Strange (and dishonest) BN math THERE is a ubiquitous campaign billboard in Port Dickson now. It says, “For 63 years, Barisan Nasional (BN) has protected you. Don’t destroy the country’s security.” The arithmetic is baffling. The BN was officially registered as a coalition in July 1974. As at October 2009, this would make the BN […]
Bagan Pinang
Bread and butter in Bagan Pinang
By Shanon ShahBread and butter issues (© Bruno Neves / sxc.hu) “IN Malaysia, we must vote for Barisan Nasional (BN); we have been voting for them for a long time,” says T Muniandy. “We help them by voting for them, and then they help us.” It is 6 Oct 2009, the fourth day of the Bagan Pinang […]
Campaigning in Bagan Pinang
By Shanon Shah
FROM day one, the Barisan Nasional (BN) has been pulling out all the stops in its Bagan Pinang by-election campaign. Sure, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) managed to muster more than 4,000 supporters — more than double the BN’s — on nomination day. But since nominations closed, it is clear that the PR is struggling to […]
Zulkefly Omar’s dilemma
By Shanon ShahJOURNALISTS have been warning each other that Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, PAS’s Bagan Pinang by-election candidate, is not the world’s best orator. Unfortunately, this is true. At a PAS-organised ceramah in Taman Eastern on 5 Oct 2009, The Nut Graph observes that Zulkefly is ponderous in his speech. The chants of “Allahu akbar” that greet him […]
“Jalan-jalan cari undi”
By Shanon ShahIsa Samad poses at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event in Bagan Pinang “THIS is part of my programme for the Bagan Pinang by-election: jalan-jalan cari undi,” says Tan Sri Isa Samad, 60, riffing off the popular TV3 food travelogue, Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan. The 3,000-strong crowd here in Taman PD Utama initially looks more interested in […]
High stakes in Bagan Pinang
By Shanon ShahCorrected at 1:50pm, 5 Oct 2009 Outside the BN headquarters in Bagan Pinang prior to nomination day on 3 Oct “IF the Barisan Nasional (BN) loses, it will be catastrophic,” Umno Youth chief and Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin tells The Nut Graph in a phone interview. Talk about high stakes. But he is […]
Battle for Bagan Pinang begins
By Shanon Shah
THE Bagan Pinang state seat by-election could not have come at a more interesting time, in the fortunes of both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Each has its fair share of problems, providing plenty of ammunition for its rival. Although Prime Minister and BN chairperson Datuk Seri Najib Razak keeps making attempts […]
Nomination day in Bagan Pinang (Updated 12.08pm)
Updated 12.08pm, 3 Oct 2009 PORT DICKSON, 3 Oct 2009: The Bagan Pinang state by-election on 11 Oct will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS. BN is fielding former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad while PAS is represented by Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, the party’s state commissioner. Returning officer […]
Call for harsher syariah penalties
Translation by Ding Jo-AnnA CALL for stiffer penalties for syariah offences, and who Umno should field for the Bagan Pinang by-election were among the issues that occupied the Malay-language dailies today. Harsher penalties wanted Utusan Malaysia‘s Herman Hamid reported in Pinda Akta Mahkamah Syariah on the calls for harsher penalties for syariah offences. The Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) […]
Ninth by-election to be called for Bagan Pinang (Updated 7.25pm)
Updated 7.25pm on 4 Sept 2009 SEREMBAN, 4 Sept 2009: Bagan Pinang assemblyperson, Azman Mohammad Noor, of Barisan Nasional (BN) died this afternoon at the Seremban Specialist Centre. He was 54. The death of the BN incumbent means that Malaysia will likely see a ninth by-election since the March 2008 general election. Azman’s son, Hairol […]
