AMID furore over banned words and price hikes, the redelineation of electoral boundaries is the next big thing that Malaysian voters must not let slip without close scrutiny. Political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat explains the issues to look out for in this upcoming exercise.
PBB
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The two faces of Najib and Umno
OUR Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his government seem to have had a personality change. From human rights, 1Malaysia and helping Chinese Malaysians, Najib has re-introduced detention without trial, harped on Bumiputera empowerment and blamed Chinese Malaysians for BN’s poor election performance. What’s going on? The Nut Graph asks political scientist Wong Chin Huat.
MPs and the ISA
The Internal Security Act has now been abolished and replaced with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act. But not all Barisan Nasional MPs were keen on abolishing the ISA. Find out what MPs told The Nut Graph about what they thought about the ISA during the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project.
New year resolutions for the BN
IT’S a new year and the countdown to the next general election has begun, expected within the next 100 days. What new year resolutions should political parties be making to perform well at the impending elections?
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The meaning of Sarawak
ALL eyes are now on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to see whether a general election will be called following the Sarawak elections. But although BN retained its two-thirds majority in Sarawak, it suffered a decline in the popular vote. Meanwhile, political rivals DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) increased their seats from six and […]
When will Taib really go?
IN the lead-up to the Sarawak elections, the prime minister and his deputy went all out to convince voters that Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud would step down after the state election because he was “ready”. But what does “after” and “ready” really mean? Is it “someday” as the deputy prime minister has stated or in “two to three years” as Taib has claimed? Clearly, vague rhetoric is useful for politicians to keep their options open especially now that the Barisan Nasional has again secured its two-thirds majority in the state assembly.
Fadillah Yusof (Petra Jaya)
Updated 4:30pm, 26 May 2010 PETRA JAYA Member of Parliament (MP) Fadillah Yusof’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (pic: parlimen.gov.my) Name: Fadillah Yusof Constituency: Petra Jaya Party: PBB Years as MP: Since 2004 Government position: • Science, technology and innovation deputy minister Party position: • Youth chief Membership in parliamentary committees or […]
Sibu – another referendum
DATUK Seri Najib Razak called the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election a referendum on his premiership. The justification was rather obvious as it was formerly a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold with an ethnic composition mirroring Peninsula Malaysia’s. The campaign was largely fought by Umno, even though the BN’s candidate was from MIC. Sibu has also been […]
No replies for 5 May 2010
THE following Members of Parliament (MPs) have not replied to the six questions under MP Watch: Eye on Parliament as of Wednesday, 5 May 2010, the end of a two-week deadline. Their responses will be updated if and when they reply. Name: Abu Seman Yusop Constituency: Masjid Tanah Party: Umno Years as MP: Since 2004 […]
Democratic parties are possible
(Pic by Jirikabele / Dreamstime) WHEN the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government dismissed local government elections and school elections on the grounds that these involve “politicking”, it was telling us that it either misunderstands democracy, or holds it in contempt. But when the Selangor and Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) governments pushed to restore local government […]
