ALL eyes are now on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to see whether a general election will be called following the Sarawak elections. But although BN retained its two-thirds majority in Sarawak, it suffered a decline in the popular vote. Meanwhile, political rivals DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) increased their seats from six and [...]

IN the lead-up to the Sarawak elections, the prime minister and his deputy went all out to convince voters that Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud would step down after the state election because he was “ready”. But what does “after” and “ready” really mean? Is it “someday” as the deputy prime minister has stated or in “two to three years” as Taib has claimed? Clearly, vague rhetoric is useful for politicians to keep their options open especially now that the Barisan Nasional has again secured its two-thirds majority in the state assembly.

Updated 4:30pm, 26 May 2010 PETRA JAYA Member of Parliament (MP) Fadillah Yusof’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (pic: parlimen.gov.my) Name: Fadillah Yusof Constituency: Petra Jaya Party: PBB Years as MP: Since 2004 Government position: • Science, technology and innovation deputy minister Party position: • Youth chief Membership in parliamentary committees or [...]

DATUK Seri Najib Razak called the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election a referendum on his premiership. The justification was rather obvious as it was formerly a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold with an ethnic composition mirroring Peninsula Malaysia’s. The campaign was largely fought by Umno, even though the BN’s candidate was from MIC. Sibu has also been [...]

THE following Members of Parliament (MPs) have not replied to the six questions under MP Watch: Eye on Parliament as of Wednesday, 5 May 2010, the end of a two-week deadline. Their responses will be updated if and when they reply. Name: Abu Seman Yusop Constituency: Masjid Tanah Party: Umno Years as MP: Since 2004 [...]

(Pic by Jirikabele / Dreamstime) WHEN the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government dismissed local government elections and school elections on the grounds that these involve “politicking”, it was telling us that it either misunderstands democracy, or holds it in contempt. But when the Selangor and Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) governments pushed to restore local government [...]