ELECTIONS should be won or lost on issues and policies but sadly, that’s not always the case. Personal attacks and mudslinging are a common feature in Malaysian elections. We take a look at some of the arguments that have been made by politicians wanting to trump their opponents in the run-up to GE13.
Abdullah Badawi
BN vs Bersih: Comparing 2007 and 2011
By Gan Pei Ling
IS Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a prime minister of reform as he’s been portrayed to be? Is he more respectful of human rights and dissenting views compared to his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi? Is he less or more prone to strong-arm tactics? A comparison of how the government treated Bersih in 2007 and how it is treating Bersih 2.0 in 2011 gives Malaysians and the world an indication of whether things have gotten better under Najib or much worse.
BN divided on Islamic state issue
Translation by Gan Pei Ling
FORMER prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when he was still deputy premier, have all proclaimed Malaysia to be an Islamic state. Despite that, most Umno parliamentarians have avoided answering the question, “Do you think Malaysia should be a secular or an […]
Flipping on interfaith dialogue (Updated)
By Ding Jo-AnnUpdated 5:35pm, 12 Feb 2010 “There is no reason to be afraid of ideas like [having an interfaith body].” DATUK Seri Rais Yatim, speaking as then culture, arts and heritage minister, when opening a 2005 national conference on establishing an interfaith commission. Rais encouraged everyone to listen to the proposals with an open mind and […]
PMs assured Christians of use of “Allah”
By Ding Jo-AnnPETALING JAYA, 13 Jan 2010: Even though the government banned the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims in 1986, the churches refrained from court action for more than 20 years because of assurances from two prime ministers. ShastriCouncil of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri told The Nut Graph that Christian leaders were […]
“Allah” can be discussed calmly
By Ding Jo-Ann(Corrected at 4:38pm, 12 Jan 2010) KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan 2010: Malaysians are mature enough to openly discuss issues without resorting to violence, said the organiser of an 11 Jan 2010 public forum on the “Allah” issue. Despite being told by police to cancel last night’s forum following the spate of attacks on churches, the […]
Umno still leads the way
By Deborah LohWill Najib wait for the MIC, MCA, Gerakan and PPP to play catch-up? AFTER the March 2008 general election, when public sentiment against the Barisan Nasional (BN) swirled dark and hopes were bright for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s multicultural politics, Umno was everybody’s favourite punching bag. Perhaps riding on public sentiment that favoured the opposition, […]
Umno general assembly starts tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Oct 2009: Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad‘s victory in the Bagan Pinang by-election yesterday will certainly be one of the hot topics among the delegates at the 2009 Umno general assembly beginning tomorrow. Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has helmed the party for only seven months as president, acknowledged that the major […]
MACC
By The Nut Graph teamTHE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has come under considerable flak this past week, most severely with the death of Selangor state government aide Teoh Beng Hock. On 16 July 2009, Teoh was discovered dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, after a gruelling interrogation lasting more than 10 hours until 3.45am at […]
Nazri: IPCMC would have been “unconstitutional”
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2009: The government rejected the proposal to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC) because its powers were “too broad” and unconstitutional. Nazri (File pic) “The IPCMC would have acted as investigator, prosecutor, judge, and executioner simultaneously,” de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz told Parliament […]
