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

[Adrian Wong]

This is TOO MUCH!

How can they destroy official state documents????

The new state government should sue the previous administration, including Koh Tsu Koon!

Penang excos start work in 'bare' offices

Bernard Cheah and Opalyn Mok

PENANG (March 17, 2008): The new state executive councillors (excos) started their first week in office to govern with a clean sheet, literally.

They found their offices cleared of all government documents and minutes of the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government. All records of projects, completed or current, approved by the previous government are missing.

Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said: "The action taken by the previous excos have hindered our work."

"They (the previous exco) claim the documents are 'personal property' and cleared the offices," he told reporters.

The new line-up would have to get copies of the documents from the state secretary's office.

"We have the resources to track down these documents. They (state secretary office) would still have copies of whatever 'approval' documents. If the documents are not approved yet, they still have to come back to the exco for approval," he said.

Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said "we have to start from scratch".

"We will have to go and get copies from various department heads on previous projects," he said.

Phee said the previous exco members did not follow the conduct of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who has been a gentleman all the way.

"If they (the previous exco) really loved the people, they should not have used such obstructions to try and stop us," said Phee.

In Alor Star, the PAS-led Kedah government also found all documents in the offices of the Mentri Besar and excos missing when they took office after the 12th General Election on March 8.

Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has appointed state executive councillor Phahrolrazi Zawawi to probe the case of "missing government documents".

He also said a police report will be lodged after the "internal probe". - THE SUN

[Adrian Wong]

More on Selangor's shady water deal!

Khalid announces free household water and lopsided water deal

By : V. Shankar Ganesh
SHAH ALAM, Mon: In his first Press conference as Selangor Mentri Besar today, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim made two key announcements: the first 20 cubic metres of water is free to all Selangor households from April, and the eve of polling day water treatment plant deal between Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd and Selangor Government is lopsided to the concessionaire’s advantage.

The free water concession would be discussed first by the Exco before it could be implemented but it was to fulfill a PKR election campaign promise, he said. “This could be achieved if cost was lowered so that revenue was channeled back to consumers,” he said. “To achieve this, review of all water agreements are expected.”

Khalid said the state legal adviser had been told to write to the company to declassify documents as his calculations showed that profits derived from water revenue was more to their advantage. “There is imbalance in the revenue given to the State and the people. It can only enrich the concessionaire” he told a Press conference at his official residence here for the first time.

Khalid said he had only seen the agreement at a glance and that he had to study it further.
The water deal was for Puncak Niaga to operate, manage and maintain the raw water intake and treatment plant situated on land beside a canal near Sungai Sireh, Tanjung Karang in Kuala Selangor.
While the deal was signed on March 7, the actual contract itself took effect on April 1, 2007 and was concluded pursuant to Clause 3(a) (vi) of the Concession Agreement dated Dec 15, 2004, between the Federal government, the state government and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), for a concession period of twenty-seven (27) years, commencing on April 1, 2007 and expiring on April 30, 2034. - NST

[Adrian Wong]

Ex-MB Kedah to clear air over bare cabinet

Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid will hold a press conference today to clear the air over the missing official documents from the offices of the Kedah Mentri Besar and state executive councillors.

The former Kedah Mentri Besar said the documents should be with government officers.

“I do not know what happened,” he said, adding that the deputy directors of the various government departments should have copies of the official documents.

Mahdzir said this when asked to comment on the PAS-led state government’s allegation that the offices were found to be void of documents by the new Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak and his state executive councillors after they were sworn in last week.

Azizan said state executive councillor Phahrolrazi Zawawi was investigating the case and would submit the findings to the police for further action.

“He is checking the number and type of files that are missing. We need these documents to check the progress of development projects in the state,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Azizan also briefed Kedah police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan on the matter yesterday.

Asked if the state government would report the case to the Anti-Corruption Agency, Azizan said it would depend on the findings of the investigation.

Phahrolrazi said classified documents should remain in the offices of the Mentri Besar and state executive councillors.

“I am calling the former Mentri Besar’s confidential secretary and personal assistant for questioning.

“I am also calling the councillors’ personal assistants and assistant secretaries who handle executive council matters to find out who took the documents out of the offices,” he said.

At another press conference, Azizan said he would review the allowances and special privileges given to the Mentri Besar and executive councillors to decide whether there should be a cut.

Azizan said the state government would implement the agenda listed in PAS manifesto in stages. The first on the list would be quit rent rebates.

“The state executive council members would discus the matter soon,” he said. - THE STAR

[Adrian Wong]

The man is seriously delusional...

Abdullah Brushes Aside No Confidence Vote Talk

PUTRAJAYA, March 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today dispelled rumours of plans to pass a vote of no confidence against him, saying that he had the strong support of Umno.

He also said that he did not have any problems with his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said this when asked about speculations on plans to pass a motion of no confidence against him at the Umno general assembly in June and also on his relationship with Najib.

"As far as I am concerned, I am here. I have been given a very strong mandate, I believe... just short of eight seats of the two-third majority. I am not one to turn away from the mandate which has been given me.

"They (the voters) have given me their vote and it is my intention to continue. I have the support of the Umno leadership and Barisan Nasional (BN)," he told a news conference after announcing the cabinet line-up at Perdana Putra here.

On his relationship with Najib, he said: "I have the best of relationships with Najib. You are asking me that....people make accusations about many things."

Asked why Najib was not present at the announcement, Abdullah said it was because Najib had yet to be sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister.

"You are reading into too many things," he told reporters.

The prime minister also confirmed that Gua Musang member of parliament and veteran Umno politician Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah had sent a letter to him elaborating on the BN's fall in the just-concluded polls.

"He sent the letter to the office of the Umno secretary-general. It will go through the normal procedure," he said.

He also quashed a suggestion that Umno would hold an extraordinary general assembly next month.

Abdullah, clad in a dark striped suit, was in a jovial mood when he walked into the room earlier, and even asked the reporters if anyone had taken bets on who would be named as cabinet members.

[Adrian Wong]

Malaysia PM: Lessons to be learnt

By Claudia Theophilus, AL JAZEERA

Malaysia's prime minister has said his government has important lessons to learn after it suffered heavy losses in general elections, slashing its parliamentary majority and reshaping the country's political landscape.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who assumed his second term in office on Monday, said the all parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition shared responsibility for its heaviest election losses since independence in 1957.

Nonetheless Abdullah said he continued to have the backing of all BN members, despite its dismal showing in the polls, and he rejected suggestions he should resign.

"We are collectively responsible," he said immediately after taking the oath of office before Malaysia's king. "There are lessons to be learnt."

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the ethnic-based coalition's main partner, has formally endorsed Abdullah's leadership of the party and government.

And despite having fewer ethnic Indian and Chinese representatives in government, Abdullah reiterated his 2004 election promise to be the "PM for all Malaysians".

But there are already signs that his government is already facing problems posed by the large opposition presence in national and state legislatures.

In Penang, the new state government led by the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) has openly rejected the New Economic Policy (NEP), an affirmative action policy favouring ethnic Malays.

The policy, launched almost four decades ago, intended to uplift the Malay community to equal the economic status of other races in the country through preferential treatment in business, education and access to state contracts.

Sworn into office as chief minister of Penang on Tuesday, the DAP's Lim Guan Eng said the NEP had bred "cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency".

The new DAP-led Penang government is also mulling plans to re-introduce local government elections, which were abolished in the 1970s after the ruling party suffered major losses.

The opposition coalition comprises the predominantly-Chinese DAP, Islam-based PAS and Keadilan, which has close links with Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister.

In Saturday's polls, the 14-member BN coalition won 140 of the 222 parliamentary seats, with the opposition claiming victory in 82 constituencies.

It also lost four states – Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor – in addition to Kelantan, where PAS, which has been in power for almost 20 years, made an almost clean sweep.

Many reasons are being proffered for the ruling party's loss of its two-thirds parliamentary majority, not least among them the arrogance demonstrated by government and party leaders in recent years.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Raja Petra Kamarudin, who runs the popular Malaysia Today blog, says the coalition suffered massive losses due to a combination of factors.

He said people had different reasons to vote out the BN.

'Political tsunami'

"Some did not like the waving of the keris (a Malay dagger) by Umno leaders. Some were unhappy with the increase in toll rates and prices of goods," he said, adding the polls outcome were clearly a result of public anger.

"Some just hated Abdullah and Umno, but many, including ethnic Malays, took offence to racist remarks against ethnic Indians and Chinese ... telling them to go back to their ancestral villages if they didn't like living here anymore."

Raja Petra said the internet also played a major role in shaping people's opinion and keeping them informed of the goings-on in the government.

"As a result, the political tsunami gave the opposition close to half of the popular vote, which will hopefully see greater check and balance in the federal and state governments," he said.

"People want a clean administration, a clean judiciary, a corruption-free police force and an equal distribution of wealth among all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion."

Mary Magdalene Pereira, associate professor in policy studies at the Universiti Teknologi Mara in the state of Selangor, noted that for the first time, the votes did not go along racial lines, except in states like Kelantan and Penang which are predominantly Malay and Chinese respectively.

"The opposition would not have won so many seats or achieved this level of success without the support of Malay voters," she told Al Jazeera.

Pereira said there was also a shift on the ground where, in previous elections, attendance at ceramahs (campaign rallies) rarely translated into votes.

"But this time it did. The opposition ceramahs attracted a multi-racial audience, many of whom including Malays were nodding in agreement with the points made on stage," she said.

Political maturity

A reasonable conclusion to explain the protest vote – besides a desire for change – could be that Malaysians have matured, she said.

"There is a new expectation … where a Malay minister is willing to speak for other races, and vice versa.

"It may be a sign that we are moving towards a multi-racial political culture, a prospect that raises a lot hope for a lot of people," added Pereira.

Wong Chin Huat, representative of a parliamentary reform initiative called CSI-Parliament, said voters had found a common platform for a united voice through civil society participation.

"The efforts of civil society organisations and individuals provided that extra push, which was spread by word of mouth and through online forums," he told Al Jazeera.

"The high number of civil society candidates in this election clearly shows that."

Wong, who is completing his PhD thesis on Malaysia's electoral system and party politics at the University of Essex in the UK, said many voters had given the opposition conditional support.

"We are crushing the traditional ideas of opposition politics. The trend has changed," he said.

"People are demanding government accountability, transparency and equal treatment in all spheres of Malaysian life.

"Now there is a joint venture between the opposition and civil society to push for change, and we are already chasing our elected representatives on their election pledges."

[Adrian Wong]

Malaysia PM: Lessons to be learnt

By Claudia Theophilus, AL JAZEERA

Malaysia's prime minister has said his government has important lessons to learn after it suffered heavy losses in general elections, slashing its parliamentary majority and reshaping the country's political landscape.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who assumed his second term in office on Monday, said the all parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition shared responsibility for its heaviest election losses since independence in 1957.

Nonetheless Abdullah said he continued to have the backing of all BN members, despite its dismal showing in the polls, and he rejected suggestions he should resign.

"We are collectively responsible," he said immediately after taking the oath of office before Malaysia's king. "There are lessons to be learnt."

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the ethnic-based coalition's main partner, has formally endorsed Abdullah's leadership of the party and government.

And despite having fewer ethnic Indian and Chinese representatives in government, Abdullah reiterated his 2004 election promise to be the "PM for all Malaysians".

But there are already signs that his government is already facing problems posed by the large opposition presence in national and state legislatures.

In Penang, the new state government led by the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) has openly rejected the New Economic Policy (NEP), an affirmative action policy favouring ethnic Malays.

The policy, launched almost four decades ago, intended to uplift the Malay community to equal the economic status of other races in the country through preferential treatment in business, education and access to state contracts.

Sworn into office as chief minister of Penang on Tuesday, the DAP's Lim Guan Eng said the NEP had bred "cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency".

The new DAP-led Penang government is also mulling plans to re-introduce local government elections, which were abolished in the 1970s after the ruling party suffered major losses.

The opposition coalition comprises the predominantly-Chinese DAP, Islam-based PAS and Keadilan, which has close links with Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister.

In Saturday's polls, the 14-member BN coalition won 140 of the 222 parliamentary seats, with the opposition claiming victory in 82 constituencies.

It also lost four states – Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor – in addition to Kelantan, where PAS, which has been in power for almost 20 years, made an almost clean sweep.

Many reasons are being proffered for the ruling party's loss of its two-thirds parliamentary majority, not least among them the arrogance demonstrated by government and party leaders in recent years.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Raja Petra Kamarudin, who runs the popular Malaysia Today blog, says the coalition suffered massive losses due to a combination of factors.

He said people had different reasons to vote out the BN.

'Political tsunami'

"Some did not like the waving of the keris (a Malay dagger) by Umno leaders. Some were unhappy with the increase in toll rates and prices of goods," he said, adding the polls outcome were clearly a result of public anger.

"Some just hated Abdullah and Umno, but many, including ethnic Malays, took offence to racist remarks against ethnic Indians and Chinese ... telling them to go back to their ancestral villages if they didn't like living here anymore."

Raja Petra said the internet also played a major role in shaping people's opinion and keeping them informed of the goings-on in the government.

"As a result, the political tsunami gave the opposition close to half of the popular vote, which will hopefully see greater check and balance in the federal and state governments," he said.

"People want a clean administration, a clean judiciary, a corruption-free police force and an equal distribution of wealth among all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion."

Mary Magdalene Pereira, associate professor in policy studies at the Universiti Teknologi Mara in the state of Selangor, noted that for the first time, the votes did not go along racial lines, except in states like Kelantan and Penang which are predominantly Malay and Chinese respectively.

"The opposition would not have won so many seats or achieved this level of success without the support of Malay voters," she told Al Jazeera.

Pereira said there was also a shift on the ground where, in previous elections, attendance at ceramahs (campaign rallies) rarely translated into votes.

"But this time it did. The opposition ceramahs attracted a multi-racial audience, many of whom including Malays were nodding in agreement with the points made on stage," she said.

Political maturity

A reasonable conclusion to explain the protest vote – besides a desire for change – could be that Malaysians have matured, she said.

"There is a new expectation … where a Malay minister is willing to speak for other races, and vice versa.

"It may be a sign that we are moving towards a multi-racial political culture, a prospect that raises a lot hope for a lot of people," added Pereira.

Wong Chin Huat, representative of a parliamentary reform initiative called CSI-Parliament, said voters had found a common platform for a united voice through civil society participation.

"The efforts of civil society organisations and individuals provided that extra push, which was spread by word of mouth and through online forums," he told Al Jazeera.

"The high number of civil society candidates in this election clearly shows that."

Wong, who is completing his PhD thesis on Malaysia's electoral system and party politics at the University of Essex in the UK, said many voters had given the opposition conditional support.

"We are crushing the traditional ideas of opposition politics. The trend has changed," he said.

"People are demanding government accountability, transparency and equal treatment in all spheres of Malaysian life.

"Now there is a joint venture between the opposition and civil society to push for change, and we are already chasing our elected representatives on their election pledges."

[pyroboy1911]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

The man is seriously delusional...

He's definitely high on cracks!

[jasperchc]

All those news of BN people crossing over to the opposition, i think the opposition needs to really examine those that do cross over because if they simply accept anyone even though they are bad apples just to form the new government, then on the next election, they can count my vote out

[Dashken]

I had a dream...

You've got mail - from Pak Lah
Oon Yeoh | Mar 19, 08 4:08pm

This is an e-mail I wish Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would send to every Malaysian.

‘To: Malaysian voters

From: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Dear fellow Malaysians,

Thank you for voting Barisan Nasional back into power. It is with great honour that I will serve you for another term. I want to share with you what I plan to do in the next four or five years to fulfill your aspirations for the country.

You used your votes to send me a message – a message that I didn't hear earlier, but which I hear now, loud and clear. Yes, it was a wake up call for me and a rude awakening for all of us at BN. We must never take the Malaysian public for granted.

One of the loudest things I hear from you is "No more arrogant, inflammatory and racist rhetoric". I admit several of my outspoken ministers and yes, even my own son-in-law, have said things that hurt the feelings of many segments of our society, especially the non-Malays. I should have rebuked them immediately but I didn't.

I didn't share their views, I'm sure you know that, but I was complacent in thinking such comments would eventually blow over. Little did I realize that many of you had actually taken them to heart. As a prime minister for all Malaysians, I should have been more sensitive. The next time any Umno leaders say things that are out of line, I guarantee you I will slap them down straight away. And if they don't apologise for the hurt they cause, I will ask them to resign whatever posts they hold in the party or the government. That is how seriously I take the matter.

I was mistaken in thinking that Malaysians would be content and grateful just to have peace and security in this country. But after 50 years, Malaysia has grown up. We are becoming a developed nation. Peace and security is not enough. Economic development is not enough. The people want and deserve civil liberties.

As such, I am going to take steps to honour not just the law but also the spirit of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. That means getting rid of the Printing Presses and Publications Act. In addition, all government parties will be required to divest itself of ownership in news media companies. I know this means opening myself and my government to critical articles by journalists but that's what free speech is all about. And I accept that.

People will no longer need to apply for a permit from the police to peacefully assemble and even to protest. Of course if they make a nuisance of themselves or become rowdy, law enforcement officers will have to do their job to ensure public safety. But your right to peacefully assemble will be respected.

I am going to get rid of the dreaded Internal Security Act and the Kamunting detention facility will be torn down and converted into some new commercial development. To be honest with you, I didn't want to detain those five Hindraf guys without trial. It's against my nature to do such things. But alas, I listened to advisors who been giving me wrong advice. They will be freed, as will other ISA detainees, but if there is evidence against any of them, they will be charged and have their day in court.

Speaking of courts, I will be asking the King to set up a new Royal Commission of Inquiry and this time, the terms of reference will extend all the way back to the controversial sacking of Salleh Abbas. Many learned lawyers have highlighted that it was that incident which started the rot in our judiciary. I know we might be opening a can of worms but let the law take its course. I am determined to repair our judiciary.

The Official Secrets Act will also be removed and replaced by the Freedom of Information Act. People rightly view the OSA as an impediment to catching crooks within the government. In contrast, a Freedom of Information Act will help us catch those crooks. When you first elected me, I was known as Mr Clean. Nobody calls me that now but by the time my second term ends, that's what you'll be calling me again. Just wait and see.

Last but not least – and I've really saved the best for last – I am going to initiate something that will end communal politics once and for all. Umno will soon stand for the United Malaysian National Organisation and all component parties in the BN will be invited to merge with the old Umno that we can become one big multiracial party. Also, the NEP will stand for Newest Economic Policy that will help all Malaysians regardless of race. Take that, Anwar!

None of the things I've mentioned is going to be easy to implement. There will be resistance like you wouldn't believe. But if I am going to regain the trust you first gave to me four years ago, I will have to earn it the hard way – by not just talking the talk but walking the walk. Last time around I asked you to work with me. This time, watch me work for you, to build a better Malaysia that you deserve.

Humbly,
Pak Lah'

[Adrian Wong]

Okay, I'm sick and tired.. but I'm back!!

Let's start with a report that Pak Lah's wearing DIAPERS!!!

Idiot wears adult pampers to swearing-in ceremony

By Little Bird

Yes it's not a sin and we cannot hold it against anyone either, except maybe the Prime Minister of MY country. I don’t care what anyone says but this is where I live.

A Prime Minister who wears adult pampers is just not right for me. And on top of everything else he is also an incompetent moron, a monkey and an idiot.

You can see for yourselves the abnormal bulge below the Idiots kain samping in this photograph at these locations

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/...n/kissNbye.jpg

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/...on/cabinet.jpg

http://www.bharian.com.my/Gambar_Pil...?display=small

http://www.bharian.com.my/Gambar_Pil...?display=small

Blogger Sang Kelembai got thrown out of UMNO for pointing out the same thing about Idiot’s adult pampers.

Well folks, first things first. After the election results were out I thought I could lay off, maybe even retire from hitting so hard at this monkey. I have been meeting plenty of Government folks since the general elections and frankly few are unhappy with the results (they all voted for the Opposition. Shhh!) But the damned monkey is back. He refuses to leave in one piece. So we have no choice but to make sure he is kicked out of office. Many people are now working towards this end.

Let me assure my friends in UMNO, as certain as night is dark and day is bright, if Idiot remains the Prime Minister for five more years UMNO and the BN will become rubbish at the next elections. UMNO and BN are already half rubbish at the moment. If Idiot stays in power, there may not even be an UMNO come the next round of general elections. Talk is rife that our friends in Sabah and Sarawak who control 51 BN Parliamentary seats are very savvy about switching alliances. Better watch out!

Hishamuddin the pondan showed off the keris. Now that act of pondan stupidity has cost them dear. Five states and 2/3 majority gone – and I strongly believe forever. Serves you right Hishamuddin. But where are your balls now abang? Lu punya telor apa sudah jadi? Tak ada telor tak boleh main apa pun lah. Lu tak tahu kah? Get up, look into your pants and if your nuts are still there then go tell your moron presiden parti to get out lah. Suruh dia berambus saja.

After appointing another lacklustre Cabinet the Idiot said this:

“He said the issues that would be closely looked into”. And this “We need to understand them.” What an Idiot. After four years he still wants to waste time closely looking and understanding things. Sampai ke tua pun it still has not got into his skull yet.

The Idiot has appointed Muhyuddin Yassin as Minister of MITI. Muhyuddin speaks the best Malay in South East Asia but he no speaka de inglish maa. So how he going to speaka de inglish wif de foreign invester maa? Talk kok oso cannot one.

The Idiot has appointed Khaled Noordin as the Minister of Higher Education. Khaled is a Khairy crony and is better suited to replace Azeez Mat Rempit, who lost in Baling, as the new leader of the Mat Rempits. These are all punks.

The Idiot has also appointed ‘I no speake de inglish’ Muhammad son of Muhammad as Minister to take back Selangor from PKR. Few people know this but new appointee Amirsham Abdul Aziz is also enemy No.. 1 of the new Selangor Menteri Besar. As head of Maybank, Amirsham Aziz used to report to Tan Sri Khalid when Khalid was boss of Permodalan Nasional Berhad.. There is some bad blood between them. Welcome to Blogging Dato Amirsham. Keep your nose clean. First thing is you must know your Boss well. Now you work for Idiot. Please remember this everyday you go to work. You work for Idiot.

Idiot has also set up Ng Yen Yen in charge of Women’s Affairs. Then he has appointed Shahrizat Special Advisor (with Ministerial powers) handling the same portfolio. This has already started causing problems. 99% of issues at the Women’s Ministry involve Malay women. Two reasons for this i. they are the largest number of the population ii. They also have many many problems. These are mostly problems relating to second wife status, ibu tunggal, family problems etc. So Shahrizat is going to be sticking her nose into Ng Yen Yen’s affairs. Shahrizat needs the women to secure her