Mohd Yusni Mat Piah from PAS. In the 12th general election, Mahmud beat PKR's Dr Azhar Ahmad by 250 votes.
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| Candidate vs party: How to choose? Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:12 PM PDT Eventually one of them turned to me and asked which party I would support. "Depends on who the candidate is, I suppose — if he is a good person or not," I said. They laughed and did not take my comments seriously. One even joked that "he meant it depends on who pays more." Kharie Hisyam Aliman, TMI I remember a time in my early teens when I sat near a group of adults discussing the pros and cons of BN and the opposition at a local kenduri. Eventually one of them turned to me and asked which party I would support. "Depends on who the candidate is, I suppose — if he is a good person or not," I said. They laughed and did not take my comments seriously. One even joked that "he meant it depends on who pays more." I felt slighted, of course, but I said nothing and walked away. To me, individual merits should have as much importance as which political ideology the candidate subscribes to. In light of the confirmation that DAP's candidates can contest GE13 with the party's rocket symbol, we are now left to wonder how people would have voted if DAP's candidates had been forced to contest under the logos of PAS and PKR respectively. It would have presented interesting questions that should be considered even if the RoS–DAP episode never occurred. Would you vote based on which party the candidate represents or the individual merits of the candidate themselves? Which factor do you give more weight to? Some, like former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, urged voters to cross BN's logo regardless of who is contesting. "We should come out in full force to vote for BN, don't care who the candidates are, don't look at their faces, and just cross the balance scale. The voters should remember that it is the party that forms the government, not the candidates," Tun Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying. But then again, the party that forms the government comprises the candidates. These are the people who will be considering each Bill and proposed policy change which in turn will affect our lives and our country's progress. They will be debating and arguing in Parliament on our behalf. Their personal leanings, what issues they feel strongly about (and don't) would affect what things they would fight for and against the hardest, and vice versa — would your representative reflect what you actually want? So what sort of people we want to represent us in Parliament should matter as much as which party they belong to. Indeed, many grassroots leaders from both sides of the political divide appear to be well meaning, honest folks who genuinely care for the local community. We like them because they help us with our grievances, issues, problems, and they are also accessible. The only obvious difference between them is which political party they belong to. But as pointed out by a friend: "That in itself is a big difference ... what policies they support and champion."
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| GE13: PKR and PAS chaos over Panti seat Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:08 PM PDT
(The Star) - At least 10% of the 82 parliamentary and state seats in Johor will see multi-cornered fights. In the Panti state seat, for example, Barisan Nasional, PKR and PAS will battle it out. This came about after a PAS candidate filed his nomination papers, thinking that there was no PKR man for the seat. However, the PKR candidate turned up five minutes before nomination closed at 10am and filed his papers. PAS deputy commissioner Dzulkefly Ahmad, when contacted, claimed that PAS did not sabotage PKR for the Panti seat as PKR had requested for a PAS candidate as they could not find a suitable one. The Mengkibol seat is being contested by incumbent Ng Lam Hua from DAP who has decided to fight it out as an Independent against Johor DAP Youth chief Tan Hong Ping. This led to Johor DAP deputy chief Norman Fernandez saying that the state DAP would recommend that Ng be sacked from the party. The Gambir state seat will see a four-cornered fight with Johor MIC secretary M. Asojan, state PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed and two independent candidates slugging it out. Other "crowded" fights include the parliamentary seats of Kulai and Penggerang; the state seats include Johor Jaya, Bukit Batu, Puteri Wangsa, and Bukit Naning. Businessman K. Surendiran, 42, is standing as an Independent in Bukit Batu and the Kulai parliamentary seat. Overall, there are eight independent candidates, the largest number ever in Johor.
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| Candidates' list for the 222 parliament and 505 state seats in the 13th GE Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT |
| Hindraf’s objectives remain the same Posted: 20 Apr 2013 03:19 PM PDT Hindraf's national advisor N Ganesan answers frequently asked questions on the latest developments involving the movement. Indian rights movement Hindraf has come under the spotlight after signing a memorandum of understanding with its 'enemy' Barisan Nasional last week to uplift the plight of the Indian community in this country. Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy is now calling for the Indian community to back BN in the polls, and this has come under severe criticism. Here Hindraf's national advisor N Ganesan gives answers to questions being asked about Hindraf's new alignment with BN and Najib Tun Razak. About Hindraf's new relationship with Umno/BN 2. Has Hindraf given up its principles in partnering BN and gone with hat in hand to them, in spite of the bashing Hindraf supporters took on Nov 25, 2007? 3. Is this a sellout of Hindraf by its leaders? 4. Has there been a secret pact between the leaders of Hindraf and leaders of BN? The conspiracy theorists from Pakatan have been working overtime on this theme of a secret pact. This way they want to confuse the people on this historic deal. We will see the result of all this on May 5. 5. Hindraf has been extremely critical of Umno's past policies, what happens to all that criticism now? Has Hindraf forgotten the 56 years of Umno's policies that have resulted in the marginalisation of Indians? 6. Will BN honour their part of the agreement? All the BN government needs to do is to provide the funds, the authority and supervise for consistency with all the rest of what they do. Why will they now want to play around, especially with Hindraf who is known to be able to kick up storms quite readily, unless they mean what they are signing up to? Besides, in a recent risk analysis that we performed, BN came out 2 to 1 better in the risk rating compared to Pakatan in the risks of implementation. Yes there is risk, but we have assessed the risk and think it is worth taking, considering the potential benefit. About the relationship with Pakatan We are for change. But Pakatan is not the change that we need. Pakatan is not the change the country needs. We need changes in policies, not in names and faces only. We have no problems embracing true change. However Pakatan does not represent true change to us. 8. Pakatan stands for multiracialism, that is why they could not accept Hindraf's Blueprint? 9. Has Hindraf been inept in dealing with Pakatan? About the Memorandum of Understanding between BN and Hindraf 10. The MOU is an understanding it is not an agreement. So what is the worth of the MOU signed between Hindraf and BN? However our recent experiences and analysis brings us to other conclusions. In Umno's world view they do not see the Indians in the country as a threat to their hold on long term power. Their fears come from elsewhere. We have just been party to collateral damage in the past, and the Blueprint now helps to address that collateral damage. This MOU document, further serves as a record our understanding of the changes what we have agreed upon. When it comes to implementation this document will be the reference. Will there be differences later on in the interpretation? I am sure there will be. But we do not consider that a major risk. The major risk is whether there is honour behind the words. From what we see now, there does seem to be. 11. Why did the prime minister not sign the MOU, why Tengku Adnan Mansor? And who is Tengku Adnan? 12. Is the MOU valid as it is signed only by the caretaker government? 13. What if there is a change in the leadership of Umno/BN – will the MOU still be valid? 14. Why did we give up on items 5 and 6 of the original Hindraf Blueprint? 15. Is the MOU a mockery of the Hindraf Blueprint? When the poverty situation is addressed effectively, social development will occur as a direct consequence. This will see a reduction of the involvement of Indian youth in crime. Today many of the killings in custody can be traced to a complex web between these youths, crime syndicates, their bosses, the police and even some who are well placed in society. But when we reduce the input into that web, the problem will reduce significantly. This is the oblique opportunity we have today with the current plan. As for the UN covenants on human rights, the proposals when completely implemented will reduce the racial discrimination in the system that the Indian poor will face. We have established a clear quota based regime for all benefits deriving from the government on the basis of the participation in numbers in the population. As for bringing the laws of the country to be consistent with theseinternational norms of human rights we believe social values will have to first change. And we plan be involved in that effort too.
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| Feiz Mohammad: Radical Muslim Preacher Who Inspired Boston Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev Posted: 20 Apr 2013 03:03 PM PDT
(International Business Times) - Although it is widely reported he is now living in Malaysia, where he continues to give regular lectures, some suggest he has returned to Australia – even though the Sydney government has repeatedly condemned him. Feiz Mohammad, the radical preacher cited by dead Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is a former boxer who blames women for being raped and called for a prominent Dutch politician to be beheaded. Widely known as 'Sheikh Feiz', the preacher was born in Australia circa 1970-1 but fled to Lebanon, the homeland of his parents, eight years ago after becoming one of the world's most controversial Islamic lecturers. He has been investigated by Australian police for inciting violence and terrorism, and was even captured on a British TV documentary encouraging children to become martyrs for Islam six years ago. Feiz has been described by some as Australia's most dangerous sheikh, because of the number of connections he holds to known terrorists. Although it is not known whether the hardline sheikh has any direct links to Al-Qaeda, he has regularly broadcast sermons from the group's spiritual leader, Anwar al-Awlaki, on his website. Read more at: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/459253/20130419/feiz-mohammad-tamerlan-tsarnaev-boston-marathon.htm
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| Open letter to Nurul Izzah and Raja Nong Chik Posted: 20 Apr 2013 02:56 PM PDT
I hope to catch both of you before May 5th. I have not decided who to vote for, and I am likely to make my choice the night before May 5th. But you can help me hasten my decision by doing the following. Anas Zubedy Dear Nurul and Raja Nong Chik, Firstly, congratulations on being chosen as the respective candidates for PR and BN. Both of you deserve the honour. I vote at Lembah Pantai. I am one of those non-partisans Malaysians, one without a party. I would like to believe I belong to a third block of Malaysian voters – The Third Force. I hope to catch both of you before May 5th. I have not decided who to vote for, and I am likely to make my choice the night before May 5th. But you can help me hasten my decision by doing the following. I would like to have a contract, albeit a halal one, with the two of you. I have a wish list that I would like you to look into before I make my decision. I do not expect both of you to agree to every item, but the one who agrees and promises to do more will get my vote. I would like to videotape your promise if chance permit. Here are my wishes: Read more at: http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2013/04/open-letter-to-nurul-izzah-and-raja.html |
| Posted: 20 Apr 2013 02:37 PM PDT Double-parking throughout the day just 50 metres from DBKL's branch office at TTDI. Singa Terhormat Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur is an upmarket residential area. It houses many political and corporate leaders, professionals and successful businessmen. Included amongst its residents is the FT Minister, Raja Nong Chik. As FT Minister, Raja Nong Chik is responsible for attending to the relevant needs of the people within FT and has included under him Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to assist him in performing his duties. Exactly how well has he performed in discharging his duties? One would reasonably expect that with him living in TTDI and thus being present there regularly, if not daily, he would ensure that TTDI is well-managed by the authorities that answer to him, principally DBKL. Seeing him always smiling one would think he is pleased with his performance. I was however appalled during a recent visit to TTDI to visit an aunt, to find that TTDI is poorly managed. There are illegal stalls operating everywhere and I understand from residents there that this has been going on for ages, with the authorities turning a 'blind eye' to them. Rumour has it that some DBKL personnel are on a 'retainer basis' with these stall-holders and hence no action is taken against these stall-holders, despite many complaints by residents. Read more at: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/report-card-on-nong-chik/
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| Malaysia GE13: A clenched fist - and a RM40,000 problem Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:59 PM PDT
(ST) - In the end, it came down to perception more than anything else, says a key strategist of one of Pakatan's component parties. Mr Ismail Yusop, the election director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Perak, says: "We have no problem with the party, but politics is about managing perception." Dozens of people turned up in bright red T-shirts to support the nomination of Pakatan Rakyat's Sungai Siput candidate Michael Jeyakumar on Saturday, but their specially printed tops will have to be packed away when campaigning heats up. The T-shirts are the latest victims of a concerted effort by Malaysia's two main political coalitions to rid their image of any negative connotations- whether real or imagined - as they try to woo voters from now till the election on May 5. The Democratic Action Party (DAP), a key member of Pakatan Rakyat alliance, may have hogged headlines for its recent wrangle over the right to use its famous rocket logo during campaigning. But a similar tussle has been taking place in Sungai Siput constituency in Perak state. Up until Friday - one day before nomination - Dr Jeyakumar was neck deep in negotiations with key members of Pakatan who were dead set against the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (socialist party) member using the red clenched fist logo on his campaign. The reason: The logo had communist overtones, and may cost Pakatan votes in other states where locals have especially bad memories of Malaysia's communist insurgency, which ended as recently as 1989. It didn't matter that Dr Jeyakumar, Sungai Siput's incumbent MP, is well known for helping underclass communities like squatters. The mild-mannered medical doctor tells The Straits Times: "We have been here for 10 years, people know that we are not terrorists." In the end, it came down to perception more than anything else, says a key strategist of one of Pakatan's component parties. Mr Ismail Yusop, the election director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Perak, says: "We have no problem with the party, but politics is about managing perception." Dr Jeyakumar was issued an ultimatum: Drop the logo, or Pakatan would send a candidate to Sungai Siput to start a three-cornered fight. He relented, registering as a PKR candidate in the Sungai Siput contest on Saturday. "To bring changes, you need authority," he explained, and that authority can only come if Pakatan parties win enough seats to control the state. The opposition won a majority of seats in the state assembly in 2008, but lost power one year later after three of its politicians defected. Ironically, Sungai Siput will see a three-cornered fight anyway, as an independent candidate S.P. Nagalingam registered for the race on Saturday. But Dr Jeyakumar brushed off the challenge from the relative unknown. His main rival would be deputy minister S.K. Devamany, who was moved from his old seat in neighbouring Pahang state to help the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition regain Sungai Siput. Read more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/malaysia-ge13-clenched-fist-and-rm40000-problem-20130421 |
| Malaysia elections: Sex, sabotage and videotape in Malaysian campaign Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:50 PM PDT
(AsiaOne) - Malaysia's ruling establishment has been accused of resorting to "gutter politics" as a bruising election campaign starts amid outrage over sex videos and opposition charges of sabotage. The May 5 vote looks to be a typically hard-fought and polarising Malaysian election as a 56-year-old regime faces the fight of its life against a rising opposition. But analysts warn negative tactics in the campaign that officially began on Saturday could backfire on the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Premier Najib Razak had pledged to oversee a civil election run but advocates for a clean campaign have cried foul over alleged improprieties in what one group has warned will be Malaysia's "dirtiest election ever". A top figure in an opposition Islamic party in the Muslim-majority nation was forced recently to deny involvement over an online video claiming to show him in a tryst with a young woman. The opposition said more such videos were expected, including one purportedly involving Nurul Izzah Anwar, the parliamentarian daughter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was himself targeted in a 2011 sex video claim. Reports of election violence have mounted, mostly involving attacks on opposition supporters, with one man reportedly in a coma after being beaten. Adverts have run in some areas suggesting the opposition would impose Islamic law on non-Muslims, which the opposition decries as dangerous religious fear-mongering. "I deplore gutter politics and demand that Prime Minister Najib have the decency to not only condemn but also to ensure those behind the sex videos and political violence face the full brunt of the law," Nurul Izzah told AFP. Najib's office did not respond to a request for comment. UMNO became notorious for hardball tactics under authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad, who dominated Malaysia for 22 years until retiring in 2003. Read more at: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20130421-417443.html
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| Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:43 PM PDT
I WOULD hate to be Chua Soi Lek at this point in time. With the general election looming, and Chinese Malaysian support for Barisan Nasional (BN) at an all-time low, it seems like the MCA is in for the toughest fight of its political life. So what can Chua do in the face of the seemingly insurmountable task to perform well in the elections? Here are some ideas that I would try, or would have tried, if I were him. Chan Kheng Hoe, The Nut Graph
For sure, no politician would like to take on Lim Kit Siang in a Chinese-majority seat if they could help it. This means it would have been an excellent strategy to place Ong Tee Keat there, although the opportunity is now gone since the MCA has a nominated candidates' list sans Tee Keat. If Ong had been fielded and won, it would have been a major boost for the MCA and the BN. And if Ong had lost, then good riddance to him. Either way, it would have been a win for Chua.
The Chinese Malaysian vote seems to be lost anyway. So, this election is really about winning over fence-sitting Malay Malaysians. If these Malays sway to the BN, then it is all well and good. Otherwise, the BN itself would be at risk. So why not go after these fence-sitting Malays by promoting the DAP's Chinese credentials? Tell everyone how great the DAP is to the Chinese. Publicise how the DAP favours the Chinese over everyone else. Explain in detail how a "Malaysian Malaysia" would ultimately be good for the Chinese over every other race. By this, Chua would be driving fence-sitting Malays to the BN, which includes the MCA, of course. Read more at: http://www.thenutgraph.com/if-i-were-chua-soi-lek/ |
| Kerjaya politik Ong Tee Keat berakhir? Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:37 PM PDT
Pertamanya, adakah beliau benar-benar bersara terus daripada politik? Keduanya, adakah keputusan untuk tidak bertanding bermakna Tee Keat masih berpeluang untuk kembali bersaing untuk jawatan tertinggi pada pilihan raya parti akan datang? Ketiga, mungkinkah juga Tee Keat kini sedang memikirkan terus untuk berhijrah ke Pakatan Rakyat? Markus Lim, TMI Terkejut dan tidak disangka-sangka! Demikian reaksi pertama penulis selepas mendapati perkhabaran bahawa Ahli Parlimen Pandan, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat tidak akan bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13. Sememangnya, keputusan di saat-saat akhir oleh Tee Keat untuk tidak mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Pandan sesuatu yang mengejutkan. Lebih-lebih lagi, tidak ada pun petanda-petanda bahawa Tee Keat akan memilih untuk tidak bertanding. Sedia maklum, perwatakan Tee Keat yang keras dan tidak mudah menyerah meyakinkan ramai bahawa beliau akan terus bertanding sebagai calon di Pandan. Perkhabaran ini sudah pasti mengecewakan ramai pengikut setianya yang telah menyokong beliau selama ini. Malah beberapa hari sebelum penamaan calon, beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan rakyat setempat mengadakan protes bagi membantah tindakan MCA tidak mencalonkan Tee Keat. Bagi kumpulan pengundi tersebut, mereka hanya mengenali Tee Keat dan tidak akan mengundi mana-mana calon selain Tee Keat. Bagi mereka nama Tee Keat merupakan satu institusi di Pandan. Tee Keat adalah Pandan dan Pandan adalah Tee Keat. Malah mereka juga mengancam untuk memberikan undi kepada calon Pakatan Rakyat jika tuntutan mereka tidak dipenuhi. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/kerjaya-politik-ong-tee-keat-berakhir/
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| Zul Noordin confident of his image, Selangor BN sweep Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:18 PM PDT
(TMI) - In the interview, Zulkifli said Najib was brave to field a "rare species" like him in the upcoming elections and that Malaysians should appreciate that. Perkasa's Datuk Zulkifli Noordin believes his image does not need any repairing with any demographic in the Shah Alam race, saying he is also confident of Barisan Nasional (BN) recapturing Selangor in Election 2013. The incumbent Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP has riled the Indian community with his comments about their faith, but he told the fz.com news portal that his BN candidacy was "living proof" of coalition chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak's commitment to political transformation. "I am what I am," Zulkifli said in a video interview uploaded in the news portal yesterday. "It is a proof of Najib's commitment to transform the political scenario in Malaysia, thinking outside the box. So I am the living proof of that transformation programme," he claimed proudly, referring to his candidacy as someone not affiliated to any of the BN component parties. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/zul-noordin-confident-with-his-image-selangor-bn-sweep/ |
Nominate Ong Tee Keat for Gelang Patah
Praise the DAP's Chinese credentials sky-high
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