Shahrizat Abdul Jalil THE Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both seem keen to avoid their vulnerabilities in their campaigns to win the state seat of Bukit Selambau in Kedah. For example, at BN press conferences and interviews, including by candidate Datuk S Ganesan, leaders refuse to address allegations that new Prime Minister Datuk […]
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Obligations of media and govt
WHILE the 12th general election had opened up some democratic space in the realms of media and freedom of expression, we are now watching it quickly disappear. The government’s censorship of the name of a certain murdered Mongolian looks absurd, as does the seizure of DVDs produced by the opposition. The fact that politicians choose […]
King urged to delay Najib appointment (Updated)
(Updated 6:36pm, 2 April 2009) PETALING JAYA, 2 April 2009: Eighty-one Opposition members of parliament (MPs) have signed a petition urging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to delay the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister until his reputation has been cleared by an independent commission. “The office of Prime Minister is the highest […]
Bringing change to Bukit Selambau
DATUK S Ganesan likes to tout two things during his interviews: his past links with some Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) leaders, and his belief that he can bring positive change à la US President Barack Obama. Ganesan meeting a breakfast crowd on 27 Mar. When asked if he is campaigning, he says, “No, that’s […]
Ask the PM
Updated at 5.30pm, 4 June 2009 WHEN Barack Obama first became the US president, he issued a memo to his team, saying the government should be transparent, participatory and collaborative. Demonstrating his commitment to at least the participatory bit, Obama had his first virtual town hall on 26 March 2009. During the event held at […]
Open letter to the incoming prime minister
Dear Sir, We at the Malaysia Think Tank look forward to your upcoming appointment. We apologise for not being able to address you by name yet, as that would transgress the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Your judgment and wisdom will affect the fate of our democracy and the future of 27 million Malaysians. […]
Muhyiddin: By-elections not referendum on Najib, Umno
SUNGAI PETANI, 30 March 2009: Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has urged the people not to make the three by-elections on 7 April a referendum on the new Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak. He said the by-elections at Bukit Gantang in Perak, Bukit Selambau in Kedah and […]
Tug-of-war in Umno
Muhyiddin Yassin (pic courtesy of theSun)IF the Umno general assembly debates of the past two days are any indication, there is a grave disconnect between what the party leadership is publicly indicating change to be, and what the party grassroots themselves feel. Talking to the press this afternoon, newly-minted Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin […]
Umno’s future, Malaysia’s future
Corrected at 11.20am, 20 March 2009 Najib (left) is widely expected to be made the next prime minister (File pic) IT goes without saying that the upcoming Umno general assembly from 24 to 28 March 2009 will be about power transitions. (Corrected) When the assembly closes, Umno will have a new president, Datuk Seri Najib […]
You lie, you pay: Najib
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Feb 2009: Datuk Seri Najib Razak today warned that anyone who makes a false report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be prosecuted. Whoever who abused the statutory declaration would face the same action, the deputy prime minister said. “They will pay the price,” he told reporters after opening the Developing […]
