Game over for Pakatan Rakyat? WHEN speculation is rife about the possible disintegration of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), not least via media reports, I cannot help but ask two questions: What could Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak possibly gain by this? And what weapons do parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the […]
crossovers
Stop the illegality in Perak (Updated 6pm)
By Tengku Razaleigh HamzahTHE Barisan Nasional (BN)’s takeover of Perak has set off a chain reaction of illegality which has left Perak quite possibly without a legitimate government. One of our most prosperous states has been reduced to a failed state. One lie leads to many lies. Each bad action leads to a cascade of follies, particularly when […]
Khairy: Sultan rules all
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon ShahIN recent interviews, Umno Youth-chief hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin has condemned party-hopping, and has been arguing strenuously for reform of Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN). However, after the recent BN takeover of the Perak government by defections from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) camp, Khairy apparently made an about-face. When addressing a crowd of Umno Youth […]
Perak snap polls inevitable?
By Deborah LohCOULD fresh state elections in Perak, which Barisan Nasional (BN) worked so hard to avoid, happen after all? In its haste to topple the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government, BN rushed to grab three independents, and the Menteri Besar and executive councillor positions. But it appears to have forgotten the powerful Speaker in the state […]
Who’s afraid of the rakyat?
By Jacqueline Ann SurinONE of the most lucid things I’ve read above the din of the political fiasco in Perak is Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s statement about respecting Sultan Azlan Shah’s decision. Following the Perak Ruler’s decision, the PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar, who is himself of royal lineage, said, “I don’t question the […]
MB’s advisors will not make decisions
By Deborah LohChang Ko Youn and S Veerasingam IPOH, 12 Feb 2009: The two non-elected representatives who were appointed as special advisors with executive councillor status in the new Barisan Nasional (BN) Perak government will not sit in exco meetings nor will they make decisions. One of the new appointees, Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn, […]
PR will give up official residence and cars
By Deborah LohIPOH, 12 Feb 2009: Pakatan Rakyat is going to give up the Perak Menteri Besar’s official residence and the official cars used by executive councillors — two symbols they have clung on to as evidence of the Pakatan state government’s legitimacy. However, embattled Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said doing so did […]
Commodified elected reps
By KW MakTHE joke in town now is that everyone should join the political parties DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) for a RM10 fee, run for office, and then wait for the big payoff. Both parties deserve to be the butt of such jokes since the fall of the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak was due […]
Khalid meeting S’gor reps tomorrow
SHAH ALAM, 11 Feb 2009: Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will be meeting all the state’s elected representatives tomorrow to prevent speculation about crossovers in the state. Khalid said this was necessary given the recent political developments in Perak, adding that other issues would also be discussed at the meeting. “We will […]
Nizar here till further notice
By Deborah LohIPOH, 11 Feb 2009: Embattled Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is willing to brave a no-confidence vote in the state legislative assembly, deeming it the only other legitimate way to end the impasse of the state, short of having fresh elections. Nizar said Pakatan Rakyat will remain as the state government until […]
