Anwar Ibrahim is back in Parliament bagging 71% of votes cast in the Port Dickson, despite a lower turnout.
He improved on PH’s performance in the 9 May 2018 general election, when the PKR candidate, Danyal Balagopal, collected 59% of votes cast. But his tally of 31,000-plus votes was lower than the 36,000-plus picked up by Danyal at the general election.
The combined share of the Pas candidate and Isa Samad dropped to 27% from the 41% total that Pas and BN bagged at the general election. This suggests that the race-religion combination has not made any headway in the new Malaysia – or in Port Dickson at least. You would have thought that Pas would have grabbed a large chunk of the votes from the 18,515 votes collected on 9 May by BN, which stayed out of the Port Dickson by-election – but the Islamic party didn’t.
Despite his large majority, Anwar will have to reflect on the misgivings that many urbanites and activists harbour about him. Some of them are the same people who used to support his cause during his many trials and tribulations since 1998. Maybe they fear that he is now pandering to the old guard who indulge in the politics of race and religion instead of moving forward with the rest of the rakyat in the new Malaysia and consolidating our democratic gains. They base their perceptions on what he has said, who he has met since his release from prison, his dismissive remarks about Bersih, and how he seems to be in a bit of a hurry. Or perhaps they think that Mahathir has a better chance of pulling Malaysia forward. Oh, the irony of it all!
The coming months will determine which Anwar we will see. Hopefully, Anwar will be committed to the reform agenda of the movement that was galvanised by the injustice he suffered all those years ago.
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One particular minister needs to grow up fast to be mature:
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/15/syed-saddiq-removes-bathtub-post-following-backlash/
Almost 6 months of Malaysia Baru, most ministers are still honeymooning with no concrete plan.
Who needs a minister to tell pupils to wear black shoes? Another one in Tourism ministry cannot attract foreign tourists (China tourists arrival dropped 30%!) but want staggered school holidays to promote domestic tourism.
PM poor example and outdated vision wanting 3rd national car project and crooked JB-Spore bridge?
TMJ already not happy with crooked bridge proposal. More fireworks soon?
PH othing better to do than to abolish death penalty¿ Murderers should pay with their lives.
One LOL minister told us to drink water straight from tap. He should check up why many people installed Coway or that Kookoo Korean brand water purifiers at home.
Anwar needs to reform Jakim to make it more inclusive.
Anwar please take care of Indians now that MIC is gone.
Has anyone read Chua Soi Lek’s autobiography “Like Me or Hate Me: Rising from the Political Ashes”?
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1685064/in-autobiography-soi-lek-aims-to-set-record-straight-sex-tape-and-all
Asked if the book covers his 2008 sex tape scandal, Dr Chua said it does as it was a pivotal moment in his career and could not be avoided due to the massive amount of media coverage that the incident received.
Port Dickson is multiracial and with a PM in waiting candidate, you do not expect UMNO-PAS to have much of a chance – there is only one PM at any time and if he cannot garner a few more Malay Muslim vote, it would be a disaster. The more important fact is Isa Samad garnered very few votes despite his long history in Negeri Sembilan and its his homeground. Its bad news for warlord that still runs UMNO – they do not have the magic lamp that makes their formula works – that makes PAS the leader of the Malay… Read more »
DSAI as next PM should notice the new study by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) released on Monday (Oct 15) which argued that policymakers need to think beyond the Gini coefficient – which represents the relative difference in earnings – and include measures to address the absolute earnings gap.
Despite a reduction in official income inequality, the absolute earnings gap between Malaysia’s top 20 per cent and their countrymen has nearly doubled, putting more Malaysians in relative poverty.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/15/study-malaysias-income-gap-doubled-in-two-decades/#K0bvhYTeVWDMdDHj.99
Wong Chun Wai wrote today:
More than three decades into my journalistic career, and I have learned one thing for certain – most politicians will never change, and they can be chameleons, too. It would be naïve of me to expect to meet an honest, God-fearing politician who doesn’t lie, because that would be like hoping to see a unicorn.
https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/on-the-beat/2018/10/14/say-you-will-say-you-wont-whether-its-dodging-a-sex-video-bullet-or-denying-ownership-of-bags-of-mon/#QcHC5k7qbzpizoIC.99
DSAI still has his Islamic agenda, delayed by 20 years?
Will Anwsr be inclusive for all Malaysians or still a pro-Malay and Islam? Wait and see. Meanwhile let us hope that Mahathir can educate him in the next 18 months.
This Wong is saying MCA never change too?/