Dull public interest in Sungai Bakap by-election

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Voters in the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang are heading for the polls tomorrow, but it has failed to capture the public interest.

It’s hardly the stuff of coffee-shop conversations here in Penang. Why? Perhaps its because it won’t change the balance of power in the state. But I suspect the real reason is that both sides have failed to articulate the People’s Agenda (structural reforms to the economy, healthcare, education and democratic change) endorsed by over 50 civil society groups.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s lack of genuine reforms at the federal level has disppointed many. Disillusionment with the “unity government” has crept in.

Then again, many don’t believe Perikatan Nasional can deliver meaningful change either if it wins power in the next general election.

So the voter turnout will be crucial in this by-election.

My contact, Pas insider Abdul Rahman Kasim, on the ground in Sungai Bakap now, does not exude his usual optimism about PN’s chances. He rates PN’s chances as “50:50”. Let’s see.

Whatever the result, don’t hold your breath for genuine, meaningful change – other than the usual talk about mega-projects (which the big contractors and developers are looking forward to).

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luca
luca
14 Jul 2024 2.09pm

Penang Silicon Island – July 2024 Progress

A Rakyat 8
18 Jul 2024 10.52am
Reply to  luca

Yes, these people are so into their silly con island this and silly con hub that, that some people simply forgot to include….

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/07/16/george-town-festival-organiser-removes-promotional-videos-amid-inclusivity-concerns-says-sorry-for-malay-omission/143866

No one bothered to check and verify before release.  Such is the state of things now after 2 years under current admin. 

Inch
Inch
7 Jul 2024 8.08pm

The low Chinese (22% of voters) and Indian (17%) turnout was a telling factor to CM Chow’s administration, which was entrusted to deliver the non-Muslim vote. The Malay electorate (59% of voters) was handled by PKR, Umno and Amanah.

A Rakyat 8
8 Jul 2024 2.14pm
Reply to  Inch

This gives the impression that they are all raced based political parties, isn’t it ? There is nothing multi cultural, multiracial, multi religious or multicolored about them, is there?

Each must deliver their goods based on the race they belong to. Nothing has changed this past sixty years. Everything seems to be based on false talk and pretense. All of them political people, they are the same, aren’t they?

shriek
shriek
15 Jul 2024 10.22pm
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

why talk and kbkb so much. you must come out and change the system or MAS?

Asmira Hashim
Asmira Hashim
4 Aug 2024 11.16am
Reply to  Inch

Quality is more important than quantity.

If you have too many children, the quality of life will be compromised because of high cost of living.

Bluey
Bluey
6 Jul 2024 6.06pm

The current government is not by a single coalition by a unity government with many coalitions with different aspirations. So to expect it to make reform is wishful thinking. If cannot accept the reality, then continue to shiok sendiri.

Loong Huat
Loong Huat
27 Jul 2024 9.57am

The Penang Malays Association (Pemenang) has drawn up a five-year plan to resettle up to 10,000 Malay families with diverse economic interests and professional skills to move back to the George Town, Penang, after decades of high living costs on the island drove the households to the Prai mainland, Kedah, and Perak.
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/102904/plan-to-return-10000-malay-families-to-george-town

Samad
Samad
27 Jul 2024 6.53pm
Reply to  Loong Huat

Selling nasi lemak by road side?

Is there’s low cost housing in George Town for these people?

A Rakyat 8
9 Jul 2024 8.08pm

“CHINESE voters decided to sit out the Sungai Bakap by-election as it was not crucial to the political future of Penang.” by Ian McIntyre dd 09 Jul 2024 8:00AM

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/102692/chinese-voters-sat-out-sungai-bakap-by-election-due-to-negligible-impact

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What ! This community can decide which election is important, then come out and vote or which election not important, then don’t come and vote ( as it was not crucial to the political future of Penang).  Got ah like this ?  

This political analyst assessment of the recent by-election, correct ah ?

A Rakyat 8
8 Jul 2024 1.55pm

” Reject corruption and abuse of power, Anwar tells NGOs, youth movements ‘
 dd 08 Jul 2024, 07:28 AM

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/07/08/reject-corruption-and-abuse-of-power-anwar-tells-ngos-youth-movements/

========

>>>  Nothing has changed, has it ? He tells and gives advise to the Rakyat but his backyard remains the same and has not been cleaned up. It still stinks.

“Felcra subsidiaries in RM1.21 billion debt, says PAC” dd  26 Jun 2024 2:02PM

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/business/102536/felcras-subsidiaries-in-rm1.21-billion-debt-says-pac

“FELCRA Bhd’s 14 subsidiaries have racked up a total debt of RM1.21 billion, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed today.”

>>>  One of many revealed.

shriek
shriek
14 Jul 2024 6.37pm
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

rakyat 8, why worry, you are not clueless and you are asking their position as it is mentioned in the highest law???

A Rakyat 8
8 Jul 2024 12.15pm

“Are the Chinese losing faith in DAP?” by Prof. Ramasamy dd 08 Jul 2024, 09:59 AM

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2024/07/08/are-the-chinese-losing-faith-in-dap/

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Ya loh, how long only can we Rakyat be patient. We were hoping and hoping, waiting and waiting and then concluded, ” Haiya, these politicians are hopless, lah. We are also tired of waiting for changes already”.  Hence the current predicament.

shriek
shriek
8 Jul 2024 7.26pm
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

how about indians, samy? History has proved that the methods and system used by BN does not work and PKR has been shouting Reformasi is only shouting and no doing. Those NM MPs in PKR are having minsterial posts and being shield. They are cartoons like Mickey

A Rakyat 8
9 Jul 2024 8.17pm
Reply to  shriek

Agree, agree. The current leadership is from that era, mah. So, naturally will apply the same of that era.

Current system is, all MPs and assembly persons must toe the party line and rules. Second comes our Nation and last comes, we Rakyat.

A Rakyat 8
7 Jul 2024 12.49pm

” Ramasamy hails PN’s Sg Bakap polls victory as “historic”; Indian no longer fall for PH’s mutton, chicken curry ”  By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy dd 2 hours ago

https://focusmalaysia.my/ramasamy-hails-pns-sg-bakap-polls-victory-as-historic-indian-no-longer-fall-for-phs-mutton-chicken-curry/

========

Prof. Ramasamy says, “Indians no longer fall for PH’s mutton, chicken curry”. Now, that’s original, elicits a good laughter (He,he). And not to forget, “the lesser of the 2 evils” slogan by PH is now in the waste bin.

shriek
shriek
6 Jul 2024 9.24pm

the NMs MPs in PKR are doing nothing even the heart doc in Gopeng. Rocket is taking all the missile fires like Boeing Starliner

A Rakyat 8
8 Jul 2024 2.24pm
Reply to  shriek

Most times rocket just keeps quiet. Missiles fly and hit rocket also still keep quiet. Rocket has now been domiciled. Rocket has now forgotten how to defend.

Politics and governing our Nation is real hard work. The politicians tend to lose weight and age faster. But not these politicians from Unity. Look at some of them. Life must be good.

shriek
shriek
15 Jul 2024 10.28pm
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

rakyat you have been firing. uncle lim has retired and you walk the other way . you just started your life at a senior age? you and dr m can team up. then you and him grows younger and stronger.

A Rakyat 8
29 Jul 2024 11.48pm
Reply to  shriek

Hello shriek, your uncle Lim, retired also has received another title, said to be the highest in the state of Penang. You must be celebrating.

Question : Are DAP people okay to receive titles now?

shriek
shriek
16 Jul 2024 6.24pm
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

that is why rakyat must come out and like trump show your fist in the air and we clap our hands and also raise our hands to support you. you no party, club or gang man

luca
luca
9 Jul 2024 7.29pm
Reply to  shriek

People should not be in such a hurry to demand changes that the government had promised, says Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the people should present any problems that arise prudently so that they could be resolved.

shriek
shriek
15 Jul 2024 10.29pm
Reply to  luca

when pkr is formed, they have been shouting reformasi. after 20 years, still follow bn style?

A Rakyat 8
18 Jul 2024 12.10pm
Reply to  luca

But they hurriedly promised changes and reforms during the election campaigns, did they not? For example, fuel prices will come down the very next day after they win the election, did they not say this?

It cannot be that they were so dumb not to know what was going on in our country economically and socially, when they made these promises.

After winning, now they say, Rakyat must not be in a hurry  to demand changes that the government had promised.

A Rakyat 8
18 Jul 2024 1.31pm
Reply to  luca

In 2018, the previous PH coalition leadership made a lot of promises in their GE14 2018 election manifesto but after winning the election declared that the manifesto was not cast in stone and therefore ….  

For the Sungai Bakap by- election, their supporters may have just woken up, hopefully. There is only so much one can say to try to fool the Rakyat.

Asmira Hashim
Asmira Hashim
4 Aug 2024 11.17am
Reply to  A Rakyat 8

Be realistic, all political parties made promises before election.

A Rakyat 8
15 Aug 2024 9.10pm
Reply to  Asmira Hashim

Yap, they all make all kinds of promises and break them, don’t they? One went so far as to say that election promises are not cast in stone. Shameless people, aren’t they?

And we, the Rakyat, are expected to vote for these types of people.

One group of politicians can even decide, here on planet Earth, who gets to go to heaven or hell if we do not vote for them.

A Rakyat 8
15 Aug 2024 9.12pm
Reply to  Asmira Hashim

And so, yes. I am realistic. I do not wish to vote for any of them; otherwise, I would be accountable in the hereafter for being a fool and for the abuse of God given intelligence.