Malaysia's Elections 2008 (Before, During & After)

[Adrian Wong]

Resurgent DAP

Opposition party shrugs off Chinese tag to win over voters, toppling BN in Penang and upping its share of seats won

By Chow Kum Hor, THE STRAITS TIMES

PENANG - ONCE brushed aside as a Chinese-centric party with waning support, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has undergone a revival.

It toppled Barisan Nasional (BN) in Penang and made unprecedented gains elsewhere in Saturday's election.

In all, the DAP bagged 28 parliamentary seats, up from 12 in 2004. Its share of state seats shot up from 15 to 75.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will also be sworn in as Penang Chief Minister tomorrow, after the party's 19 candidates for state seats made a clean sweep. It also won all seven Parliament seats it contested in Penang.

This is the first time the DAP will be leading a state government, and it will rule with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which took nine state seats.

Party leaders and analysts attribute DAP's resurgence to a combination of widespread public discontent with the BN government and the DAP's latest crop of young and promising candidates who are able to fire up the electorate's interest and, most crucially, capture their votes.

Oxford-educated Tony Pua, one of the DAP's bright young stars, told The Straits Times that the BN was partly responsible for his party's success as it had scored 'own goals' in failing to address issues such as rising crime, inflation and deteriorating race relations.

'The sheer arrogance of MPs in the last Parliament was another reason,' said the 36-year-old technopreneur, who trounced BN's Parliamentary Secretary Chew Mei Fun in Petaling Jaya Utara.

Mr Lim, the DAP secretary-general, noted at a media conference yesterday that initial feedback had indicated that its candidates were able to attract one-third of the Malay votes in the areas where they stood.

This must be a source of satisfaction as the DAP has long been trying to shrug off its Chinese tag to attract Malay and Indian support.

While the DAP was never intended to be a Chinese party like its arch-rival, the Malaysian Chinese Association, it came to be identified as one as it is led by Chinese politicians and draws its support mostly from urban Chinese areas.

Over 70 per cent of the DAP's members are Chinese, while Indians make up 25 per cent of the membership.

In the party's top-30 line-up, there are only five Indians and two Malays.

For 30 years from 1969, Mr Lim Kit Siang was the party's mercurial leader.

He often locked horns with the government in Parliament over issues such as corruption and transparency.

While the DAP was almost always the largest opposition party in Parliament, it failed to make further inroads.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng believes the party's strategy of fielding fresh candidates, such as prominent blogger Jeff Ooi and former university lecturer P. Ramasamy, might have helped it to break out of that old mould.

The strategy was formulated by Mr Lim Kit Siang's son Guan Eng, who took over in 2004.

Looking ahead, Mr Khoo sees the DAP's next mission as building on this momentum by making Penang a showcase of the party's ability to run a state government.

If it pulls it off, it will boost voters' confidence in the next election that the DAP has what it takes to run the federal government.

Yesterday, the three main opposition parties - the DAP, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and PKR - made a start in setting new directions in coalition politics.

They announced plans to drop affirmative-action policies, which favour the Malays, in Selangor.

Besides Selangor, the three parties will also form a coalition in Perak.

But coalition politics will not be easy.

And it remains unclear whether the DAP's still largely Chinese base of members and supporters will drop their suspicions about PAS and its goal of setting up an Islamic state.

Amazing... DAP had 5X as many State seats as they did in the last elections.

They couldn't have done it without the help of all concerned Malaysians... and of course, in cooperation with PKR and PAS.

[Adrian Wong]

OMG.. The sheer arrogance of this crook. Has he not "eaten" enough? How much more money does he want to siphon from the people???

Samy to stay on as MIC chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who crashed to a shock defeat in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat, will continue as the MIC president and restructure and rebuild the party.

In a statement, he said he was not feeling unhappy but reminded the MIC members that they were in a very challenging period.

“We have to move in the direction where the wind is blowing and we hope a day will come when the new wave will be with us,” he said.

Samy Vellu, who had been the Sungai Siput MP since 1974, lost to PKR's Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj by 1,821 votes.

He thanked the people of Sungai Siput for supporting him in the last eight elections since 1974.

“I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to serve this constituency and I believe I have done whatever possible to make the people of Sungai Siput happy.

“But times have changed and every good thing has to come to an end but there is always a new beginning,” he said.

Meanwhile secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who was one of three MIC leaders to have retained their parliamentary seats, said the MIC has to take cognisance of the results and the fact that the majority of the Indian community did not support the party in the elections.

“This is the first time we have suffered such a loss,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam, who retained the Segamat parliamentary seat, said that the next four years would be challenging to rebuild the confidence and to instil in the people the relevance of the MIC to the Indian community.

He said Samy Vellu was the president of MIC and should continue dictating the direction of the party.

MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan, who won the Tapah parliamentary seat, said it was normal for parties to win or lose seats in elections.

“Even Keadilan lost in many seats in the last general election but this time, it made some gains. Winning or losing is not all that the game is about but more about serving the people,” he said.

Saravanan, who is also Federal Territory MIC chief, said this was the best time to prove that “we are here not for position or power but merely to serve the people”. - STAR

You are also a big bullshitter, Saravanan. The last 50 years was the best time to prove that you guys were in it to serve the people. No need to start bullshitting down. We have had enough of your drivel.

[Adrian Wong]

KL stocks fall almost 10%

Malaysian stocks tumbled the most in a decade today with government-linked companies hardest hit after the weekend’s political upsets.

At 2:58pm, trading was stopped for an hour as the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) fell 130.01 points to 1,166.32, from the previous day’s closing level 1,296.33 - about 10.03 percent.

Trading resumed at 3:58pm, and the stock market recovered slightly.

After it closed for the day at 5pm at 1,117.2, a drop of 123.11 or 9.5 percent.

This was the biggest one-day percentage loss in recent years. The turnover was valued at RM2.47 billion.

State-owned banks like Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd and government-linked companies such as Malaysian Resources Corp, UEM World Bhd and Sime Darby were among counters that registered falling prices.

According to a statement from Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd, the decision to halt trading is to maintain market stability and allow traders to consider new information before making investment decisions.

When the KLCI registers a 10 percent drop from the previous day’s closing level, the circuit breaker is automatically triggered.

However, as investors unloaded local stocks, credit rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s maintained their sovereign ratings on Malaysia.

Despite acknowledging that the level of political uncertainty in the country had increased, the agencies said the economy is still on solid ground.

Expected. Even I predicted this. The stocks of government-linked companies would fall like stones after this election. The atmosphere on the ground was so obviously anti-BN.

Sorry if anyone of you actually put money into them. Now that the Opposition has won 5 states AND the Federal Territory to boot, you can count on them to put stop to nonsensical projects like the Penang Global City Center (PGCC). Watch out, Patrick Lim of Equine Group. I think you know you backed the wrong horse. Hehehe...

He's probably quivering with shock and panic now at his townhouse residences (he owns four combined units) at Equine Park in Seri Kembangan. LOL!!!

[Adrian Wong]

LOL!! What's wrong with BN politicians? They really like to dress up the ugliness they made to look like jewels.

In 2006 I believe, Khir Toyo declared that Selangor was now a DEVELOPED state, superior to even countries like Switzerland. Now, Shahrizat who lost to Anuar's daughter, said that she developed her constituency until it was almost like Manhattan.

I think she's delusional. Maybe she doesn't go out much. Come, Shahrizat. Let me show you the kind of squalor that exists just 5-10 minutes away from your swanky Bangsar perch.

[jasperchc]

its very hilarious when they use the term "shocking defeat", i tend to laugh when i read those words in the news even more so when it came out of the month of people like Koh Tsu Koon and Samy Vellu. It just show how much they have lost touch with the reality on the ground

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

LOL!! What's wrong with BN politicians? They really like to dress up the ugliness they made to look like jewels.

In 2006 I believe, Khir Toyo declared that Selangor was now a DEVELOPED state, superior to even countries like Switzerland. Now, Shahrizat who lost to Anuar's daughter, said that she developed her constituency until it was almost like Manhattan.

I think she's delusional. Maybe she doesn't go out much. Come, Shahrizat. Let me show you the kind of squalor that exists just 5-10 minutes away from your swanky Bangsar perch.

Well, the guys and girls in BN, they MUST learn their lesson. Now, everyone knows that they are sleeping in the job, and we need to wake them up!

There are many other significiant places which have already taken by the opposition. Looks like there are many issues within the 5-yr timeframe which have made the citizens to think for another alternative.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by jasperchc

its very hilarious when they use the term "shocking defeat", i tend to laugh when i read those words in the news even more so when it came out of the month of people like Koh Tsu Koon and Samy Vellu. It just show how much they have lost touch with the reality on the ground

Very true. I think they actually believed they were invincible. I think their cronies were so convincing that they believed their own lies.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Well, the guys and girls in BN, they MUST learn their lesson. Now, everyone knows that they are sleeping in the job, and we need to wake them up!

There are many other significiant places which have already taken by the opposition. Looks like there are many issues within the 5-yr timeframe which have made the citizens to think for another alternative.

It's unprecedented actually. Think about this.

The only state that the Opposition controlled last election was Kelantan, with a mere 1 seat majority.

This election, the Opposition won FOUR NEW states AND the Federal Territory, and retained Kelantan with an incredible majority of 40 out of 45 seats. They almost won Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan too, and put significant dents into BN strongholds like Johor and Melaka.

Also, BN won 68% of the popular vote in the last election, which gave them 91% of the seats, thanks to their gerrymandering.

This election, they only won 63% of the seats, even after even more gerrymandering and some say, cheating. So, if we extrapolate that result, it means they only won 47% of the popular vote!!!

In other words, without gerrymandering alone, the Opposition could have formed the Federal Government.... If BN is not careful.. and start to do their job, that could happen in the next election.

[Adrian Wong]

Press Statement on the Outcome of the 2008 General Election

Barisan Nasional has been defeated and shamed on a scale without precedent in our history. Alongside losing our 2/3rds majority in Parliament, we have lost a record number of states to the Opposition, including the premier state and the home state of the Prime Minister.

This is not just a blow to BN and to UMNO but to the nation as a whole. We now face a period of uncertainty such as we have never experienced before. BN and UMNO's legitimacy and strength have been the bedrock of national unity and of Malaysia's successful development since Independence. All this is now in question.

The Malaysian electorate's rejection of BN in key areas has serious consequences on our ability to execute our national development plans. We have won enough seats to form a federal government by simple majority, but because of our losses, including our stunning defeat in the Malay heartland states of Kedah and Kelantan, people are now saying that UMNO has lost its legitimacy to represent the Malays. The other Barisan component parties have already lost their leadership role as representatives of the other major races of this country.

This is a historic crisis, and we must face it without further denial, self-deception or media spin.

The honesty with which we interpret this result, and the decisiveness with which we act on it, will determine whether we still have a future with the people.

To begin immediately the process of restoring ourselves, the leadership team must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for this debacle.

YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
Member of Parliament Gua Musang
Ketua Bahagian UMNO Gua Musang

LOL!! What a joke... Losing the 2/3 majority and 5 states + Federal Territory will affect your ability to execute your national development plans?

Maybe that's true, if those plans are racist or corrupt in nature! If it's genuinely good for the people, why should the Opposition vote against it? Don't be silly, Ku Li....

[Adrian Wong]

"Najib Must Step Forward Now"

By Little Bird

This is the consensus opinion among ALL UMNO members except Khairy Jamaluddin. Khairy is now frantic. He is using all means at his disposal (money and threats) to stem what appears to be an unstoppable rumbling in UMNO to get Badawi to leave. Many interesting scenarios are being discussed.

There is strong undercurrent in UMNO Johor to move for a vote of no confidence in Badawi. Mukhriz Mahathir is supposed to make a Press Statement that Pemuda UMNO Kedah or something has no more confidence in Badawi and wants him to step down.

Many UMNO boys have started gathering around Najib Tun Razak. The widespread feeling in UMNO is if Najib takes just one step forward and says Badawi must resign, almost the entire UMNO party will fall in behind him. Badawi will leave within seven days.

However, Khairy is holding a trump card over Najib's wife Rosmah. And folks say it involves the case. Yet others say that snuffing out someone's life has not been an obstacle to moving up the ladder in UMNO. Recall Mustakizah the Video Shop owner. She was murdered too. Murderers not caught.

So even if Badawi quits, there may not be anyone to take over. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has been suggested as a possible interim leader. That is a long shot.

Here is another scenario - which many say is more likely. Anwar Ibrahim will qualify to stand for elections come April 14th. If Wan Azizah makes way for him, he will become an MP. The scenario being painted is that Anwar will then make a deal with Khairy. He will come back into UMNO as party president, bringing along some Parliamentary seats occupied by Malay members of PKR.

Khairy will become his Deputy. Impossible? Think again. This is UMNO. Anything is possible.

Badawi wants his S-I-L to be a full Minister in Cabinet but he has been told that the timing is not right. The party will revolt. We are headed towards very confusing and dangerous times. Time to turn down the volume and work quietly and quickly.

I hope Anwar does not run back to BN. That would kill his credibility and that of the PKR. The BN represents everything that is wrong with the nation - racist policies, communal politics, corruption and patronage.