ALL heads turn as Ismail Saffian, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bukit Gantang by-election, walks into the ramshackle wan tan mee stall near the Simpang wet market on the morning of 30 March 2009. But is hard to tell who patrons are really looking at — the tall, broad-shouldered and moustached Mail Pian, as […]
General Election
Shadow over Umno
By Zedeck SiewKhairy Jamaluddin celebrates his victory (All pics courtesy of theSun) AFTER more than two hours and three recounts, Umno Youth’s new chief was finally confirmed at 11.30pm on 25 March, 2009. Khairy Jamaluddin, with 304 votes, beat rivals Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (232 votes) and Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo (254 votes) in a closely-fought contest […]
8 March outcome of changing society
By Chan Kok LeongKUALA LUMPUR, 10 March 2009: One year on after the nation’s groundbreaking general election, there is yet a firm analysis on what caused Barisan Nasional (BN)’s huge setback on 8 March 2008. While analysts offer reasons such as new voters, stronger opposition, the inability of the government to fulfil its 2004 pledges, internal party strife, […]
Acid test for new BN leadership
PENANG, 18 Feb 2009: Eleven months after the 12th general election and the political dust has still not settled. With the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state by-elections to be held simultaneously on 7 April, political parties will hit the campaign trail again, barely a month after the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election. Political pundits […]
Coming into his own
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon Shah(File pic by Danny Lim) ONCE it was clear that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would exit as both prime minister and Umno president in March 2009, the favour that Khairy Jamaluddin presumably enjoyed as son-in-law must have evaporated quickly. But the changing political fortunes and shifting political equations could very well be a blessing […]
Mapping change
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon ShahKHAIRY Jamaluddin knows that he is still the underdog in the upcoming Umno Youth chief race. While Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s nominations rushed in from the very beginning, nominations for Khairy merely trickled. Even the nominations for former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo saw quicker action. That hasn’t stopped the 33-year-old in […]
Umno’s resistance to change
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon ShahWHO would be envious of Khairy Jamaluddin? Despite his meteoric rise within Umno and the doors that were presumably opened to him as the prime minister’s son-in-law, the changing political tide means the 33-year-old now has to swim against currents. And swim he does. With Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s exit as premier and Umno […]
Federal Court postpones decision on Pensiangan poll
KOTA KINABALU, 12 Feb 2009: Those expecting to find out tomorrow whether there will be a by-election in Pensiangan, Sabah, will have to keep waiting for now. The Federal Court here today decided to reserve decision on an appeal by Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to quash the nullification of […]
Lessons from Kuala Terengganu
By Deborah LohULTIMATELY, the heart of the battle for Kuala Terengganu was always the Malay Malaysian vote, which was, by extension, a referendum on the relevance of Umno. But the fact that Chinese Malaysians largely stayed with the Barisan Nasional (BN) is perhaps indicative of the DAP’s and Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s inability to penetrate non-Malay enclaves on […]
“KT loss challenges BN formula”
By Jacqueline Ann Surin(Source: Wikipedia) PETALING JAYA: The Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the Kuala Terengganu by-election because the rakyat rejected Umno in its present form, style and leadership, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said. The veteran Umno politician said the17 Jan 2009 by-election was a test of Umno’s relevance, and that the poll results would have serious implications on the […]
