No End To BSM Bible Issue

Contrary to what Malaysians think that the Attorney General has concluded this case by designating no further actions and to instruct JAIS to return the bibles to BSM, the current turn of events by MAIS and the Selangor Sultan have changed the expected course of events.

News reports that indicate the Sultan’s intent that JAIS should proceed to engage with the state prosecutor to move this for a court decision appears to have caused a divide of opinions. Given this latest turn of events, it is unlikely that a genuine conclusion of this case will be seen anywhere in the near future.

There are also news reports that MAIS is suggesting that the bibles be disposed instead of being returned. To the Christian community, it may appear as an insult to order such an action although anyone can go to read the text on the Internet today. This action will further compound the situation, affect the emotions of the minority communities and challenge the AG instructions.

So, who has the final say in today’s government on legal matters, especially like this one? Is it the AG, the state prosecutors, the Sultan, JAIS, MAIS? One thing for certain, it is not MB Khalid or PM Najib. The so-called political twist to this episode has been confused intensely and is very difficult to extricate out in any easy way.

GE13 Results As It Happens

Final Update: Monday 6 May

[OFFICIAL]
BN 133
PR 89

BN wins GE13 with 7 seats less than 2008.

Penang is retained by Pakatan Rakyat with more than 2/3 majority.

Kelantan is retained by Pakatan Rakyat with 2/3 majority.

Perak is retained by BN with a 3 seat majority.

Selangor is retained by Pakatan Rakyat with 2/3 majority.

Kedah is won by BN with a 6 seat majority.

Perlis is retained by BN with 2/3 majority.

Terengganu is retained by BN with a 2 seat majority.

Pahang is retained by BN with 2/3 majority.

Johor is retained by BN with a 2/3 majority.

Negeri Sembilan is retained by BN with 2/3 majority.

Melaka is retained by BN with 2/3 majority.

Sabah is retained by BN with 2/3 majority.

Nomination Day Surprises

Last Updated: 23/04/13 @ 8:30 pm

Today is Nomination Day and we see a number of surprises indeed. By noon time, the announcements will be officially made. Here are some news around the Internet and comments accorded. It will be updated when the Official information is made available.

1. Pandan

Incumbent Ong Tee Kiat has stayed out of the nominations but his ex-private secretary (ex because he apparently resigned last night) filed his as an Independent. Malaysians can see that this is brewing to be a proxy fight against PKR’s Rafizi and MCA’s Gary Lim.

2. Pasir Mas

Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali confirmed his nomination as an Independent after being left out of the BN list. However, Umno’s Che Johan refrained from filing his nomination papers making this a straight fight with PAS Nik Abduh. So, Umno had to do this longwinded way to save face to avoid direct linkage to Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali and stepping aside for him in acknowledging Tun M’s endorsement of this man. There are two Perkasa men in the election this time, the other being Zul under Umno’s banner.

Update: Che Johan has been called to answer an internal Umno investigation as he did not submit his papers. It was understood that he may be sacked for not filing his papers under Umno.

3. DAP uses Rocket with RoS Approval

Lim GE tweeted that RoS hand delivered a letter stating they have no objections to the Rocket symbol being used in the GE13. All EC posts appears to have accepted the DAP nominations with the Rocket symbol. DAP was ready to use PAS and PKR symbols.

4. Teratai

Incumbent Jenice Lee stepped in as an Independent after she was dropped by DAP in favor of a relatively unknown Tiew Way Keng. She tweeted that she was willing to rejoin DAP if she wins.

Updated: Jenice apologizes to Karpal Singh as she is determined to stand as an Independent to defend her seat. She is duly sacked from DAP.

5. Large number of Independent Candidates

There were a very large number of Independents who filed their nomination papers by the close of the session. Only a very small number of seats will see a straight fight. Time will tell if most of them will withdraw soon enough.

6. Kota Laksamana

A DAP parliamentary candidate for Kota Melaka submitted his nomination to stand as an Independent for the Kota Laksamana state seat. He is the second DAP member to defy the leadership and stands to be sacked. This is quite unbecoming of Sim and has thrown a spanner into the DAP and PR’s position to win more seats.

Updated: Sim announced that he has pulled out as an Independent for the Kota Laksamana seat.

7. Kuala Kangsar

Umno Wanita Deputy Chief resigned and submitted her papers to stand as an Independent for this Parliamentary Seat. She had publicly disagreed with Najib’s recommendation for her to stand in a state seat. She will fight Umno Wan Mohammad and PAS Khalil Idham Lim.

Updated: Kamilia denied that she was ever offered a seat as claimed by Najib. She is duly sacked from Umno along with a number of others who also filed to run as Independents.

8. Mas Gading

Incumbent Dr Tiki Lafe filed his papers as an Independent and poised to fight against BN/SPDP Anthony Nogeh and candidates from PKR and STAR. His declaration that he is BN-friendly has been rubbished by SPDP who kicked him out a while back.

9. Alor Mengkudu

Fadzil Hanafi of Umno filed his papers as an Independent candidate this morning causing ripples in the State Umno office. He will fight against the Umno and PAS candidates.

10. List by @tiewnama

1. Naib Ketua Wanita UMNO, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim – Parlimen Kuala Kangsar

2. Bekas Timbalan Menteri Pertanian, Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar – Parlimen Tasek
Gelugor,

3. Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sepang, Suhaimi Mohd Ghazali – Parlimen Sepang

4. Ahli Jawatankuasa UMNO Sepang, Hanafiah Mohamed – Parlimen Sepang

5. Ketua Penerangan UMNO cawangan Sungai Besi, Mokhtar Salahudin – Parlimen
Bandar Tun Razak

6. Setiausaha Kerja UMNO Bandar Tun Razak, Mohamad Sukeri Abdul Samat – Parlimen
Bandar Tun Razak

7. Ahli UMNO cawangan Bukit Persekutuan, Rusli Baba – Parlimen Lembah Pantai

8. Ahli UMNO Subang, Datuk Edros Abdullah – DUN Kota Damansara

9. Ketua UMNO cawangan Sungai Buaya Selatan, Mustaf Talib – DUN Batang Kali

10. Bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Tanjung Seri, Datuk Fadzil Hanafi – DUN Alor
Mengkudu

11. Ahli UMNO Sungai Cawangan Limau, Sobri Ahmad – DUN Sungai Limau

12. AJK UMNO Bakri, Md Ghazali Salamun – DUN Bukit Naning

13. Timbalan Ketua UMNO cawangan FELDA Adela, Mohd Azaman Johari – Parlimen
Pengerang

14. AJK UMNO Ledang, Mohd Zan Abu – DUN Gambir

15. Ketua UMNO cawangan Parit Rabu, Yunos Mustakim – DUN Gambir

16. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Banggol, Bekas Ahli Parlimen Setiu,
Mohd Yusop Majid – DUN Permaisuri

17. Bendahari UMNO cawangan Pekan Kertih, Zulkiflee Salleh – DUN Kemasek

18. Ahli UMNO cawangan Bukit Perah, Mohd Nuhairi Muhammad – DUN Ajil

19. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Kubang Panjang, Ja’afar Jambol – DUN Alur Limbat

20. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Ibol, Md Ali Mustafa bertanding – DUN Seri Menanti

21. Ketua UMNO cawangan Kikangsa Kayul, Jusbian Kenneth@Kini – DUN Kuala Penyu

22. Ahli Pemuda UMNO cawangan Sungai Sibugah, Mohd Arshad Abdul – DUN Sungai
Sibugah

23. Penyelaras BN Batu Kawan, A Mohan – Parlimen Batu Kawan, DUN Bukit Tengah

24. Penyelaras DUN Machang Bubuk, Ooi Suan Hoe – DUN Kuala Kubu Bharu

25. Ketua MCA cawangan Bandar Kuala Kubu Bharu, Yoong Tham Fook – DUN Kuala Kubu Bharu(?)

3 April: Malaysia Parliament Dissolved, GE13 In 60 Days

PM Najib finally announced the dissolution of Parliament this morning in an 11:30 am televised broadcast. The Election Commission has 60 days to arrange for GE13. Meanwhile, all states with the exception of Sarawak (last state election in 2011) and Negri Sembilan (already expired) are now expected to proceed with their own dissolution immediately to enable the GE13 to conduct both Federal and State elections at the same time.

This is the end of the 4th year of Najib as PM and today will also mark the last Cabinet meeting.

Malaysians sigh a relief as this has been the longest guessing game to call GE13 and the country has been on campaign mode since Najib took over from Pak Lah in 2009. All projects and activities have been short term aimed at appeasing the voters to ensure a good feel to encourage a stronger support of BN in the election. That is why there has been so much giving away monies to the public and the last being to the Petronas staff yesterday.

But finally, the time has come for Malaysians to reckon with their future again at the ballot box. Will they give the mandate back to BN or go for a change in Govt with PR? We shall soon know.

Some interesting things to consider.

The Final Leg Before The GE13 Finish Line

Malaysians expect the mother of all General Elections in the coming GE13. Both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) are pulling everything out of their hats to build a strong perception amongst voters in a yet to be called General Election.

This is the longest unofficial campaign period ever in the history of Malaysia’s elections. Ever since PM Najib took over the reins from Pak Lah, he has hinted to seek a mandate but has never dared to call for one, even until now. We are staring at the end of April 2013 as the automatic end of Parliament if Najib does not call for its dissolution earlier. For now, Negri Sembilan has gone into caretaking mode with the rest of the state parliaments following suit over the next month or two.

So, what can we expect now?

1. Najib’s Strong Closing and Finishing

Being the incumbent although without the so-called mandate, Najib will always be poised to pose a very formidable close to his reign as the current PM. His so-called “State of the Union” address last was designed to spew all kinds of numbers and stats to generate a positive impression of his government’s work-in-progress in all areas of social, economic and financial development. Of course, much of the realities are yet to be felt by the man-on-the-street regardless of how much he elevates the country’s progress. In fact, people feel that they are well behind financially and economically.

So, how is it that our PM says everything is beautiful and the people says huh?

How will Malaysians vote in GE13?

It is clear that GE13 is around the corner. PM Najib’s claims that the BN engine is going strong sends a reverberating signal to chill the spines of the Oppositions. Bold and brave words in the light of dropping popularity of BN as a whole. It is intended to give BN supporters the perception that BN is going strong and ready regardless of current sentiments.

The question is how will Malaysians vote this time around in GE13. Certainly, this is not an exact science and filled with much speculation although sentiments and perceptions play a very big part of Malaysian voting mentality.

Many observers note that if the sentiments of voting remain along the same lines of GE12 with a 5% swing vote towards Pakatan Rakyat, then BN will lose and PR will form the next Government. This assumption can also go the reverse that 5% swing vote may go to BN and BN remains the next Government.

This article stays away from those statistical assumptions and attempts to dissect the Malaysian psyche in their thinking of how to vote.

GE13 date in November 2013 – 24th/25th?

With the recent rush of the Budget 2013 and visits to Sabah and Sarawak, coupled with witnessing the peace accord in Southern Philippines, PM Najib may be feeling rather upbeat and confident to call for GE13. The Auditor General Report 2011 was finally released with the AG himself saying some nice things about the Government agencies and less stellar words of praises to the Pakatan states. Not that these states did not perform well. On the contrary, Penang and Selangor remains at the top of financial management standing. But perhaps there are less earth shattering things for the Opposition to harp on gives Najib a really good feel.

Now, Najib has hinted way too many times of failed GE dates and public speculation is all but nonsense given that Najib himself is not ready to do so. Najib needs to win spectacularly and win back what Badawi lost in 2008 – the 2/3 majority. If not, he may be in dire straits not because of the public but because of Umno. Look at what happened to Badawi when he lost the 2/3 majority as well as 4 other states (3 after Perak was “taken” back by BN).

Word has it that November may still be a real date, particularly towards end of November during the school holidays. Perhaps the week around the weekend of 24th or 25th November may seem very plausible this time.

Why? Because: