IT is understandably very easy to demonise PAS for its Islamic state agenda. After all, the party leadership seems quite adept at declaring its intentions to implement some features of an Islamic state, such as hudud, at the most inopportune moments. In a global climate of Islamophobia and because of Muslims acting out of a […]
Pakatan Rakyat
Positive and negative campaigning
By Danny Lim and Deborah LohBOTH Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional (BN) have taken different approaches with their ceramahs in Kuala Terengganu’s by-election. Those on PAS candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut’s campaign team repeatedly raise topics like the perceived abuses of power by BN and the issue of oil royalty. Among these supporters are blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Lembah […]
Reckoning with the electorate
By Deborah LohBN streamer in front of a temple in Kampung Cina IN the March 2008 general election, the 11% Chinese Malaysian voters in Kuala Terengganu were considered the swing voters in this largely Malay Malaysian constituency. Analysts have predicted that the Chinese Malaysian vote will also decide the results of the upcoming 17 Jan by-election as […]
On the ceramah trail
By Danny LimCorrected on 15 Jan 2009 at 1am PAS ceramah in Kampung Panji, in the Wakaf Mempelam state constituency, surrounded by shrubbery IN the first half of a cool campaign that has matched the breeze blowing in from the South China Sea, the barrage of issues lobbed between the two major competing parties has mostly avoided […]
DAP threatens to leave Pakatan Rakyat over “hudud”
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Jan 2009: The DAP today threatened to withdraw from the Pakatan Rakyat, which also comprises PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), if PAS insists on implementing the “hudud” laws (Islamic penal code) if the opposition alliance comes to power in the country. DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, in issuing the warning, reiterated that […]
The art of campaigning
By Cindy Tham and Lainie Yeoh
THERE appears to be an art to displaying election campaign flags and flyers. The sights that greeted us as we drove around Kuala Terengganu from 10 to 12 Jan 2009 seemed to indicate that. The size of the flags, the effect of putting them against contrasting colours or a significant landmark, using tall flagpoles versus […]
Keeping the BN afloat
By Wong Chin HuatCorrected on 14 Jan 2009, 3.30pm I ARGUED previously that the Kuala Terengganu by-election is a battle in which Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has little to gain and much to lose. A real turning point would happen only if Umno can seriously bring down PAS’s support to below 45% among Malay Malaysians […]
Najib: Opposition cannot match BN
KUALA TERENGGANU, 9 Jan 2009: Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today the relationship between Pakatan Rakyat parties was not as strong as those between Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties. Additionally, he claimed that the relationship among the opposition parties was getting weaker by the day. The deputy prime minister said that the Pakatan Rakyat, comprising […]
KT and the DPM
By Wong Chin HuatIF the Permatang Pauh by-election indirectly shortened Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s political life, the Kuala Terengganu by-election will not be much kinder to his chosen successor. It has been reported in Malaysiakini that incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak sees this by-election as a do-or-die battle for the Barisan Nasional (BN). […]
Akim candidate faces action
KUALA KRAI, 6 Jan 2009: Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) candidate Harun Abdul Rahman Mohd, who withdrew at the last minute from contesting in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, faces disciplinary action from the party. Akim president Hanafi Hamat said besides withdrawing from the by-election, Harun had also betrayed the party by openly declaring his […]
