SUNGAI PETANI, 5 Apr 2009: Election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) have found irregularities in the electoral roll for the three upcoming by-elections. Additionally, Mafrel’s findings of doubtful voters in the Bukit Selambau by-elections tally closely with estimates given by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) last week. Mafrel’s electoral roll verification (ERV) exercise […]
voters
Psy-war in Sungai Petani
CAMPAIGNING in the hotly contested state seat of Bukit Selambau, Kedah, has been relatively muted, with both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) zooming in on each others’ Achilles heels in an escalating psy-war. The three parties in the PR — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and DAP — have been attacking the […]
Avoiding issues in Bukit Selambau
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil THE Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both seem keen to avoid their vulnerabilities in their campaigns to win the state seat of Bukit Selambau in Kedah. For example, at BN press conferences and interviews, including by candidate Datuk S Ganesan, leaders refuse to address allegations that new Prime Minister Datuk […]
Election lethargy in Indonesia
Session of the Indonesian People’s Representative Council (public domain, source: wikipedia.org) WHILE Malaysians are excited by the prospect of three simultaneous by-elections on 7 April 2009, Indonesians next door are showing distinctive signs of electoral fatigue. A news report featured on Indonesia’s Trans7 TV channel summed up the prevailing mood when it reported on a […]
Trading barbs in Bkt Gantang ceramah circuit
Entrance to the Chinese fishing village of Kuala Sepetang WET weather has put a damper on the nightly ceramah circuit in Bukit Gantang. In the past week, most Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) gigs drew crowds in the range of 150 to less than 500 by the time the night’s speeches were over. […]
The last Rajah’s battlefield
Police on guard during the Ijok by-election (pic by Danny Lim) THE 7 April Batang Ai by-election actually has more similarities with the 2007 by-election for the Selangor state seat of Ijok than to the other two by-elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Serambau that will happen on the same day. Batang Ai is certainly […]
Opportunity for BN in Bkt Selambau?
THE Hindraf movement captured the imagination of not only the Indian Malaysian community but all communities in Malaysia in their ability to mobilise mass protests against the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government. This was reflected by a major swing against the BN and the MIC during the 12th general elections. At the heart of the matter […]
Difficult terrain at Batang Ai for PKR
THE hand-to-hand combat has begun in earnest for the 7 April 2009 Batang Ai by-election between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). It is a torturous and expensive battle for both the contesting parties. Lodged under the shadow of the mountain range that separates Sarawak from the Kalimantan side of Indonesia, Batang […]
Mahathir to campaign in Bkt Gantang?
TAIPING, 2 April 2009: Barisan Nasional (BN) is looking to unleash its secret weapon as it makes its final assault to woo Malay Malaysian voters in Bukit Gantang by bringing in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to help with the campaign. The former prime minister may turn up to stump for the BN candidate Ismail Saffian, […]
EC: No phantoms in Bkt Selambau
SUNGAI PETANI, 1 Apr 2009: The Election Commission (EC) has denied that there are doubtful or phantom voters registered in Bukit Selambau. “Sometimes voters register at a particular address but then they move to a different area and do not inform the EC of this change,” Kedah EC director Zainal Abidin Zakaria told The Nut […]
