THE Bukit Gantang by-election has one overriding meaning. The by-election for this parliamentary seat in Perak is not about local development, as the Barisan Nasional (BN) would describe it. Neither will the election results determine Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s job as prime minister, as some opposition supporters would hope for. Voters in Bukit Gantang will […]
voters
PKR: Phantom voters in Bkt Selambau
By Shanon ShahSUNGAI PETANI, 31 Mar 2009: Preliminary surveys by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) show a possible 62.5% prevalence of phantom voters in the Taman Bandar Baru housing area in Bukit Selambau. “For example, we found 63 registered voters in one residential address, and they consisted of Malay [Malaysians], Chinese [Malaysians] and Indian [Malaysians],” said PKR Youth’s […]
BN’s Mail Pian moves to the frontline
By Deborah LohALL 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 […]
Umno Youth polls crucial to party’s renewal
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: At 11am tomorrow, 791 Umno Youth delegates will cast their votes to elect their new leaders, including the movement’s chief, in elections widely seen as crucial in transforming Umno and ensuring the party remains relevant. The elections this time around will not only test the delegates’ maturity but also their […]
Court upholds DAP’s Chong as Bandar Kuching MP
KUCHING, 10 March 2009: The Federal Court today upheld the election of DAP vice-chairperson Chong Chieng Jen as the Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament (MP) after dismissing with costs an appeal by voter Kho Whai Phiaw challenging anearlier election petition ruling. It held that the election judge, Justice Datuk Clement Allan Skinner, was right to […]
“We don’t want another KT”
By Shanon ShahTHE upcoming by-election in Bukit Selambau, Kedah, on 7 April will be tricky. At least in Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai, by-elections were called as a result of the incumbents’ deaths. The Bukit Selambau by-election was called because the incumbent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s V Arumugam, tendered his resignation after alleging that he was bribed […]
Who watches the watchmen?
By Cindy Tham“QUIS custodiet ipsos custodes?” The Latin phrase from Roman poet Juvenal’s Satires is more popularly known today as “Who watches the watchmen?” The question kept repeating in my head as I surfed the numerous websites, read the articles and listened to the Comic Geek Speak podcasts that crowd the internet these days. They are part […]
Threats used to influence MIC nominations, says Muthu
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 MARCH 2009: MIC presidential aspirant Datuk M Muthupalaniappan claimed today that certain quarters in the party were using threats and underhanded tactics to ensure that he did not obtain the 50 nominations needed to contest the MIC top post. He said some leaders in the party were threatening the branch chairpersons not […]
Pensiangan, the 5th by-election?
by Chan Kok Leong(© Badly Drawn Dad / flickr) KUALA LUMPUR: It’s the season for by-elections, and Pensiangan (P182) could make it five since last year’s general election when the court makes its ruling this week. The High Court had ruled last September that the election of Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to the Sabah seat was null and […]
The KT boomerang
By Wong Chin HuatPERHAPS the most puzzling question in the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election is this: why did enthusiastic Chinese attendance at Pakatan Rakyat rallies not translate into votes? I personally saw Chinese Malaysians cheering, laughing, and clapping for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim every four minutes throughout his 40-minute “da ren, xiao ren” (great mind, little mind) speech […]