Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) aims to put up a candidate for the Penanti by-election in Penang on 31 May. It has already shortlisted a few candidates, believed to be locals.
These were among the issues discussed at a PRM committee meeting this afternoon at its office in Selayang.
The committee is expected to hold another meeting on 22 May, a day before Nomination Day, when it would confirm PRM’s candidacy and candidate for the by-election.
The on-off project to lay undersea cables to transmit electricity from the jinxed RM7 billion Bakun Dam to the peninsula is now on again.
This time we are told the undersea cables will cost RM9 billion and that the cables will transmit electricity to the peninsula as well as Sabah. Brunei is reportedly also interested.
MRCB has been mentioned in a Star news analysis as a leading contender for the land-based transmission network. The same Star report also notes:
Maybank Investment Bank also observed that among the states, Sarawak had the largest allocation under the second fiscal stimulus. Political analysts noted that Sabah and Sarawak had become politically important states.
The rollout of projects in these two states will provide opportunities for home-grown contractors such as Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd and Hock Seng Lee Bhd. They have an advantage in being more familiar with the local landscape and people.
There are many things in life we cannot understand. So many difficult questions, the answers for which me may never discover in our life-time. Why, for instance, is there so much injustice and suffering in this world?
The recession has reached our shores, with the IMF forecasting that the Malaysian economy will shrink by 3.5 per cent this year.
Is it affecting you? Is your job secure or have you been laid off? How are you coping? Have you stopped eating out?
Tense situation?: Drummers thump rhythmically as others jive to the beat during Nomination Day for the Permatang Pauh by-election last year – Photo by Anil Netto
Here’s another ‘bright’ idea: The Election Commission and the police want to restrict the number of supporters who turn up on nomination day to 5,000 (for each party?). This follows their attempt to ban the “pondok panas” (voter assistance booths) set up by political parties outside the polling centres.
In the first place, how do they plan to ensure that the crowd does not exceed 5,000? What if 5,001 people turn up? Are they going to put up turnstiles outside the nomination centre and issue tickets?
MCA Wanita Chief Chew Mei Fun is trying to spin what the public really feels about the ISA. “Everybody is actually looking forward to a review of the ISA,” she says.
Really? Everybody? Most people I know want the ISA repealed not “reviewed”.
Chew seems to be against detention without trial, which is good. So why can’t she come out and demand the outright abolition of the ISA? Okay, she wants the ISA to be renamed Anti-Terrorism Act. But does she think this will stop abuse of power? Remember 2001, when 10 reformasi activists were detained for suspected terror activities – only to be released much later? Remember the Hindraf Five? Remember all those languishing in Kamunting?
Out with this obnoxious law!
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Perak Speaker V Sivakumar has written to the Perak Sultan to request a postponement of the State Assembly proceedings scheduled for 7 May.
The letter was sent to the Istana Kinta office at 11.00am.
A crane pierces the hill-slope… while residents below live in fear
These look like Class IV slopes – Photos by Tanjung Bunga residents
Residents of Tanjung Bunga are claiming that the developer of a controversial project is defying a stop work order to cease land development work on three plots which they say are not supported by a geotechnical report.
They have taken photos to show that work is continuing on these plots. From these photos, it appears obvious that work is being carried out on Class IV slopes.
Zambry has distanced himself from the Perak Information Department’s notice restricting the media coverage of the 7 May State Assembly proceedings to 13 pro-BN mainstream media organisations. Remarkably, he said the restriction was to ensure the comfort of journalists due to the limited space in the Dewan.
In a blog posting at 5.42pm, Zambry now says that “sesetengah media baru (new media) termasuk rakan-rakan blogger” would be allowed in. What does “sesetengah” mean? Who decides?
Walaupun arahan ini bukan datangnya daripada saya ataupun pejabat saya, adalah menjadi tugas saya untuk menjelaskan mengapa cadangan berkenaan dibuat oleh pegawai-pegawai kanan kerajaan negeri.
Perak Speaker V Sivakumar has given the green light to all media to write to him for permission to cover the state assembly proceedings on 7 May. His decision is based on Standing Order 84 of the Perak State Legislative Assembly.
Under the Standing Order, cited on Sivakumar’s blog, the Speaker “may grant a general permission to the representative of any journal to attend the sittings of the Assembly under such rules as he may from time to time make for that purpose. If such rules are contravened, such permission may be revoked.”
The Perak State Information Department had earlier issued a written notice saying only journalists from 13 pro-BN mainstream media organisations would be allowed in.