Indelible ink U-turn casts shadow over election

 Accountability, Democracy, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Politics  1 Response »
Mar 062008
 

The Election Commission’s decision not to use indelible ink just does not sound right.  If they have nothing to hide, then there should be no hesitation in using such ink. It certainly doesn’t look good for the EC and the government, coming so close to polling day.  How are you going to spot multiple voters? This is a piece I wrote yesterday. PENANG, Mar 5 (IPS) – Malaysia’s Election Commission (EC) has dramatically scrapped a plan to use indelible ink to prevent multiple voting and stop phantom voters, provoking a storm of protests among opposition parties, which were expecting to make major gains at the polls on Saturday. The sudden reversal of the plan to use indelible ink has put the spotlight on the Malaysia’s electoral process. It comes as political analysts expect a growing number of urban voters to switch to the opposition this time. The U-turn was announced [Read more]

Malaysian polls observers declare Uzbek “non-election” fair

 Democracy, Europe, Malaysian elections, Politics  1 Response »
Jan 082008
 

So a six-man Malaysian election observer team, led by the Malaysian Election Commission deputy chairman, have declared the Uzbekistan elections “fair” even though critics have described it as a “non-election”. Remember, the Uzbekistan government is notorious for torturing dissidents and even putting them in boiling pots. Check out this analysis: Murray began receiving photographs and other evidence from victims’ families that the Uzbek government was engaging in brutal torture techniques as part of its interrogation of dissidents. One corpse had been beaten around the neck and jaw, and boiled alive. There was a line across his chest, under which it was scalded. Boiled like a lobster. Gee, I wonder why they invited the Malaysian Election Commission deputy chairman as an observer… I hope the Election Commission in Malaysia won’t reciprocate and invite the Uzbek election commissioners as observers in our general election. Check out this Bernama report: Uzbekistan Election Fair, [Read more]

Umno state assembly member criticises PGCC project

 Development issues, Environment, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC, Politics  No Responses »
Dec 012007
 
Umno state assembly member criticises PGCC project

This is an actual picture of the Turf Club land and the surrounding low-rise properties. (Photo credit: PGCC Campaign Group) This is what it would look like with towers… gulp! The towers here are replicas of 37 existing towers from all over George Town transplanted to the Turf Club site (The wonders of image editing by the PGCC Campaign Group!) This is what they showed you – view of George Town (image from the official PGCC launch booklet) What they didn’t show you – the view with 37 towers added in (Image editing: PGCC Campaign Group) It is not just the PGCC Campaign Group and ordinary Penangites who are critical of the Penang Global City Centre project. Now, the Umno state assembly member from Bertam, Datuk Hilmi Abdul Rashid says the project is too costly. “If it is too expensive, no locals or companies will be able to afford any [Read more]

When human rights activists let their hair down…

 Civil society, Democracy, Development issues, Human rights, Marginalised groups, Media, Politics, Poverty, Workers' rights  2 Responses »
Nov 292007
 
When human rights activists let their hair down...

The Aliran Singers re-united and in full flow! Aliran turns 30: A heart-warming celebration of justice It was all so different from the official Merdeka celebrations, monopolised and dominated by members of the ruling coalition, recalls Anil Netto, of a night to remember. Full article Why not support the cause of human rights and justice by subscribing to Aliran Monthly, Malaysia’s leading independent English-language current affairs journal.

Merdeka! But beware the new power…

 Corporate agenda, Democracy, Environment, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Malaysian finance/business, Politics  No Responses »
Aug 312007
 

Just watching the 50th Merdeka celebrations on TV and I can’t help but notice how top BN politicians are dominating the proceedings. The 8tv talk show hosts are singing the praises of the PM. Samy and Ong Ka Ting are hovering around the PM. So too Hishamuddin Hussein. Khairy Jamaluddin raising the flag… Khairy leading the Youth of the BN component parties in a marchpast…Najib literally breathing down Abdullah’s neck, looking over his shoulders, as the PM delivers a “spirited” speech. (Fifty years ago, the Tunku was flanked by Najib’s father Razak, Cheng Lock, and Sambanthan. Umno Youth leader Sardon Jubir placed a chain around the Tunku’s neck in recognition of his role as Bapa Kemerdekaan.) Dressed in BN blue, Abdullah uses words such as “terbilang” and “gemilang” (from the BN tagline), raising his voice in an attempt to fire up the crowd – but he ends up coughing in [Read more]

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