FREE and fair elections are essential to a democratic system of governance. Citizens have the right to choose who they want to govern them, and elections are a way for voters to hold those they elect accountable. Find out more about Malaysia’s electoral system in this exclusive essay.
Senator
Confusing party with government
By Shanon ShahTan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh WHEN Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh was Dewan Negara president, the upper house of parliament started regaining just a little bit of its clout as a check and balance to executive power. In 2005, for example, senators resisted just being a rubber stamp for the controversial amendments to […]
Checking power in Malaysia
By Shanon ShahTan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh TAN Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh has had an interesting career in Malaysian politics. An Umno member, he was Member of Parliament (MP), first for the Arau seat in the 1980s, and then for the Kangar seat in 1999. The 1944-born medical graduate was appointed Deputy Speaker of the […]
Dr Yeow Chai Thiam appointed senator
SEREMBAN, 27 April 2009: Negeri Sembilan MCA chairperson Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam, 55, has been appointed a senator to succeed Lee Chee Keong whose term of office expired on 31 Dec last year. Yeow’s name was proposed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and received the agreement of the other state assemblyperson on […]
Dec 4 trial for former senator’s RM60 mln suit
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 April 2009: The High Court has set 4 Dec to hear a suit brought by a former senator who is seeking RM60 million in damages from The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP), Berita Harian Sdn Bhd and two of its journalists over allegedly defamatory articles. The trial is set to […]
Penang proposes two names for senatorship
PENANG, 2 April 2009: The Penang state government today proposed two names for senatorship to replace two earlier senators whose terms ended on 30 May last year. Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, said Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, 75, the DAP national vice-chairperson and Dr Mansor Othman, 59, Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy liaison committee […]
Appoint Shahrizat as senator and minister
KUALA LUMPUR, 1 April 2009: A senator today proposed that the new Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil be appointed as a senator and be made the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Senator Datuk Nor Hayati Onn said the proposal was so that Shahrizat could be the voice of women under […]
Effendi, Malasingam sworn in as senators
KUALA LUMPUR, 10 March 2009: Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi and MIC Tapah Division chairperson Dr M Malasingam were sworn in today as senators before Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh. Effendi, 61, has been appointed for a second term and Malasingam for the first […]
BN candidate Wan Ahmad Farid sworn in as senator
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Dec 2008: Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh took his oath as senator for a second term in the Dewan Negara today. Also sworn-in as a senator today was Terengganu Wanita Umno vice-chief Fatimah Hamat. Wan Ahmad Farid’s appointment as senator may not […]
MCA senator Datuk Lee Sing Chooi dies
SHAH ALAM, 10 Dec 2008: MCA Senator Datuk Lee Sing Chooi died at his home in Damansara Jaya yesterday, due to heart failure. He was 56. Eldest son Jun Hao, 26, said his father was pronounced dead by Universiti Malaya Medical Centre paramedics who were summoned to the house at 11.30pm. “My father had a […]