SUNGAI PETANI, 5 April 2009: The Kedah People’s Progressive Party (PPP) today denied a claim by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that 6,000 PPP members had joined PKR. Its deputy chairperson K Vadi Vellu said the 9,000 Kedah PPP members remained loyal to the party and were actively involved in the […]
by-election
Lull in Bukit Selambau
By Regina WilliamSUNGAI PETANI, 5 April 2009: With about 48 hours left before the 35,125 voters in the N25 Bukit Selambau constituency go to the polls to elect their new state assembly[person], an air of lull seems to have descended here. This being the weekend before the by-election on Tuesday, though a working day here on a […]
“Local factor advantages BN”
By Sharon TanCHANGKAT JERING, 5 April 2009: Pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) independent state assembly[person] Mohd Osman Jailu contends that the local flavour will help BN’s Ismail Saffian in the fight for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency. Osman, who won the Changkat Jering state seat in the general elections last year under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ticket, said […]
Shabery: Voters’ tantrums over in Bkt Selambau
By Shanon ShahSUNGAI PETANI, 4 April 2009: Like children who have rebelled against their parents but then reconcile, voters in Bukit Selambau are ready to come back to the Barisan Nasional (BN) fold, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek today. “It is normal for children to sometimes rebel against their parents and leave the family home, […]
Psy-war in Sungai Petani
By Shanon ShahCAMPAIGNING in the hotly contested state seat of Bukit Selambau, Kedah, has been relatively muted, with both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) zooming in on each others’ Achilles heels in an escalating psy-war. The three parties in the PR — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and DAP — have been attacking the […]
Avoiding issues in Bukit Selambau
By Shanon ShahShahrizat Abdul Jalil THE Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both seem keen to avoid their vulnerabilities in their campaigns to win the state seat of Bukit Selambau in Kedah. For example, at BN press conferences and interviews, including by candidate Datuk S Ganesan, leaders refuse to address allegations that new Prime Minister Datuk […]
Trading barbs in Bkt Gantang ceramah circuit
By Deborah LohEntrance to the Chinese fishing village of Kuala Sepetang WET weather has put a damper on the nightly ceramah circuit in Bukit Gantang. In the past week, most Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) gigs drew crowds in the range of 150 to less than 500 by the time the night’s speeches were over. […]
The lone woman candidate
By Shanon ShahSarala (right) with her bicycle INDEPENDENT candidate L Sarala’s election campaign in Bukit Selambau has been a hoot. After being assigned the symbol of a bicycle by the Election Commission (EC), the 33-year-old marketing manager got herself a bike and started riding it to canvass for votes house-to-house. It would be easy to dismiss her […]
Manikumar’s baptism by fire
By Shanon ShahS Manikumar S MANIKUMAR, 35, has many fires to fight. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election has to firstly compete against 14 other candidates for this state assembly seat. Secondly, there are the criticisms that he is too young, inexperienced and not media savvy. On top of this, despite strenuous […]
The last Rajah’s battlefield
By Wong Chin HuatPolice on guard during the Ijok by-election (pic by Danny Lim) THE 7 April Batang Ai by-election actually has more similarities with the 2007 by-election for the Selangor state seat of Ijok than to the other two by-elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Serambau that will happen on the same day. Batang Ai is certainly […]