ONE event above all others held the attention of the Malay-language press from 23 to 29 March 2009: the 59th Umno general assembly. Commentary dwelt on the need for new party leaders to secure public confidence, expressed unabashed confidence in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s impending rule, and looked forward to the challenges facing Umno in […]
Zedeck Siew
Tug-of-war in Umno
By Zedeck SiewMuhyiddin 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 […]
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 […]
Umno general assembly gets underway (Updated 7.50pm)
By Zedeck Siew
(Updated 24 March 2009, 7.50pm) THE 2008 Umno general assembly officially opens tonight — 24 March — with party president-in-waiting Datuk Seri Najib Razak officiating the launch of the Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri assemblies. The registration of delegates for the party wings has been going on since morning. The centre of attention this time […]
Upholding Umno
Translation by Zedeck SiewWITH Umno elections around the corner, much of the traditional Malay-language press spent time ruminating on the party general assembly that will be held from 24 to 28 March 2009. From 16 to 22 March 2009, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam’s inability to contest in the party polls dominated the news; interviewers quizzed Datuk Seri […]
Cuti-Cuti Malaysia revised!
By Zedeck Siew(Pic by Flydime / Flickr) PLANNING a weekend holiday recently caused me to correspond with a travel agency. (The agency shall remain nameless, just in case.) At their request, I sent my bank details to them via the antiquated method of facsimile. When their faxed reply came in, I found myself reading a Ministry of […]
Divided over unity
By Zedeck Siew“Most importantly, the people must be united. It has to take precedence over party interest. Let us sacrifice some of our rights sincerely for the sake of saving our country” PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who called for the formation of a national unity government as a way out of the current political […]
Defending royalty
By Zedeck Siew“What he did was not merely insubordination to the crown, but for many it was derhaka — which doesn’t have a literal English translation because ‘treason’ doesn’t quite capture it” Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, on embattled Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s refusal to resign, as per Sultan Azlan Shah’s directive. […]
Umno’s future, Malaysia’s future
By Zedeck SiewCorrected 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 […]
Uniting the Malays
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 9 and 15 March 2009 — excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results notwithstanding — the defence of the Malay race, disunity among Muslims, and economic troubles worried the opinion pages and editorials of the Malay-language press. Closing ranks Closing ranks, especially along racial lines, was a big theme in the past week. The editorial […]
