Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kicked off his election campaign Sunday with a warning that his cabinet ministers are not assured of jobs in a new administration.
Abdullah formally submitted his nomination for the March 8 polls in the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat on the island state of Penang, surrounded by a sea of supporters from the governing National Front.
There was heavy security at the nomination center, with police separating a thousand government supporters from some 500 activists from the Islamic party PAS, who shouted the opposition battle cry of 'Reformasi', or 'Reform.'
Veteran politicians who were expected to be ousted in the run-up to the polls have so far retained their positions, but Abdullah hinted in an interview with the New Straits Times that there might be a clean-out after the polls.
Political candidates on Sunday kicked off their campaigns for Malaysian's 12th general elections scheduled for March 8.
Hundreds of candidates submitted their nomination papers to contest 222 parliamentary constituencies and 505 state legislature seats.
The National Front coalition, consisting of 14 political parties, has won every general election since the country gained independence from the British in 1957.
In the 2004 elections, the coalition won a landslide victory by taking 199 of 219 parliamentary seats.
Political analysts predict that the National Front is likely to win a new majority, but the declining popularity of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government is expected to cost the ruling coalition several of its seats to opposition parties.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Indian ink for Malaysian polls
Indelible Indian ink will be used to mark the fingers of voters during the March 8 general election in Malaysia. Malaysia is the latest nation to use indelible ink from India. Afghanistan used the Indian ink for its presidential and parliamentary elections.
Consignments of 47,000 bottles of the indelible ink purchased by the Election Commission have arrived here and will be distributed across the country next week, The Star newspaper said Saturday.
Election Commission Secretary Kamaruzaman Mohamad Noor said each state would receive ink bottles according to the voter population in each parliamentary and state constituency.
The indelible ink, costing over RM 2 million ($100,000), will make its first appearance in elections here. It will be applied on the left forefinger just before a person casts the ballot and is said to stay on the finger for at least two weeks.
Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has dismissed opposition parties' claim of one-sided media reports and says that they too use the media as a channel to promote themselves.
This scenario proved that they had confidence in the media although at the same time they alleged that the media did not give equal opportunities and do justice to them, he said.
"What we can expect is that after the opposition lose, they will say the election was run not according to democratic practices and was unfair.
"The government, meanwhile, will accept whatever decisions except those contrary to the law," he told reporters after filling up a candidate nomination form at the official residence of the Kedah Menteri Besar here today.
In other news, Zainuddin who is incumbent Member of Parliament for Merbok, will stand for the Sungai Petani seat in the March 8 general election where he is expected to face Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Johari Abdul.
Consignments of 47,000 bottles of the indelible ink purchased by the Election Commission have arrived here and will be distributed across the country next week, The Star newspaper said Saturday.
Election Commission Secretary Kamaruzaman Mohamad Noor said each state would receive ink bottles according to the voter population in each parliamentary and state constituency.
The indelible ink, costing over RM 2 million ($100,000), will make its first appearance in elections here. It will be applied on the left forefinger just before a person casts the ballot and is said to stay on the finger for at least two weeks.
Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has dismissed opposition parties' claim of one-sided media reports and says that they too use the media as a channel to promote themselves.
This scenario proved that they had confidence in the media although at the same time they alleged that the media did not give equal opportunities and do justice to them, he said.
"What we can expect is that after the opposition lose, they will say the election was run not according to democratic practices and was unfair.
"The government, meanwhile, will accept whatever decisions except those contrary to the law," he told reporters after filling up a candidate nomination form at the official residence of the Kedah Menteri Besar here today.
In other news, Zainuddin who is incumbent Member of Parliament for Merbok, will stand for the Sungai Petani seat in the March 8 general election where he is expected to face Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Johari Abdul.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thailand Hopes Strong Ties With Malaysia To Remain After Election
BANGKOK, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Thailand is confident that its strong ties with Malaysia and the two countries' continuing cooperation in solving the southern Thai conflict will remain intact after Malaysia's general election on March 8.
Its Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama, said that although the election was an internal affair of the country, he believed that the outcome would not have any effect on the existing bilateral relationship.
"Although the election to elect a new government will take place soon, I'm confident that our ties will not change. Malaysia is a good neighbour and has helped us a lot in the southern issue," he told reporters after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to the ministry a week after the new government was sworn in last week.
Malaysians will go to the polls on March 8 while nominations will be held on Feb 24.
Despite the dissolution of Parliament, Noppadon, who is expected to start his customary visit to Asean member countries next week, said he still hoped to visit Malaysia during that period.
Otherwise, Noppadon said, he would take the opportunity during the two-day Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Singapore next Tuesday to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, and other ministers from countries bordering Thailand.
He said Samak would also start his overseas visit at the end of this month by visiting the Asean countries, starting with the four countries bordering the kingdom -- Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Malaysia will hold a general election on March 8, the Election Commission said on Thursday, with the premier taking the country to the polls early despite growing discord over race and religious issues.
The next election was not due until May 2009.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in power since 2003, secured the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday and is viewed as certain to win the poll, but with a reduced majority.
He faces a likely swing against the ruling coalition, with minority ethnic Chinese and Indians particularly unhappy with his government, which is dominated by ethnic Malay politicians.
Analysts say he is calling a poll now because the electoral mood is unlikely to improve through the rest of his term and that the economy, his main selling point, is slowing down.
Its Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama, said that although the election was an internal affair of the country, he believed that the outcome would not have any effect on the existing bilateral relationship.
"Although the election to elect a new government will take place soon, I'm confident that our ties will not change. Malaysia is a good neighbour and has helped us a lot in the southern issue," he told reporters after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to the ministry a week after the new government was sworn in last week.
Malaysians will go to the polls on March 8 while nominations will be held on Feb 24.
Despite the dissolution of Parliament, Noppadon, who is expected to start his customary visit to Asean member countries next week, said he still hoped to visit Malaysia during that period.
Otherwise, Noppadon said, he would take the opportunity during the two-day Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Singapore next Tuesday to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, and other ministers from countries bordering Thailand.
He said Samak would also start his overseas visit at the end of this month by visiting the Asean countries, starting with the four countries bordering the kingdom -- Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Malaysia will hold a general election on March 8, the Election Commission said on Thursday, with the premier taking the country to the polls early despite growing discord over race and religious issues.
The next election was not due until May 2009.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in power since 2003, secured the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday and is viewed as certain to win the poll, but with a reduced majority.
He faces a likely swing against the ruling coalition, with minority ethnic Chinese and Indians particularly unhappy with his government, which is dominated by ethnic Malay politicians.
Analysts say he is calling a poll now because the electoral mood is unlikely to improve through the rest of his term and that the economy, his main selling point, is slowing down.
Malaysia to hold general election on March 8
Candidates will be nominated on February 24, said Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia.
Candidates will vie for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats.
Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead the Barisan Nasional into the election for a second time.
On Wednesday, Badawi announced to dissolve the parliament to pave the way for general elections.
The assemblies of all states except for Sarawak were also dissolved Wednesday after the chief ministers sought consent from their respective rulers.
The dissolution came 15 months before the expiry of the parliament's five-year term on May 16, 2009. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said he hoped the general election would run smoothly.
Candidates will vie for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats.
Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead the Barisan Nasional into the election for a second time.
On Wednesday, Badawi announced to dissolve the parliament to pave the way for general elections.
The assemblies of all states except for Sarawak were also dissolved Wednesday after the chief ministers sought consent from their respective rulers.
The dissolution came 15 months before the expiry of the parliament's five-year term on May 16, 2009. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said he hoped the general election would run smoothly.
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