THE 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 [...]

With over a dozen witnesses, and a police report that names him, why can’t the media centre staff be identified? ON 16 Jan 2009, during the Kuala Terengganu (KT) by-election, more than a dozen journalists were asked to list their names, organisations, and telephone numbers on a blank piece of paper. The request was made [...]

I WAS utterly shocked after reading Malaysiakini‘s 18 Feb 2009 report, Police blow RM15 mil on KT by-election. It said: “A staggering RM15 million was spent by the Royal Malaysian Police for the deployment of over 3,000 personnel in the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election.” This figure is utterly shocking considering what could be a huge [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Feb 2009: The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) spent RM15.153 million for deployment of personnel for the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said the cost incurred was higher compared with that spent for the by-election in Permatang Pauh. He said the [...]

KUALA TERENGGANU, 11 Feb 2009: There has been an increase in leatherback turtle landings in Terengganu, especially at Rantau Abang in Dungun, with nine landings detected on its shores last year. From the landings, 511 eggs were produced, of which 419 were incubated at the Turtle Information Centre in Rantau Abang. Terengganu Turtle Sanctuary chairperson [...]

PERHAPS 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 [...]