The latest issue of Aliran Monthly is now out. This issue looks at the state of the BN and whether it is capable of implementing the reforms that it needs to save itself.
Support independent media and journalism. For more information on how to subscribe, click here. Latest Aliran Monthly now out
The latest issue of Aliran Monthly is now out. This issue looks at the state of the BN and whether it is capable of implementing the reforms that it needs to save itself.
Support independent media and journalism. For more information on how to subscribe, click here. 8,000 crowd in Shah Alam for PR ceramah on Perak
A huge crowd has turned up for a PR ceramah at Section 19 in Shah Alam tonight, despite the last minute info. The ceramah is being held to explain the situation in Perak.
An eye-witness at the scene decribes the turnout at the ceramah, which is still in progress (as at 11.30pm) at the Dewan Bola Tampar MBSA, as “fantastic”. Some 3,000 people are packed indoors while another 5,000 are outside in the car-park and spilling over into the tennis court.
Tg Bunga residents bang pots and pans in protest
Noisy protest against Class 3 and 4 hillslope development projects
They call it ‘cacerolazo‘ or ‘cacerolada‘ in Latin America – that’s a form of protest involving a group of people creating a racket by banging pots, pans and other utensils to draw attention to their cause.
This afternoon, in Tanjung Bunga, residents used this form of protest to loud effect during a Valentine’s Day ‘tea party’ to protest at property development projects on steep hill-slopes. Some one hundred residents turned up in Chee Seng Garden in front of the Bolton Surin project, calling on the Chief Minister and the state government to stop the project for good.
Two MBs turn up at Perak Sultan’s palace
Perak Mentri Besar Nizar and his BN-appointed rival counterpart Zambry were both allowed into the Perak Sultan’s palace this evening to attend the royal banquet to mark the Sultan’s silver jubilee. It’s the first time that both of them are at the same place at the same time. Nizar was accompanied by Perak DAP chairman Ngeh.
The NST has the story here.
Alarm bells ring as manufacturing dives
Gearing up for Bukit Gantang
BN/Umno flags already fluttering in the Taiping-Bukit Gantang area Photo by Jong
Police presence around Karpal’s Penang residence
A couple of different sources have alerted me to a fairly large police presence – perhaps a hundred or more – around Karpal Singh’s residence in Penang.
Riot police trucks are in the area and roads blocks have been set up around the Waterfall Road/Western Road area.
Reports blog reader tan, tanjung bunga:
I passed Karpal Singh’s residence at around 3.00 pm: lots of FRU personnel and other policemen in the vicinity of his residence, with FRU personnel also lining-up in front of his gate and dozens of media people positioned opposite the gate. You can imagine the traffic jams in the whole area! From your post, it’s possible that the security personnel are trying to protect Karpal’s residence from the Umno demonstrators! Congrats to them then for protecting a citizen!
Nomination day immediately after Umno assembly ends
The Election Commission has fixed 29 March as nomination day and polling day on 7 April for both the Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections.
Nomination day thus falls a day after the Umno general assembly concludes on 28 March.
Badawi billboard sets tongues wagging
A new billboard in KL has sparked speculation over Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s political future.
The billboard, along Jalan Syed Putra near the turnoff to Taman Seputeh, features a large portrait of Abdullah Badawi, at least 10 feet high, with the words “Opinions Ideas appreciated, viewpoints welcomed”. It also includes his email a website address.
Blog reader lanwm spotted the billboard too:
I was like I can’t believe my eyes when I saw that huge billboard with his face! I tried covering it with my hands but it was just too huge to be covered!The question that a few are asking is, why would a Prime Minister who is leaving office soon want to solicit public views during the twilight days of his administration?
Dissecting the constitutional issues in Perak
Human rights lawyer and activist Malik Imtiaz Sarwar attempts to dissect some of the constitutional and historical issues surrounding the current political crisis in Perak.
Embattled but cool Nizar now M’sia’s politician to watch
‘Tea party’ against Tanjung Bunga hill-slope projects
Tanjung Bunga residents groups, alarmed by property development projects on steep hill-slopes, are coming together at the top of Jalan Chan Siew Teong in Chee Seng Gardens on Valentine’s Day to hold a ‘tea party’ from 4.00pm to 5.00pm
This message from the Tanjung Bunga Residents Association:
Even before the horrific landslide in Taman Antarabangsa, the residents of Chee Seng Gardens in Tanjong Bunga confronted the developers of a hillside construction project about an “accident waiting to happen”. A stop-work order was slapped on the construction site demanding that more retention ponds be built to avoid the floods that had frightened residents. Another stop-work order came later.
LIVE: 1,000 Umno supporters chant “Daulat Tuanku!”
LIVE: 35,000 throng Nizar’s residence in show of support
Show of support: This is just a small section of the crowd at the MB’s residence tonight
4,000 join a Makkal Sakthi Thaipusam procession calling for the dissolution of the State Assembly and the release of ISA detainees
Nizar addressing the crowd at his official residence after midnight: “Keep praying for a favourable court decision”
LIVE: The ladies are waiting… but where is Najib?
The red carpet has been rolled out, the ladies are waiting… but where is Najib?
Opposite the Yok Choy School: A shrine mourning the “Death of Democracy”
Perak State Assembly Speaker V Sivakumar reveals his latest move Photo by Amiruddin
LIVE: Tumultuous scenes as Perakians roar and jeer
Thumbs down: KK town residents jeer as VIP vehicles emerge from the palace Photo by Anil Netto
Protesters outside the Masjid Ubudiah this afternoon calling for the dissolution of the state assembly Photos by Annuar Ismail
MB Nizar tries to enter the gate to the state government complex before being allowed in.
MB Nizar addressing a packed and dramatic press conference in the state government complex this morning
LIVE: A dark cloud descends on Ipoh
Pakatan Rakyat supporters gather at the Mentri Besar’s official residence tonight
While Najib eyes Perak, the economy sinks…
Folks, we are in trouble.
Our Prime Minister is on his way out – even though more and more people now want him to stay on (for the time being!) given the choice of his successor.
The prime minister-to-be, his deputy, who is also Finance Minister, is now busy trying to topple the Perak state government. He is meeting the Perak Sultan tomorrow to try and persuade him to allow the BN to form the government.
So who is managing the economy now? Is it running on auto-pilot?
When I look at the economic figures, they look alarming. Total number of workers employed down, industrial production down, foreign reserves down, electrical and electronics exports fell 16 per cent (gulp!) …. and that’s just for November. Things have surely got worse by now. The scary part is we still have not reached the bottom of the pit (althougth The Edge, 2-8 Feb 2009, states boldly – and inexplicably – on its cover that “this year is expected to be better (for the KLCI)…”).
So with that in mind, I wrote this piece for Asia Times:
96% say BN will suffer in next GE: ntv7 poll
Many Malaysians do not seem to be amused by what the BN is doing in Perak.
An SMS poll on ntv7 over its prime time 8.00pm news in English asked whether the Perak crisis would affect the BN’s performance negatively in the next general election.