Malaysiakini brings you the latest elections news and snippets from around the web - who is contesting and who’s not; who’s chosen and who’s dropped. Find out here.

Bernama

PM scoffs at opposition alliance

Abdullah Badawi Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the alliances being formed by opposition parties ahead of the elections were merely 'pacts of convenience'.

He said the alliances of the opposition parties to fight the Barisan Nasional (BN) are formed "just for the fun of it".

The BN chairperson also described the success of BN candidates winning several seats unopposed as an early indication of the coalition getting the mandate to rule the country.

"That is good news, it is of course a sign of confidence in our party," he was quoted as saying.

In the March 8 election, Abdullah would defend his Kepala Batas seat in Penang against PAS’ Subri Md Arshad.

Keng Yaik’s political hopes

umno general assembly day three 151106 keng yaik worried Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik wants his children and grandchildren to continue his political legacy now that he has retired from active politics, hoping for at least three generations of politicians in the family.

"My father brought my son and daughter to the nomination centre today to see for themselves the atmosphere surrounding the election process," said his son and Gerakan Youth Deputy Chief Lim Si Pin today.

Si Pin who is vying for the Batu parliamentary seat against PKR’s Tian Chua, said his father was trying to expose his grandchildren to politics.

He revealed that his father was the one who spurred him to enter politics. He also accompanied his father whenever he went campaigning and also attended numerous political gatherings.

Keng Yaik, who is Energy, Water and Communications Minister, was seen holding his grandchildren - Si Pin's son, Lim Siew Ginn, 9, at the nomination centre this morning.

New Straits Times

Hadi Awang not ‘touching’ BN

hadi awang 010807 PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang refused to shake hands with BN candidates after nomination papers were filed at the district office this morning.

Abdul Hadi will be wrestling the Marang parliamentary seat from the hands of BN and defending his Rhu Rendang state seat.

Earlier on, Abdul Hadi had confidently told reporters that he would be MP again without facing much problem after BN dropped Marang Umno district chief Rahman Bakar in favour of first timer Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohamad Zubir.

The Star Online

100% straight fights in Malacca

All 28 state and six parliament seats in Malacca will see straight fights between BN and opposition candidates.

Eight DAP candidates, seven from PKR and 13 from PAS have agreed to straight fights against the ruling coalition which holds 26 out of the 28 state seats.

PKR is contesting in three, DAP in two and PAS in one of the six parliament seats held by BN.

There is also an increase in the number of women candidates fielded by both BN and the opposition with a total of eight women candidates, compared to two in 2004.

BN is fielding four women, two from Umno and one each from MCA and Gerakan, with DAP and PKR fielding two each.

Utusan Online

Po Kuan cannot guarantee another victory

fong po kuan Batu Gajah parliamentary seat incumbent Fong Po Kuan does not dare to promise that she will retain her seat as a heated competition in the town is set to take place.

After submitting her nomination papers, she told reporters that the oppositions election machinery and financial support is not as good as BN’s new candidate, Cheah Yoke Can.

Wan Azizah ready to give Anwar her seat

wan azizah Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat incumbent and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail did not reject the idea that she may vacate her seat for her husband, de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim if she wins in the elections.

"If I win, I will make way for my husband to contest in this seat after the deadline surrounding his political office ban expires in April," she told reporters.