Most news reports are talking about a lower voter turnout in Sibu. But actually, the turnout was higher than 2008.
In 2008, the turnout was 67 per cent. But this time around, 70 per cent (or more accurately 69 per cent) of voters cast their ballots.
Sibu Miracle: The morning after
All right folks, after a good night’s sleep, I presume, let’s share some thoughts on the implications of the Sibu by-election result.
It’s going to be a lot harder for the BN to use vote-buying tactics to win voters’ support especially in urban areas in future by-elections. Sibu voters have taught the BN a bitter lesson.
Places of worship, religious institutions and independent schools should not accept grants from the government during election campaigns. This is outright vote-buying and the rejection of such offers sets a good example for their religious adherents or students and provides them a salutary lesson about standing up for ethics in public life.
Read Goh Keat Peng’s excellent piece ‘We don’t take such money‘. Mr Goh, a prominent Christian figure who attends a Methodist Church, gives us much food for thought: “I respectfully appeal to the churches directly involved in this episode (of accepting grants): If it isn’t true and it didn’t happen, then please say so. If it is true, offered and received, give it all back. WE DON’T WANT SUCH MONEY. Let the church be poor (as a church mouse) but as the Book of Proverbs says, poor but happy keeping a clear conscience.”
Live – Sibu by-election polling and results
Live updates on polling day for the Sibu by-election and results as they come in.
After the tsunami
Haris Ibrahim hosts a Komas documentary on Malaysia after the political tsunami of 2008.
Selepas Tsunami (After the Tsunami) from Pusat KOMAS on Vimeo.
Live – Sibu campaign reaches climax
The Sibu by-election campaign reaches a climax on the eve of polling tomorrow.
See the twitter updates in the box on the far right.
A Pakatan MP campaigning in Sibu thinks it is now 50:50, he told me an hour ago.
Wee quits PKR: So predictable … yawn!
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong’s decision to quit PKR on the eve of the Sibu by-election comes as no big surprise.
In doing so, he has betrayed the mandate of those who voted for change. This has been coming for a long time, but I suppose he was waiting for the ‘right moment’. Aliran president P Ramakrishnan predicted only yesterday something like this would happen on the eve of polling:
Penang’s latest tourist attraction!
Now you don’t need to visit Pisa in Italy.
Najib’s tweet says it all in Sibu poll
What do you make of this tweet from Najib at around noon today?
Live – Karpal grills Saiful
Another day in the trial of Anwar Ibrahim as Karpal continues cross-examining Saiful.