THE last general election birthed a situation that was not common before 2008: the Barisan Nasional (BN) functioning as an opposition. Although the BN has been the opposition in Kelantan for many years, it was a completely new experience for them in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah. Indeed, the blanket term “opposition” previously used to […]
defections
Anwar, the tease
By Gan Pei Ling“We are still waiting for [the defectors’] reactions before releasing the information publicly. We will make a public exposé in the near future.” PARTY Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, claiming that RM2 million and multi-million ringgit government contracts had been offered to elected representatives who left the party. He said […]
Jumping off the PKR train
By Deborah Loh(Pic by Jascha400d / sxc.hu) IS the timing of the resignations from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) before and during the one-week Hulu Selangor by-election campaign purely coincidental? Two days before nomination day on 17 April 2010, Bakar Arang assemblyperson Tan Wei Shu became an independent lawmaker in the Kedah state assembly. As if knowingly, Deputy […]
PKR’s resignations
By Shanon ShahWITHIN a month, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been rocked with the resignations of high-profile party leaders, including three federal lawmakers. Bayan Baru Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim quit in early February 2010, followed by Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng a fortnight later. It might have been easy to dismiss […]
Mission: Democratisation
By Wong Chin HuatI HAVE no doubt that a two-party system is better than the one-party state we currently live in. However, what is desirable is not necessarily viable. As I have argued, blind faith in the feasibility of a two-party system may lead to either one-party predominance (under the Barisan Nasional [BN] or Pakatan Rakyat [PR]), or […]
Game over for Pakatan Rakyat?
By Wong Chin HuatGame 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 […]
Time for recall elections, Selangor
By Wong Chin HuatCorrected at 4:25pm, 4 Nov 2009 THERE are those who cheered for Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s now infamous 16 September 2008 plot to take over the federal government by defections. There are also those who initially cheered the 10-day defection of Datuk Nasarudin Hashim (state assemblyperson for Bota, Perak) from Umno to Parti […]
Azeez: Expect PR defections in Kedah
By Shanon ShahSUNGAI PETANI, 6 Apr 2009: Four Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state assemblypersons will defect if the Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the Bukit Selambau by-election tomorrow, claimed newly-elected Umno supreme council member Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim. Speaking at the BN Youth operations center here tonight, he said, “Just wait and see what will happen within a […]
Anti-hopping laws versus five-year ban
By Deborah LohWHEN Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong left the DAP to become an independent supporting Barisan Nasional (BN), some of her constituents cried, “We didn’t vote for her, we voted for her party!” That was the mildest of angry sentiments expressed on the night of 5 Feb 2009 at the Perak Menteri Besar’s official residence, where […]
Perak speaker suspends MB and entire exco
Bernama reportIPOH, 18 Feb 2009: In an unprecedented move, Perak state legislative assembly speaker V Sivakumar today suspended Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his executive council members from attending the state legislative assembly. The latest twist to the Perak political saga came after Sivakumar ruled that Zambry and the six executive councillors were […]
