(Pic by Raj Kumar, courtesy of theSun) NO other issue dominates the Bukit Gantang by-election as much as the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s 5 Feb 2009 takeover of the Perak state government and the sultan’s role in it. As the BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) take to the campaign trail, who has the better argument in […]
Deborah Loh
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 […]
Three-horse race in Bukit Gantang?
By Deborah LohTAIPING, 28 March 2009: The Bukit Gantang by-election might turn out to be a three-corner fight. An independent, one Kamarul Ramizu, has paid the Election Commission RM10,000 as election deposit, RM5,000 for election materials and RM500 in fees for approval from the Taiping City Hall to put up his campaign material. “This shows that he […]
Abdullah: Umno must change or die
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2009: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s final speech as Umno president hit the spot on what Malaysians outside the party feel – that Umno has become arrogant and faces inevitable demise unless it changes. He acknowledged Umno’s loss of credibility and offered two key solutions – to limit the number of […]
Khairy’s win protested, Shahrizat creates upset
By Deborah Loh and Zedeck Siew
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2009: Umno Youth is poised to enter a period of controversy with Khairy Jamaluddin’s win as the movement’s chief tonight. The Rembau Member of Parliament (MP) and son-in-law of outgoing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi polled 304 votes. He beat his rivals former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr […]
Think of country, Pak Lah tells Umno
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: Vote with the rest of the country in mind, Umno delegates were told as the party prepares to elect a new leadership that will also form the country’s leadership. Outgoing Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told delegates this in a closed-door, pre-council meeting today attended by the party’s […]
Internet media barred from Umno (Updated 6.40pm)
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: Umno, which started its general assembly today to plot the party’s renewal under a new leadership, showed the first sign of its resistance to reform – it barred the internet media from covering the five-day event. Initially, no word was issued officially but checks by the press corp and online […]
Don’t drag King into politics
PETALING JAYA, 22March 2009: A constitutional expert disagrees with an appeal to the King to appoint someone other than Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister. Professor Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi says the call, made by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to appoint someone else whom Malaysians can “trust and respect”, would […]
Renegotiating “sacred contracts”
By Deborah LohCorrected at 12.50pm on 20 March 2009 (highway pic © drouu / sxc.hu) WHEN toll concession agreements were declassified in January 2009, it was a milestone for the nation because for the first time ever, these contracts could be scrutinised. To the credit of the DAP, its politicians spent hours copying the agreement by hand […]
Ali Rustam barred from contesting (Updated 7.20pm)
by Deborah Loh and Jacqueline Ann SurinKUALA LUMPUR, 17 March 2009: The Umno disciplinary board has found Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam guilty of breaking the party Code of Ethics and barred him from contesting the deputy president’s post in the upcoming party polls. Additionally, board chairperson Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithaudeen told a press conference today that Umno Youth chief […]
