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Sunday, March 9, 2008

Wind Of Change In Favour Of Pas In Kelantan - Bernama

KOTA BAHARU, March 9 (Bernama) -- Based on the tremendous response given to the Barisan Nasional (BN) throughout the 13-day campaign to end Pas' 18-year-rule in Kelantan, the results in the just-concluded election is "unexpected", to say the least.

The silent majority, which the BN had banked on to turn the tide to its favour, had voted to the contrary -- by returning Pas to power with a bigger majority.

The final tally saw Pas winning a total of 38 state seats while its opposition partner Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) won one, giving the opposition front a total of 39 out of 45 state seats. The BN won the other six seats.

For parliamentary seats, Pas won nine, PKR three and BN two, a stark contrast to the scenario in the 2004 general election when the BN won 12 out of 14 parliamentary seats.

In the 2004 election, while the chief ministers and Menteris Besar in other states were being sworn in, Kelantan was still in a state of uncertainty as the BN and Pas were tied at 19 seats each, with recounts in seven more seats.

It was only two days after the voting that Kelantan was able to form the state government with a slim majority of 24 seats compared to BN's 21 seats.

Pas further lost another seat to BN in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election in 2005.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=319587]

Malaysian ruling coalition suffers poll debacle - Reuters

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling party faced its biggest electoral debacle on Sunday, as the opposition won five of 13 states, putting a dark cloud on the prime minister's political future.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's multi-racial National Front coalition managed to win just a simple majority in parliament and will form the government at the federal level.

But it lost a crucial two-thirds parliamentary majority it has held for most of its 50-year-long rule, the election body said. That level is needed to change the constitution.

The leftist Chinese-backed Democratic Action Party (DAP) won Penang state, which houses many multinational firms.

The opposition Islamist party PAS scored shock victories in the northern heartland states of Kedah and Perak and easily retained power in its stronghold in northeastern Kelantan state.

DAP and PAS also joined the People's Justice Party, or Parti Keadilan, to take control of the industrial state of Selangor and almost all the seats in capital Kuala Lumpur.

[More at http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKKLR9844320080308]

The Star Front Page (9/3)

Read this doc on Scribd: The Star Malaysia Cover (9 March 2008)
No victory parades, warns IGP KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no victory parade for any political party. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has directed all state and district police chiefs not to issue permits for political parties to hold such parades. Musa, who urged the losing parties to accept defeat, said police surveillance would continue throughout the country after the elections. "We want to ensure that peace and security is maintained," he said. The IGP cautioned the public not to take heed of rumours spread via SMS and urged those who received such messages to lodge police reports. "The SMS messages are lies," he said adding that police were monitoring the situation. 9 MARCH 2008 PP3057/3/2008 (No. 17760) Peninsula RMI.50 Sabah RM2.00 Sarawak RM2.00 SUNDAY people's paper Political tsunami The shocks 2008 thestar.com.my Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil lost to Nurul Izzah Anwar in Lembah Pantai BN wins federal govt but opposition takes five states Lee Hwa Beng lost to Loh Gwo Burne in Kelana Jaya Democracy at work: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi waving to the crowd on arrival at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday to monitor the results of the general election last night. He accepted Barisan Nasional's defeat in some states, saying it was all part of democracy. Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon lost to Dr P. Ramasamy in Batu Kawan Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu lost to Dr D. Michael Jeyakumar Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin lost to PKR's Johari Abdul in Sungai Petani KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional will form the next Government as it has won more than half the parliamentary seats. However, the coalition suffered some of the greatest defeats in its history. Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in accepting the results, said this was clear proof of democracy at work in the country. Among the results yesterday were: > The Barisan lost Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor, > PAS strengthened grip on Kelantan, > Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting won in their seats, > Among ministers who lost their seats were former Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin, > Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon lost to Dr P. Ramasamy in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, party leaders urged for calm and police have banned all victory celebrations. Datuk S. Kayveas lost to Nga Kor Min in Taiping Spend a minimum RM20 and stand a chance to win your'Super Car'! Plus RM1 million in cash prizes to be given away! It's the PETRONAS 'Super Car' Craze Contest! Race over to your nearest PETRONAS Service Station now to stand a chance of winning the 'Super Car' you've crazed for. 6 of the sportiest, dreamiest cars are up for grabs. Mini Cooper S and Audi TT are exclusive for Kad Mesra members. Contest ends 31 March 2008. For more information, please contact Mesralink at 1 300 88 8181 or www.mymesra.com.my

Barisan reels from worst-ever election performance - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is in shock. The Barisan Nasional is reeling from its worst-ever election performance.

While it managed to keep Terengganu and will form the next government, it lost Penang, Selangor Kedah and Perak to the Opposition and failed to recapture Kelantan.

Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in accepting the results, said this was clear proof of democracy at work in the country.

He urged people to remain calm and not take to the streets to celebrate.

Earlier, as reports spread of Barisan’s mounting losses, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan warned the public not to hold any victory celebrations or spread rumours of rioting and that the Internal Security Act would be used against offenders caught.

Musa’s concern is understandable considering Barisan’s losses are even bigger than what the ruling party experienced in the 1969 general election.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/9/nation/20590068&sec=nation]