ALL 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 […]
Barisan Nasional
Govt never promised free water, power
LUBOK ANTU, 31 March 2009: The government has never promised that it will give free electricity and treated water supplies to those relocated by the Batang Ai or the Bakun Hydro dam projects in the state. The settlers will still have to pay for their monthly bills, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Fadillah […]
Chinese Msians in Batang Ai not neglected
LUBOK ANTU, 31 March 2009: The minority Chinese Malaysians in Batang Ai have not been neglected in terms of development, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the seat, Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, said today. In fact, the community has constantly been given attention by the government to ensure that they enjoy the opportunities just like the other […]
Chaos and confidence in Bukit Selambau
By Shanon Shah(Corrected at 3.34pm on 1 April 2009) OF the three simultaneous and upcoming by-elections on 7 April, the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah appears to be the most fascinating. On 12 March 2009, The Star reported that the Kedah police force had identified three “hot spots” in Bukit Selambau. Then on 19 March 2009, […]
Independents’ day
By Shanon Shah“WITH independent candidates, it depends on their ‘roots’,” says Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Ahmad Kasim. “For example, if they were originally from PKR, they will naturally pull votes away from the PKR candidate.” But if they were originally from the Barisan Nasional (BN), he says, they will split votes for the BN. […]
Not BN style to point fingers: Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2009: The Barisan Nasional (BN) never subscribes to the opposition way of pointing fingers at government leaders during election campaigns, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today. “That’s the opposition style. We do not subscribe to this style of campaigning. It is important that we should prove our determination […]
The tussle for Bkt Selambau
By Shanon Shah
NOMINATION day for the Bukit Selambau by-election opened relatively calmly on 29 March 2009, a schoolday and work day here in Kedah. Journalists and the candidates’ supporters started trickling into the nomination centre, Sekolah Menengah Teknik Sungai Petani 1, from 7am. There had been speculation that things could get chaotic, considering the Election Commission (EC) […]
Battle royale in Bkt Gantang
By Deborah LohTHE sun rose over Taiping’s famous Maxwell Hill on 29 March 2009 and cast a pink glow on the hundreds of police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel who took up positions around the large sports field in front of the Taiping Municipal Council building. This was where nominations for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election would […]
Turning up in full force in Bkt Gantang
Deborah Loh
THE Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election is expected to see a tough fight between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Although there are three contenders, the real competition is between the Kampung Kubu Umno branch deputy chairperson Ismail Saffian and PAS’s embattled Perak Menteri Besar and Pasir Panjang assemblyperson Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin. […]
Three-way fight for Bukit Gantang (Updated 11.25am)
By Deborah LohUpdated at 11.25am, 29 March 2009 PAS and BN flags get motorists’ attention at a traffic junction in Bukit Gantang TAIPING, 29 March 2009: Groups of party supporters have begun to gather at the nomination centre for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election. BN supporters making their stand to uphold the institution of the Malay rulers […]
