BUTTERWORTH, March 10 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir today expressed his full support for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to lead the nation as Prime Minister.
"I will support any action that will gain confidence towards the prime minister," Mukhriz, who is also MP for Jerlun, said at a packed news conference.
He said this amid rumours that he had called for a news conference to call for the resignation of the prime minister following Barisan Nasionals shocking defeat in the just-ended general election.
Some 500 people, including Umno Youth leaders from the northern zone, attended the news conference which was scheduled to be held at Sunway Hotel but was later moved to Pearl View Hotel.
"The SMS is not true that I'm calling for someone's resignation.
I know there were SMS going round stating that I would do so. I'm not sure who was the culprit behind it," he said. "I 've been receiving many calls and SMS expressing many views.
What is apparent to me is that there is a sense of loss among Umno and Barisan Nasional members because it has been an unmitigated situation that we are faced with, unprecedented in many ways.
"We have never lost that many states, so it is a wake-up call definitely," said Mukhriz.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=319773]
Monday, March 10, 2008
Mukhriz Says He's All For Abdullah As PM - Bernama
Abdullah sworn in as Malaysia PM - Agencies
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Malaysian prime minister, has been sworn in for a second five-year term, rejecting calls to resign after the ruling coalition's worst-ever election performance.
"I pledge to carry out my duties honestly and with all my abilities," he said, reading out the oath on Monday as he was sworn in by Malaysia's king.
"I pledge to protect and uphold the constitution."
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since the country gained independence half a century ago, retained a simple majority in Saturday's polls, but suffered unprecedented losses to a loose opposition coalition.
The loss of seats also broke the BN's hold on two-thirds of the parliamentary majority which enabled to amend the constitution without debate.
On Monday, Malaysian stocks dived six per cent to a seven-month low with the ringgit also falling as the market reacted to the political uncertainty following the coalition's heaviest election losses in 50 years.
[More at http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EEB3F8E2-CD7C-4925-8F58-A3D1BB897422.htm]
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]
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]
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Upset for ruling coalition in Malaysia elections - Al Jazeera
Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi appears to have been returned to power in general elections, but there have been major swings against his ruling coalition.
Significantly they have come from the minority ethnic Chinese and Indian vote. The Indians had staged rare protests in Malaysia over what they say was discrimination.
The result will severely dent the ruling coalition's majority in Parliament, and could change forever the dynamics of Malaysian politics.
PM's post-election press conference - TheStarOnline.tv
Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi speaks at a press conference at Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur after the Election Commission announced that the coalition has won a simple majority in the 12th general election.
Malaysian election facts and figures - AP
Facts and figures on Malaysia's general elections Saturday.
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CONTESTANTS: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition is facing three opposition groups—the People's Justice Party, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and Democratic Action Party—and various independent candidates.
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WHAT'S AT STAKE: 222 seats in Parliament and 505 state legislature seats. The National Front has already won eight parliamentary seats and three state seats uncontested, while the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party won one state seat.
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SYSTEM: About 11 million people in this country of 27 million are registered voters. Voting is not mandatory.
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RESULTS: Parliamentary seats are key because the party or coalition that has a majority forms the federal government for the next five years. The prime minister is by tradition the head of the winning side. The National Front has won every general election since independence from Britain in 1957. It also controls all the state legislatures except in northeastern Kelantan state, which has been ruled by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party since 1990.
[From http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_8495831]
Malaysians Cast Their Ballots Today - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysians go out to the polling booths Saturday to discharge their responsibility as citizens in the 12th general election which is expected to return the Barisan Nasional (BN) to lead the government for the next five years.
A total of 10.9 million registered voters are eligible to choose the elected representatives for 214 of the 222 parliamentary seats and 501 of the 505 State Legislative Assembly seats nationwide except for Sarawak which is only involved in the election for parliamentary seats.
The Election Commission (EC) opened 7,950 polling centres throughout the country, with 21,822 polling streams, which mostly involve schools, multipurpose halls and longhouses from 8am until 5pm.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be voting at Sekolah Kebangsaan Permatang Batas, Kepala Batas while Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will do so at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Ahmad Shah, Pekan.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman expects about 75 per cent of the registered voters to cast their votes.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=319254]
Tireless Khir may have saved the day - The Star
By Dharmender Singh
KLANG: The concerted effort by the Opposition in Selangor looks likely to have been thwarted, thanks largely to the endeavours of state Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
Dr Khir spent less than three days campaigning in his own Sungai Panjang seat since the state assembly was dissolved on Feb13. Instead, he has travelled the length and breadth of the state to either rally forces or put out the fires caused by the change of candidates.
It was the healing of rifts within component parties following the change of candidates that gave Dr Khir the most headaches.
He took a few hours yesterday to step back and observe the situation.
“The black areas have turned grey and the grey areas are turning white. These changes have come day by day.
“But I am confident that we will not only keep the two-thirds majority in the state but also retain the seats we won in the last general election,” he declared.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/8/nation/20582609&sec=nation]
Friday, March 7, 2008
Dr M: No regrets over Anwar’s jailing - The Star
ALOR STAR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reiterated yesterday that he felt no guilt whatsoever over what happened to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the video clip containing his remarks about the former deputy prime minister that had been distorted by the opposition to say he regretted the jailing of Anwar, was taken at a ceramah (political talk) he (Dr Mahathir) gave two years ago.
“I was making some sarcastic remarks because there were still people who believed I was responsible for his jailing when the fact is, it was the court that found him guilty,” he said at his home in Kampung Titi Gajah here .
He said that the Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser was an opportunist and would use whatever means available to get what he wants.
“Initially he wanted to join PAS. But when he saw he would get nowhere in that party, he asked to join Umno ... not that we invited him in ... I did not bring him into Umno.
“Two days after joining he wanted to be the Youth leader, a year later vice-president and a year after that deputy president. I only got a chance to be an elected representative after 18 years in the party and a minister after 28 years.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/7/nation/20563166&sec=nation]
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Pak Lah leads anti-Anwar charge - Malaysiakini.tv
At the opposition bashing fiesta, Abdullah picked on Anwar - the PKR de facto leader - even though he had declared at the onset of his speech that it is no longer important to talk about him.
"I don't need to talk about Anwar, he is not important to me, he is not important to Umno. He doesn�t have friends in Umno because he fights against the party.
"The party can�t accept him back, no way! We have enough leaders, no need to wait for him to come back," he thundered to a round of applause.
Abdullah said that, since Anwar is not being accepted, the latter has started to "look for friends" in the opposition parties. He reiterated Anwar has merely been making irresponsible "empty promises" to voters.
BN leaders had earlier dismissed the ex-deputy premier - who was sacked in 1998 after a fallout with then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - as not having significant political influence.
Abdullah also took on Guan Eng, questioning the DAP secretary-general�s sincerity in contesting in Penang.
"I heard that Penangites not only want a chief minister who is from Penang, but also from the island. Where does Lim Guan Eng come from? He ran away from Malacca and came here, does he think that the Penangites are stupid or what?" he asked.
Timeline: Malaysian politics - Al Jazeera
Malaysians go to the polls on March 8th in the country's 12th general election since gaining independence 50 years ago.
The following is a brief look at some of the key events in Malaysia's political scene in the last 10 years.
1998
Mahathir Mohamad, then Malaysian prime minister, sacks deputy Anwar Ibrahim for alleged sexual misconduct amid differences over economic policy in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.
Anwar acts as lightning rod for opposition to government, mobilising thousands of people on to the streets to demand reforms.
1999
April – Anwar found guilty of corruption and sentenced to six years in prison.
November – Mahathir's Barisan Nasional coalition dealt severe blow at elections, dropping nine percentage points from the previous poll to 56 per cent of the popular vote and from 84 per cent of the seats in parliament to under 77 per cent.
2000
Anwar found guilty of sodomy and jailed nine years.
2003
Mahathir resigns after 22 years in power, handing reins to Abdullah Badawi.
2004
March - Abdullah wins landslide general election victory, getting nearly 64 per cent of the popular vote and more than 90 per cent of the seats in parliament.
September - Anwar freed after court overturns sodomy conviction but corruption conviction continues to stand, meaning he is banned from politics for five years.
2006
Government reaffirms affirmative action plan first implemented in 1971 to reduce income disparity, especially between poor Malays and rich Chinese.
The original goal was to bridge the gap in 20 years but government now says the plan – criticised as racial discrimination - will be in place until 2020
2007
May - Top civil court rejects ethnic Malay woman's appeal to be recognised as a Christian, ruling that she must go to the Islamic court – where she could face prosecution – to formally recognise her conversion.
The case highlights a string of others - with accusations of bodies taken from families for religious burials and children taken from converts - sparking charges of religious persecution.
July - Najib Razak, the deputy prime minister, says Malaysia is an Islamic state, not a secular one, echoing Mahathir's declaration in 2001.
August - Malaysia marks 50 years of independence.
November - Police use tear gas and chemcial-laced water cannon to break up an opposition-backed protest by the group Bersih (meaning "clean" in Malay), calling for changes to the electoral system.
Two weeks later riot police use similar tactics to break up a protest by thousands of ethnic Indian Malaysians demonstrating against racial and religious discrimination.
2008
February - Police break up protest by several hundred ethnic Indians. Protesters say they had been trying to deliver flowers to the prime minister in a peaceful demonstration.
March - Malaysia votes in its 12th general elections
[From http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CBDE31A5-4A83-49A3-99B1-A9F74EA113BC.htm]
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Abdullah slams Anwar - The Star
By Zarinah Daud
KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did nothing when he was Education Minister and he sang different tunes before different crowds, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
The Prime Minister agreed with Dr Chandra Muzaffar's comments on Monday about the former deputy prime minister.
“There is truth in what Dr Chandra said about him (Anwar), based on what he has done before.”
Abdullah said Anwar made no changes when he was Education Minister and there was no career advancement for many experienced teachers.
He said Anwar would say different things to different audiences.
Abdullah also agreed with former Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik who on Saturday described Anwar as a “chameleon”.
“Keng Yaik knows Anwar very well. He (Anwar) promised the Indians a lot of things. But what did he do when he was in the Government?” the Prime Minister asked.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/3/5/election2008/20540632&sec=Election2008]
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
EC cancels use of indelible ink - The Star
By Raphael Wong
PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink in polling this Saturday, citing public order and security reasons.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said following a meeting held Tuesday, the EC was obliged to make a firm and final decision to ensure the smooth conduct of the 12th general election.
He said provisions to the law needed if the ink was to be used still could not affect the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, even a person whose fingernail had been marked with indelible ink or one who refuses to have his or her fingernail marked this way.
"From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations," he said.
The Federal Constitution gives you the right to vote, and a black mark on your fingernail should not bar you from exercising this right, he said.
Abdul Rashid said there were also reports made to the police confirming that certain irresponsible quarters had purchased indelible ink from abroad with the intention of creating confusion and suspicion as to the status of voters.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/3/4/election2008/20080304175316&sec=Election2008]
Election a snooze for Malaysian PM - AP
By Anil Dawar
Politics bores many people but one would at least expect a prime minister to be interested.
However, days before a general election, the Malaysian PM, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has been accused of dozing off in cabinet meetings and political gatherings.
Anti-government websites are circulating pictures of the politician yawning or sitting with his head bowed and eyes closed in various high-level political sessions.
Opposition politicians have urged voters to reject Abdullah's bid to retain office in the election on Saturday, citing the photographs as evidence of a weak and failing leader who has allowed corruption, crime and racial and religious tensions to mount.
The embarrassing pictures, however, are unlikely to hurt the incumbent's chances of re-election for another five-year term, as opposition parties struggle to match his National Front party's spending power.
Abdullah today denied claims that he snoozed through important meetings.
[More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/03/malaysia]
‘Disaster if Anwar is PM’ - The Star
By Jane Ritikos and Lisa Goh
PETALING JAYA: If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes Prime Minister, it will be an “unmitigated disaster” for Malaysia, a former Parti Keadilan Nasional (before they joined forces with Parti Rakyat Malaysia to become PKR) deputy-president said at a forum yesterday.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar said that while the former deputy prime minister was a good speaker, he was not the sort of leader the country needed as he was now singing a different tune from when he was in the Government.
Dr Chandra, who was the party's deputy-president for two-and-a-half years, said it was sad that many non-Malays in the country were taken in by Anwar’s multi-ethnic stand.
“Today, he is portraying a totally different image and it is sad that quite a lot of non-Malays believe in this man. He is saying today that he wants to abolish the NEP (New Economic Policy) and that is music to their ears.
“We are so communal that we cannot evaluate a person objectively,” said Dr Chandra, who was one of five speakers at The Star-Asian Centre for Media Studies Public Forum on the 2008 Malaysian General Election at Menara Star yesterday.
Dr Chandra recalled that when Anwar was Education Minister, he had compelled schools to switch from using (the term) Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/4/nation/20528294&sec=nation]
Sunday, March 2, 2008
M'sia's govt rejects call for American-style political debate ahead of election - AP
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S government has rejected an Islamic opposition party's challenge to hold an American-style public debate between their leaders ahead of March 8 general elections, news reports said on Sunday.
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party President Abdul Hadi Awang recently dared Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to hold a televised debate similar to those held by US presidential candidates.
But the Sunday Star newspaper quoted Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz as saying there was no place for such debates in Malaysia.
'We don't follow the American system in our country. We (the country's leaders) should be debating with villagers or town folks concerning local issues affecting them,' she said in the report.
An aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing protocol, confirmed the minister's comments but did not give further details.
[More at http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_212482.html]
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
DAP Makes Empty Promises, Says Najib - Bernama
PEKAN, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, described DAP's proposal to offer a bonus of up to RM6,000 per family for households earning RM6,000 or less per annum as an empty promise and will ruin the country.
He said any promise made must be based on the ability to pay and not just to fish for votes during the March 8 general election.
"This is the work of the opposition who can only make promises. Everybody can make promises. I can promise this and that. But they must be within our capability to fulfil them," he told reporters at the DRB-HICOM Bhd's meet-the-people session here today.
He said if the country spent more than it's capable of, it would result in a deficit and the country's debt would increase.
On the opposition's strategy to deny to Barisan Nasional two-third majority, Najib said voters must make wise decision to set up a strong government which would be able to gain the confidence of investors.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=316564]
