Mat Taib speaks good English after all…

 Accountability, Malaysian elections  51 Responses »
Mar 302009
 

… so how come he didn’t understand airport currency regulations when he was caught bringing in hard cash, lots of it,  into Australia? Adds blog reader Sam who spotted this report: If you had observed during the weeks and days leading to the Umno General Assembly and elections, Dr M continued to push delegates not to elect leaders who have a very poor command of English. From nowhere, a deputy president aspirant, Mat Taib, comes out defending that he has an immaculate command of the English Language. Mahathir was quoted in Malaysiakini as saying: “One of the candidates couldn’t write in English, he couldn’t speak English and therefore (that was why) he did something wrong in Australia because he could not understand English. My choice is Muhyiddin (Yassin).” This excerpt from The Star Published: Saturday March 21, 2009 MYT 7:58:00 PM ‘I can speak in English,’ says Muhammad Taib By [Read more]

Banging drums an election offence?

 Malaysian elections  12 Responses »
Mar 302009
 

A political scientist friend writes: In the Bukit Selambau by-election, it was reported that ‘Deputy Election Commission chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar pointed out to police that using musical instruments on nomination day was an election offence and requested that they “advise the supporters to stop” but the supporters kept banging on’. (Malaysian Insider, 29 Mar 09). Can you believe this Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman? Is he for real? Banging drums that make ‘noise’ is an ‘election offence’?!? But political parties giving bribes in the past, government ministers providing instant noodles projects and other development goodies (see preceding post for a sample); using and abusing government machinery; people gambling on election results; a dirty electoral roll; etc. are not ‘electoral offences’?

Batang Ai: Ho! Ho! Ho! The White-Haired One arrives…

 Malaysian elections  21 Responses »
Mar 292009
 

Due to climate chaos wreaking havoc to Santa’s North Pole winter detection system, he has mistakenly set out to balmy Asia way ahead of schedule. Having been tipped off, my contact in Sarawak has been keeping an eye out for his early arrival. Hark, are those sleigh bells ringing? The ring-a-ling draws closer and then… with a mighty flourish, the sleigh draws into view and screeches to a halt. As the jolly White-Haired One, a huge sack of goodies slung over his shoulder, disembarks and bellows, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, his band of cronies… er, I mean, faithful elves dances a jig. It’s Santa and his elves bringing the politics of ‘instant noodles’ development to the good folks of Batang Ai. RM2 million for Longhouses in Batang Ai By Churchill Edward; Borneo Post; Sunday, March 29th, 2009 http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49427 Land titles …Sarawak is conducting a census among people in the Batang Ai [Read more]

Positive signs at the two Bukits for Pakatan

 Malaysian elections  12 Responses »
Mar 292009
 

Karma reports on the Pakatan’s prospects at Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang: The sentiment on the ground at the two Bukits appears positive for the PR. Thrilled to see multi-racial supporters giving massive support to PR. Many from all races were waving Pas flags drowning the BN supporters. A good sign for Malaysian solidarity if this is any indicator of race relations in the country. In Bukit Gantang, PR waves were too huge to be subdued by BN supporters. If this is any indicator, Nizar will win big. Bukit Selambau saw a storm in a tea cup among PR supporters. Surprised though to see now a multi-racial crowd swarming around the PR candidate, despite the media comments on the disgruntled supporters.

Of the three showdowns, Batang Ai is the most critical

 Malaysian elections  20 Responses »
Mar 292009
 

1229: Sarawak – My other contact in the state reports: Of the three by-election campaigns now underway, the most critical is that of Batang Ai in Sarawak. Bukits Gantang and Selambau are both PR seats and their retaining those seats – although extremely critical – will reflect the electorate’s referendum on Umno’s recent assembly and how Umno undermined constitutional governance in Perak. PR winning both seats would only restore the status-quo ex-ante between both coalitions in Semenanjong. It goes without saying that losing any one or both of the seats would be a major blow to PR. Batang Ai, however, is a whole different ballgame. Sarawak has long provided a crucial ‘fixed deposit’ of parliamentary seats to the BN thanks to local strongman and CM Abdul Taib Mahmud’s iron grip over patronage in the state! Any PR electoral inroads in Sarawak would pose a serious threat to the BN nation-wide, [Read more]

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