Archive - 14 March 2004

In this second of a two-part interview, axed New Straits Times editor-in-chief and maverick politician told malaysiakini that new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would want to stay for at least two terms in office.

Acting Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi can forget about retaking Terengganu and Kelantan from PAS next Sunday. As for Kedah, his chances are 50-50, says a veteran politician.

The PAS candidate withdraws his nomination, allowing the incumbent Umno leader to retain his Bukit Tinggi seat, and increase Barisan Nasional's tally of seats won uncontested to 15.

The island's chief minister cautions that while the national 'feel good' factor is welcome, it may not be enough for state BN candidates to secure a win.

The country's four television stations, which the ruling government either controls directly or by proxy, have been urged to give at least three minutes of their prime time to opposition parties to air their policies.

When Malay and Chinese voters get moody, it would seem that MIC candidates get the brunt of the whiplash. The writer analyses the political sledgehammer that can hit Indian candidates not mindful of the two 'elephants' on the electoral landscape.

The ruling Barisan Nasional will campaign in this election with the promise that it can "guarantee peace, success and harmony for all rakyat ." And not surprising, the prime minister's anti-corruption stance was also emphasised in its pledge.

Campaigning began in earnest this morning for all election candidates but for one MP, the task is slightly different as he would be campaigning against an absent opponent who nevertheless looms large in national politics.

Opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) lodged a police report this afternoon alleging that election posters it put up around its Subang Jaya operations centre had been torn down and that outsiders were heckling party workers at the centre.

Presiden Gerakan, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik menarik balik hasratnya untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap akhbar Malaysia Nanban kerana siar berita tidak tepat mengenainya.

I think DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang has a good chance of wresting the Ipoh Timor seat from the BN.

The plethora of three-cornered clashes in Selangor for the forthcoming polls outlines, at the very least, an unwanted and unexpected development that can play out either way for both incumbents and challengers.

Accountant Wan Zainal may be the sole Keadilan's standard bearer in Sarawak in the current elections but he is feeling good about his chances because "the Malays are not happy with the chief minister."

State Reform Party president Dr Patau Rubis goes back to Mas Gading in an attempt to win back the seat he lost to the BN in 1999. This time, he is standing on a Sarawak National Party (Snap) ticket.

Sexist remarks made by the BN candidate then may have helped DAP's Teresa Kok win the Seputeh parliamentary seat in the 1999 polls. However, sexist remarks or not, she is taking nothing for granted this year and is counting on her track record to help woo voters.

Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno menetapkan bahawa ahli-ahli Umno yang bertanding sebagai calon bebas akan dikenakan tindakan disiplin dengan dipecat seumur hidup.

The mud-slinging between top opposition leaders continues with DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang accusing PAS leaders of behaving like intolerant Iranian mullahs.

The ruling coalition Barisan Nasional won a surprise headstart in March 21 elections, taking 14 parliamentary seats unopposed as official campaigning began at the weekend.