‘ENDLESS POLLS’…….that’s the headlines in Star, Friday 21 January. With the death of Merlimau state assemblyman Datuk Mohamed Hidhir Abu Hasan, the nation is set to see its 15th by-election, the largest number ever recorded in our nation’s history.
But wait……. that number does not stop there. Another by-election is on the cards with the declaration on Wednesday by the Selangor State Assembly Speaker that the Port Klang seat is vacant after its assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah failed to attend assembly sitting for a continuous period of six months. Badrul Hisham was elected on a PKR ticket, but later left the party to join UMNO, and claims that he will be contesting the decision by the Selangor Speaker. He even vowed to attend the Monday 24 January emergency sitting of the State Assembly. This will be an interesting event to watch as Badrul Hisham has suddenly awaken, and is now well and alive to fight his place in the assembly at all costs.
16 by-elections in a period of 3 years since the 2008 March General Elections!!!!!!. I think this number is not only a record for Malaysia, but for the entire world. Guinness book of records should be interested in recording this ‘strange phenomena’. To me, this is a worrying trend, and I suppose with this number, SPRM must by now be the world’s most experience election governing body. This is truly Malaysia Boleh.
Here, I would like to share some proposals that may help reduce the number of by-elections in the future.
1. Future candidates (first timers only) should not be more than 40 years old.
2. Elected candidates should not serve more than two terms.
3. All candidates must be certified medically fit, to enable them to contest.
4. Assemblymen are compelled to undergo a thorough medical check-up once a year.
5. Those assemblymen that are found to be medically unfit (upon undergoing their yearly medical check) will not be allowed to contest upon completion of their term.
Other than the above, I would like to propose that future selection of eligible candidates must take serious cognizance of the fact that candidates must be free of all ‘worldly sins and vices’.
And if he is a Muslim, he must take a vow to uphold strictly to his belief as a Muslim, and to the teachings of the holy Quran. If he is found to have breached that vow, and he having gone through the due process of public investigation, he can be asked to vacate his position as an assemblyman.
I wonder if the above proposals are worthy of consideration, and does it make any sense to you?
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Showing posts with label by-election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label by-election. Show all posts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, April 22, 2010
HULU SELANGOR BY-ELECTIONS
The Hulu Selangor by-elections is slightly more than 48 hours away; a one against one contest between BN candidate Kamalanathan aks Kamal and PKR's candidate Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
I took the opportunity to call two of my friends who are presently holed up in Hulu Selangor i.e. one a staunch UMNO supporter, and another a PKR strongman from Pahang. Both knows me as a non party person, and I asked both of them as to their party's chances of winning the by-election. As of yesterday (April 21) both claims that their party have a 50-50 chances of winning. Since I have not been monitoring the activities in Hulu Selangor (unlike previous by-elections), I cannot therefore place my bet on anyone candidate.
A blogger friend called me up last night to seek my views regarding the on-going Hulu Selangor by-election, and my personal assessment as to who is most likely to win. I replied that I don't really care who wins as the results has no significant impact on the Federal government's position as the ruling government. But on second thought, a lost for PKR would give the impression that the people's support in Selangor is waning. In the case of BN, losing the seat does not really impact their position in parliament. On the contrary, a BN win will give credence to their winning chances in the next GE. In other words, it is the PKR that is under pressure to win in this by-election.
The reason why I have not cared much about the Hulu Selangor by-election is simply because I do not see any solid and meaningful campaigning by the contestants. Character assassination takes center stage. Old stories are being replayed over and over again. Even doctored pictures to discredit the contestants are flashed in the open and posted in cyberspace. All this child-like activities does not appeal to me, and if I were to side anyone party, I will be accused of being in connivance with all that is terribly wrong during this by-election.
So it is best that I take the middle road, and who ever wins or lose, it doesn't really matter to me. And to whoever wins the by-election, my only advise to him is for him to act with decorum and a responsible elected MP in parliament.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
I took the opportunity to call two of my friends who are presently holed up in Hulu Selangor i.e. one a staunch UMNO supporter, and another a PKR strongman from Pahang. Both knows me as a non party person, and I asked both of them as to their party's chances of winning the by-election. As of yesterday (April 21) both claims that their party have a 50-50 chances of winning. Since I have not been monitoring the activities in Hulu Selangor (unlike previous by-elections), I cannot therefore place my bet on anyone candidate.
A blogger friend called me up last night to seek my views regarding the on-going Hulu Selangor by-election, and my personal assessment as to who is most likely to win. I replied that I don't really care who wins as the results has no significant impact on the Federal government's position as the ruling government. But on second thought, a lost for PKR would give the impression that the people's support in Selangor is waning. In the case of BN, losing the seat does not really impact their position in parliament. On the contrary, a BN win will give credence to their winning chances in the next GE. In other words, it is the PKR that is under pressure to win in this by-election.
The reason why I have not cared much about the Hulu Selangor by-election is simply because I do not see any solid and meaningful campaigning by the contestants. Character assassination takes center stage. Old stories are being replayed over and over again. Even doctored pictures to discredit the contestants are flashed in the open and posted in cyberspace. All this child-like activities does not appeal to me, and if I were to side anyone party, I will be accused of being in connivance with all that is terribly wrong during this by-election.
So it is best that I take the middle road, and who ever wins or lose, it doesn't really matter to me. And to whoever wins the by-election, my only advise to him is for him to act with decorum and a responsible elected MP in parliament.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
THE KUALA TRENGGANU BY-ELECTIONS – WHO WINS?
In the up-coming Kuala Trengganu by-elections scheduled January 17, 2009, the person most concerned with the outcome of the election is non other than UMNO’s Deputy President Dato Seri Mohd Najib. He is being entrusted by the party to lead the campaign and to ensure that BN retains the KT parliamentary seat.
Najib was in a similar position during the Permatang Pauh by-election last year, where we saw him swore that he wasn’t involved in the Altantuya murder case. But the swearing had little effect on the outcome to election, which was won by Anwar Ibrahim of Pakatan Rakyat by a thumping majority. The BN too played up the Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case featuring the nightly video of the confession of Saiful. I am just wondering where is this Saiful fellow now?
The KT by-elections campaigning now takes a much different approach. No swearing and no video show. Even Anwar’s campaigning is so much subdued, and Najib’s much viewed campaign speeches on prime time TV news makes it look like it is Najib that is the BN candidate, and not Wan Ahmad Farid. With so much of Najib being extensively featured daily in both the print and electronic media, Wan Ahmad Farid’s chances of winning is most likely to be affected.
I had just received an SMS from a friend in KT who says that PAS chances of winning the by-election is now rated at 57-43. It was 50-50 at the start of the campaigning. I do not know whether to believe or not to believe in the rating. But what I hear on TV and read from the mainstream media is that it is an assured win for the BN candidate. And likewise, I do not know whether to believe or not to believe in what I hear or read.
Certainly, KT and the state of Trengganu in particular, has been receiving loads to ‘gifts and handouts’ from the federal government since the start of the campaigning. Money seems to be ‘falling from the sky’; this despite many who claims that our economy is not doing too well. I hear too that school children in KT will be given a laptop each, and that’s the most generous gift ever by the federal government.
They say that the Chinese voters in KT are the ‘king makers’ in this by-election. Hence, every effort is made to win them over to the parties contesting. Of course, BN has an edge with money being poured into Chinese schools, and even for the construction of new temples. This is ‘durian runtuh’ for the Chinese community in KT, and if BN still loses the Chinese votes, this may be a bad omen for BN/UMNO continued rule in Trengganu.
The KT by-election is certainly a severe test for UMNO’s leadership, particularly that of Najib, and losing is not an option. Hence, the pressure is on the BN/UMNO, and should BN lose the by-election, I am quite sure many heads in UMNO will fall, and Najib is no exception.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 13.10 pm on Jan 13, 2009
Najib was in a similar position during the Permatang Pauh by-election last year, where we saw him swore that he wasn’t involved in the Altantuya murder case. But the swearing had little effect on the outcome to election, which was won by Anwar Ibrahim of Pakatan Rakyat by a thumping majority. The BN too played up the Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case featuring the nightly video of the confession of Saiful. I am just wondering where is this Saiful fellow now?
The KT by-elections campaigning now takes a much different approach. No swearing and no video show. Even Anwar’s campaigning is so much subdued, and Najib’s much viewed campaign speeches on prime time TV news makes it look like it is Najib that is the BN candidate, and not Wan Ahmad Farid. With so much of Najib being extensively featured daily in both the print and electronic media, Wan Ahmad Farid’s chances of winning is most likely to be affected.
I had just received an SMS from a friend in KT who says that PAS chances of winning the by-election is now rated at 57-43. It was 50-50 at the start of the campaigning. I do not know whether to believe or not to believe in the rating. But what I hear on TV and read from the mainstream media is that it is an assured win for the BN candidate. And likewise, I do not know whether to believe or not to believe in what I hear or read.
Certainly, KT and the state of Trengganu in particular, has been receiving loads to ‘gifts and handouts’ from the federal government since the start of the campaigning. Money seems to be ‘falling from the sky’; this despite many who claims that our economy is not doing too well. I hear too that school children in KT will be given a laptop each, and that’s the most generous gift ever by the federal government.
They say that the Chinese voters in KT are the ‘king makers’ in this by-election. Hence, every effort is made to win them over to the parties contesting. Of course, BN has an edge with money being poured into Chinese schools, and even for the construction of new temples. This is ‘durian runtuh’ for the Chinese community in KT, and if BN still loses the Chinese votes, this may be a bad omen for BN/UMNO continued rule in Trengganu.
The KT by-election is certainly a severe test for UMNO’s leadership, particularly that of Najib, and losing is not an option. Hence, the pressure is on the BN/UMNO, and should BN lose the by-election, I am quite sure many heads in UMNO will fall, and Najib is no exception.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 13.10 pm on Jan 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
WHO SHALL PREVAIL THE KUALA TRENGGANU BY-ELECTION
Today, January 6, 2008 is nomination day for the Kuala Trengganu parliamentary by-election. Unlike the last Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, the scene in Kuala Trengganu is unusually quite, and the voices of leaders of both contending political parties are somewhat subdued. Have they lost steam and energy, or are they confident that their candidates will win their contest, without the usual excitement and ‘party like’ atmosphere of their supporters, that was displayed in previous by-elections?
In my article posted on December 13, 2008 titled ‘Santa Claus comes to Trengganu’, I did comment that many ‘gifts’ and ‘presents’ with courtesy of the BN government will be flowing into Trengganu. Now it is past Christmas, the ‘gifts’ and ‘presents’ are still flowing endlessly, under the pretext of social and economic development that is meant to benefit the people. Even, royalties from petroleum, the spending of which in the past was very much determined by the federal government, is now channeled to the state coffer. The state, and in particular the Menteri Besar will now have some additional cash to spend, and hopefully not to be used to renovate his official residence, or to print banners with his picture portrayed prominently amongst catchy slogans, displayed along highways and the town center. The Trengganu Menteri Besar only need to travel to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan to understand what I mean.
Malaysian leaders are an unusual lot. They all love publicity; hence we see endless pictures of our leaders being displayed throughout the country, and in the villages as well. Just take a stroll along the streets in Kuala Lumpur, and one will not fail to see pictures of ministers portrayed everywhere. Of course, the picture of the PM and his deputy has to be portrayed too besides the minister. I suppose one does not see pictures of Bush or Blair being prominently displayed on banners along highways and the city centre in the US and the UK.
Having read the Star today, I am glad that Najib has reminded UMNO and Barisan National leaders campaigning in the by-election to be humble. “Don’t be boastful….(do not) move around in luxury cars and don’t be excessive (when meeting voters). Stick to the principle that we are servants of the people, that’s the key to BN success. That is why I ask leaders who are going down to the ground to be people-friendly”. These were exactly the things that I had commented of UMNO/BN in my earlier writings.
UMNO/BN has finally learnt their lessons from their failures in the past. And if only they had been reminded of the same in the past, the election results may have been different.
Let us now all await the outcome of the Kuala Trengganu by-election scheduled January 17, 2008, and to know whether Najib's reminder has it's effect.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 12.00pm on Jan 6, 2008
In my article posted on December 13, 2008 titled ‘Santa Claus comes to Trengganu’, I did comment that many ‘gifts’ and ‘presents’ with courtesy of the BN government will be flowing into Trengganu. Now it is past Christmas, the ‘gifts’ and ‘presents’ are still flowing endlessly, under the pretext of social and economic development that is meant to benefit the people. Even, royalties from petroleum, the spending of which in the past was very much determined by the federal government, is now channeled to the state coffer. The state, and in particular the Menteri Besar will now have some additional cash to spend, and hopefully not to be used to renovate his official residence, or to print banners with his picture portrayed prominently amongst catchy slogans, displayed along highways and the town center. The Trengganu Menteri Besar only need to travel to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan to understand what I mean.
Malaysian leaders are an unusual lot. They all love publicity; hence we see endless pictures of our leaders being displayed throughout the country, and in the villages as well. Just take a stroll along the streets in Kuala Lumpur, and one will not fail to see pictures of ministers portrayed everywhere. Of course, the picture of the PM and his deputy has to be portrayed too besides the minister. I suppose one does not see pictures of Bush or Blair being prominently displayed on banners along highways and the city centre in the US and the UK.
Having read the Star today, I am glad that Najib has reminded UMNO and Barisan National leaders campaigning in the by-election to be humble. “Don’t be boastful….(do not) move around in luxury cars and don’t be excessive (when meeting voters). Stick to the principle that we are servants of the people, that’s the key to BN success. That is why I ask leaders who are going down to the ground to be people-friendly”. These were exactly the things that I had commented of UMNO/BN in my earlier writings.
UMNO/BN has finally learnt their lessons from their failures in the past. And if only they had been reminded of the same in the past, the election results may have been different.
Let us now all await the outcome of the Kuala Trengganu by-election scheduled January 17, 2008, and to know whether Najib's reminder has it's effect.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 12.00pm on Jan 6, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
CAN UMNO RETAIN KUALA TRENGGANU PARLIAMENTARY SEAT?
While UMNO/BN has named its candidate for the Kuala Trengganu by-election scheduled January 17th 2009, PAS, the obvious party to challenge the UMNO candidate, has declared that its candidate will be named on January 1st 2009. This delay has raised many questions among party watchers, with some casting doubts that an agreement by the PAS party leadership could be reached by January 1st. To others, it is an element of surprise for the BN, as PAS now has the advantage to field a candidate that can best challenge the UMNO candidate.
Since naming Senator Wan Ahmad Farid, who is also the Kuala Trengganu UMNO Division chief as the candidate, he is now the most popular personality to appear in both the electronic and print media. There is also a sudden surge in news relating to Trengganu, featuring the development that has been undertaken by the BN state government, and this is quite expected in any elections.
UMNO's Deputy President Najib Tun Razak says that BN is confident of retaining the parliamentary seat, and believes that Wan Farid Ahmad is UMNO Trengganu best choice.
I watched the news aired on TV, when the announcement was made by Najib to name Wan Ahmad Farid as UMNO's candidate. I noticed that the Trengganu Menteri Besar, though seen standing on the stage when the announcement was made, was not in the fore front to lift the hands of Wan Ahmad Farid. It was Najib and UMNO's Secretary General Tengku Adnan who both lifted the hands of the candidate. I would have thought that the Menteri Besar being the executive head of the state, would play a prominent role; not Tengku Adnan.
This incident though seemed insignificant by many, had caused others to speculate that Wan Ahmad Farid may not be the choice of the state UMNO, and definitely not that of the Menteri Besar. Speculations are rife too that Wan Ahmad Farid, having been a personal staff to the Prime Minister, is also the choice of the PM's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ). Speculations like this may hurt the candidate, and it is being made even worse if KJ's name is mentioned. Haven't BN learn a lesson from the Permatang Pauh fiasco?
I believe, the reaction of UMNO Trengganu, and those fence sitters would have been different if it was the Menteri Besar who had made the announcement.
In the absence of a PAS candidate, it is still too premature to conclude which party wins the by-election. Up till now, PAS/PR has remained silent as to their chances of winning. Or are they finding it too difficult to choose a winning candidate?
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 4.15pm on Dec 27, 2008
Since naming Senator Wan Ahmad Farid, who is also the Kuala Trengganu UMNO Division chief as the candidate, he is now the most popular personality to appear in both the electronic and print media. There is also a sudden surge in news relating to Trengganu, featuring the development that has been undertaken by the BN state government, and this is quite expected in any elections.
UMNO's Deputy President Najib Tun Razak says that BN is confident of retaining the parliamentary seat, and believes that Wan Farid Ahmad is UMNO Trengganu best choice.
I watched the news aired on TV, when the announcement was made by Najib to name Wan Ahmad Farid as UMNO's candidate. I noticed that the Trengganu Menteri Besar, though seen standing on the stage when the announcement was made, was not in the fore front to lift the hands of Wan Ahmad Farid. It was Najib and UMNO's Secretary General Tengku Adnan who both lifted the hands of the candidate. I would have thought that the Menteri Besar being the executive head of the state, would play a prominent role; not Tengku Adnan.
This incident though seemed insignificant by many, had caused others to speculate that Wan Ahmad Farid may not be the choice of the state UMNO, and definitely not that of the Menteri Besar. Speculations are rife too that Wan Ahmad Farid, having been a personal staff to the Prime Minister, is also the choice of the PM's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ). Speculations like this may hurt the candidate, and it is being made even worse if KJ's name is mentioned. Haven't BN learn a lesson from the Permatang Pauh fiasco?
I believe, the reaction of UMNO Trengganu, and those fence sitters would have been different if it was the Menteri Besar who had made the announcement.
In the absence of a PAS candidate, it is still too premature to conclude which party wins the by-election. Up till now, PAS/PR has remained silent as to their chances of winning. Or are they finding it too difficult to choose a winning candidate?
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 4.15pm on Dec 27, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
KUALA TRENGGANU BY-ELECTION – A TEST FOR BN
Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has decided to lead Wanita UMNO in the up-coming by-election in Kuala Trengganu, apparently oblivious to her Deputy Dato Seri Shahrizat Jalil, who claimed not to have been consulted of her boss’s decision. Many outsiders and even those within UMNO would see Rafidah’s decision as something quite unusual, and for Shahrizat to openly claim that she does not know, raises speculations that something is not quite right between the two personalities.
As the incumbent Wanita’s chief, Rafidah certainly has her way at decision making. I suppose what is worrying Shahrizat is that her boss decision may steal the limelight from her, as both are contenders for the Wanita UMNO chief post in the party’s election in March 2009. I suppose, what concerns Rafidah is to ensure a win for the BN’s candidate, and if her presence is anything but to boost the winning chance of the BN candidate, Shahrizat should warmly welcome Rafidah’s ‘good gesture’.
Shahrizat has had her opportunity to lead Wanita UMNO’s charge during the Permatang Pauh by-election which saw the BN candidate lost poorly to PKR Anwar Ibrahim. This losing experience must have haunted Shahrizat, and a win for the BN this time around is surely to boost Rafidah’s image in the up-coming party election. Shahrizat’s fear of a diminished support is understandable should BN retains its seat, and should she then lose to Rafidah in the party elections, all is lost for Shahrizat’s political career. Rafidah may even end up retaining her post for another full term, and a ministerial post awaits her too. This is a fact that Najib, who is tipped to assume the post of PM cannot willfully ignore.
While BN has already announced Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid as its candidate for the Kuala Trengganu by-election, the opposition has been late in doing likewise. Wan Ahmad’s nomination by Pak Lah, is seen as wanting to legitimized the former to his ministerial post, or is it a way of rewarding Wan Ahmad for being Pak Lah’s loyal political secretary?
BN should heed the lessons of the March 2008 General Elections, and the by-elections of Permatang Pauh. It is no longer the ‘heavenly promises’, but a candidate that is strong spiritually, free of corrupt practices, and a simpleton who can garner the support of the ordinary village folks by being people friendly. ‘Show offs’ and ‘boastful talk’, are no longer what the simple Trengganu kampung folk desires of their elected representative.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 09.50 am on Dec 22, 2008
As the incumbent Wanita’s chief, Rafidah certainly has her way at decision making. I suppose what is worrying Shahrizat is that her boss decision may steal the limelight from her, as both are contenders for the Wanita UMNO chief post in the party’s election in March 2009. I suppose, what concerns Rafidah is to ensure a win for the BN’s candidate, and if her presence is anything but to boost the winning chance of the BN candidate, Shahrizat should warmly welcome Rafidah’s ‘good gesture’.
Shahrizat has had her opportunity to lead Wanita UMNO’s charge during the Permatang Pauh by-election which saw the BN candidate lost poorly to PKR Anwar Ibrahim. This losing experience must have haunted Shahrizat, and a win for the BN this time around is surely to boost Rafidah’s image in the up-coming party election. Shahrizat’s fear of a diminished support is understandable should BN retains its seat, and should she then lose to Rafidah in the party elections, all is lost for Shahrizat’s political career. Rafidah may even end up retaining her post for another full term, and a ministerial post awaits her too. This is a fact that Najib, who is tipped to assume the post of PM cannot willfully ignore.
While BN has already announced Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid as its candidate for the Kuala Trengganu by-election, the opposition has been late in doing likewise. Wan Ahmad’s nomination by Pak Lah, is seen as wanting to legitimized the former to his ministerial post, or is it a way of rewarding Wan Ahmad for being Pak Lah’s loyal political secretary?
BN should heed the lessons of the March 2008 General Elections, and the by-elections of Permatang Pauh. It is no longer the ‘heavenly promises’, but a candidate that is strong spiritually, free of corrupt practices, and a simpleton who can garner the support of the ordinary village folks by being people friendly. ‘Show offs’ and ‘boastful talk’, are no longer what the simple Trengganu kampung folk desires of their elected representative.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 09.50 am on Dec 22, 2008
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