Archive - 7 March 2008

Heated competition in Malay heartland

Heated competition in Malay heartland

analysis The battle lines in both Kelantan and Terengganu are clearly drawn. The stakes are high. The next 12 hours will be crucial as hometown voters return to both states.

Key seats - where the action is

Key seats - where the action is

The following are our picks for seats to watch on polling day beyond the Klang Valley. We have received ground reports on these seats as the candidates wind up their two-week campaign. Here’s the latest state of play.
The hot states - what to expect

The hot states - what to expect

Malaysiakini takes a look at several states where the contest for the state seats promises lots of fireworks. Which are the seats expected to change hands and why?
DAP accuses BN of playing fear tactic

DAP accuses BN of playing fear tactic

dap fear tactic pc 070308 banner Fear is being instilled among the Chinese voters in Penang, warning that a DAP rise would see the lost of the Chinese chief ministerial post.
Samy Vellu: Did he speak up or not?

Samy Vellu: Did he speak up or not?

The attack by Dr Mahathir Mohamad two days before polling is really uncalled for. It is totally unbecoming of a former prime minister whom we hold so dearly.

The independent factor

The independent factor

Independent candidates are the recurring underdogs of Malaysian politics. Individuals contesting alone face nearly insurmountable odds - they almost never win.
March 7: Polls round-up

March 7: Polls round-up

Malaysiakini brings you the final edition of election news and snippets from around the web.
BN tactics all wrong in Kelantan

BN tactics all wrong in Kelantan

If the sentiment in Kota Bharu is indicative of the mood in the state then PAS has not a lot to fear.
Troubling times

Troubling times

Why is it so difficult to forge a common nationhood? Shouldn’t that be the natural consequence of independence?

Cut loose the fat, vicious wolf

Cut loose the fat, vicious wolf

comment All voters should be asking themselves this: ‘What do you do with an old, arrogant and overfed wolf which bites the hand that feeds it?’.
Plans afoot to rig polls: opposition

Plans afoot to rig polls: opposition

Opposition parties have cried foul over the reversal of the decision to use indelible ink saying it was further evidence that dirty tricks would be used or the elections rigged, a charge the EC denies.

Anwar gains late swing among Malays

Anwar gains late swing among Malays

anwar ibrahim and pkr speech If last night’s turnout at Lembah Pantai is any indication, undecided Malay voters may yet be prepared to back the opposition.
Awang Adek confident of seizing Kelantan

Awang Adek confident of seizing Kelantan

'We think we will win by a comfortable margin," he said.
The seats to watch in Klang Valley

The seats to watch in Klang Valley

The following are our picks for seats to watch on polling day. Here’s the latest state of play.
Lembah Pantai: Mud-slinging in the rain

Lembah Pantai: Mud-slinging in the rain

The ‘stars’ came out as the rain came down, but Barisan Nasional supporters in Bangsar made full use of the opportunity to hear their big runs roar one last time before the polls tomorrow.
Nurul tells Shahrizat: Give villagers their keys

Nurul tells Shahrizat: Give villagers their keys

nurul izzah 050407 smile Izzah Izzah says the issue is close to her family’s heart because it was her father, Anwar Ibrahim, who initiated the PPRT project when he was finance minister.
BN's last-ditch bid to counter opposition

BN's last-ditch bid to counter opposition

It made an all-out push today on the eve of elections to counter a resurgent opposition.
Khir: There are some tough seats

Khir: There are some tough seats

Selangor BN chief is confident of his party’s victory but admitted that some traditionally strong seats belonging to BN will face a tougher fight this time around.
Defining moment for the nation

Defining moment for the nation

Will you 'swing' between now and polling?

Will you 'swing' between now and polling?

'Rural weightage' is why BN keeps on winning

'Rural weightage' is why BN keeps on winning

A new dawn on Sunday?

A new dawn on Sunday?

Let's build brand Malaysia

Let's build brand Malaysia

Paying to get cheated and stolen from

Paying to get cheated and stolen from

I believe in miracles

I believe in miracles

Uncaring polices hallmark of this gov't

Uncaring polices hallmark of this gov't

Get rid of rattlesnakes before they bite

Get rid of rattlesnakes before they bite

Hegemony, harmony, impunity

Hegemony, harmony, impunity

The great PJ  Utara showdown

The great PJ Utara showdown

analysis The odds are stacked against Barisan Nasional’s Chew Mei Fun with the church and Internet-savvy voters likely to swing to the opposition.
Vote wisely, vote boldly

Vote wisely, vote boldly

I grew up in Malaysia knowing nothing but racial politics but it has gone from racial to racist over the last two decades. The absolute power that Umno has acquired has rendered the party arrogant and hegemonic.
Ex-DPM turns 'Boss' to lure Indian votes

Ex-DPM turns 'Boss' to lure Indian votes

In a bid to secure Indian votes, opposition stalwart Anwar Ibrahim rides on the popularity and fame of another superstar - Rajnikanth.
Makkal Osai 'snapped up' in Sg Siput

Makkal Osai 'snapped up' in Sg Siput

Makkal Osai's general manager claims that some 400 copies were bought and torched by the MIC brigade as the daily front-paged Mahathir's scathing remarks against the MIC chief.
89-year-old granny candidate goes online

89-year-old granny candidate goes online

An 89-year-old woman who is the oldest candidate in tomorrow's elections has taken her hunt for votes online with the support of volunteers a fraction her age.
Final day attempt to capture votes

Final day attempt to capture votes

As a last-minute measure to convince the voters, the BN today took out advertisements in almost all dailies to give a check list of its achievements in the past four years.
Bukit Bintang unlikely to fall for a dodgy man

Bukit Bintang unlikely to fall for a dodgy man

Anti-establishment sentiment holds strong in Bukit Bintang and it is still a uphill task for 'Dr Ayam' to wrest it from the DAP.

Pandithan is still alive, says IPF

Pandithan is still alive, says IPF

pandithan sick 021006 Party leaders and family members deny rumours about his death and that the news was being kept under wraps until after tomorrow's general elections.
Q&A: Subsidies should be tailed off slowly

Q&A: Subsidies should be tailed off slowly

In this final part of a three-part interview, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad argued that the government should hike oil prices ‘a bit more gently so people will not feel it so much’.
Dr M on why we're not feeling good

Dr M on why we're not feeling good

mahathir perdana global peace forum pc exclusive The economy is doing well. Last week, the government said that Malaysia’s economy grew by 6.3 percent in 2007. Yet the 'feel good' feeling is gone.
'Neglected' natives might snub BN

'Neglected' natives might snub BN

Orang Asli residents of Desa Temuan in the Bukit Lanjan state constituency say they are being neglected and will not vote for those who have given them false promises.

'Who you vote for? Shhh, secret, cannot tell lah!'

'Who you vote for? Shhh, secret, cannot tell lah!'

World politics have shown that the potential for democratically-elected prime ministers or presidents to become dictators is greater in governments of unlimited terms.

Final rally draws a record 30,000 crowd

Final rally draws a record 30,000 crowd

At the peak of the ceramah in Penang last night, the crowd spilled out onto the school compound and outer perimeters to listen to DAP candidates speak.
Bersih slams Najib's jet campaign trips

Bersih slams Najib's jet campaign trips

The polls reform group calls on the EC to keep its promise to bring those who abuse government machinery to book
Women march on in election campaign

Women march on in election campaign

More women are contesting the elections than ever before, but still account for less than 9 percent of the candidates.
'MIC failed the community'

'MIC failed the community'

AP Muguntha, a once close associate of MIC president S Samy Vellu, says the time for change has come and the community must wake up to the realisation that the party has failed to represent them.

Indians tipped to desert BN tomorrow

Indians tipped to desert BN tomorrow

They are expected to end 50 years of allegiance to the ruling coalition in Saturday polls as allegations of neglect and discrimination reach a crescendo.
Penang: So near, yet so far for opposition

Penang: So near, yet so far for opposition

analysis It looks set to take up to eight more state seats in Penang, which would bring its total of 10 since 2004, but this will not be enough to unseat Barisan Nasional.
The man who takes on Khairy

The man who takes on Khairy

badrul saharin It looks like mission impossible but that doesn't deter Badrul Hisham. The last time he took on the man who was to be Negri MB. This time he faces the man who could one day be PM.
Nine buses stopped by PAS in T'ganu

Nine buses stopped by PAS in T'ganu

updated 2.40pm Terengganu police chief Ayub Yaakob advised the public not to take matters in their own hands but lodge police reports upon suspecting anything wrong as only the police can make arrests.
Have mercy, MCA's plea to Kinta Valley folks

Have mercy, MCA's plea to Kinta Valley folks

After Ong Ka Chuan's nine-point Kinta Valley economic plan failed to impress voters, MCA is now portraying itself as the underdog in the final lap of the campaign.
It's time for OUR say now

It's time for OUR say now

vox populi 50 x 70 big thumbnail updated 7.04pm 'All my life I have voted BN, so have my parents, brothers and sisters. But maybe this time, I'll make a change. Hopefully it'll be a change for the better.'