P41: PM Abdullah In Straight Fight With PAS Candidate [In Kepala Batas]

PENANG, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is in a straight fight with a Pas candidate in defending his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election.

His opponent is independent missionary Subri Mohd Arshad, who in the 2004 general election lost to the Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Azhar Ibrahim in the Penaga state seat within the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.

For Abdullah, who is BN chairman, this is the eighth time he is seeking re-election to the seat he has held since the 1978 general election.In the 2004 polls, Abdullah defeated by 18,122 votes Pas committee member Abdul Khalid Rasid who had been his opponent since the 1999 election.

Abdullah, leading… MORE BERNAMA'S HERE

UNDI INFO: PENANG: P41 – Kepala Batas

Malaysian PM Abdullah hopes to get two-thirds majority in parliament - SINGAPORE: Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi faces what is likely to be one of the most hotly contested elections in Malaysia's recent history, and he hopes to get two-thirds majority in parliament. Analysts say with anything less, the prime minister might face pressure from his party to step down. Four years ago, Mr Abdullah led the ruling coalition to a record election win. This time his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the coalition, is intent on claiming the only state left in opposition hands. Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) holds Kelantan by just a one-seat majority, and a victory there would be a huge morale boost for Prime Minister Abdullah. Ooi Kee Beng, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said: "I think if I were Abdullah, at this point in time I would want to go down in history as the UMNO leader that got Kelantan back."

Malaysia's former DPM Anwar remains a force on the sidelines - SINGAPORE: Malaysia's former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has been banned from running in any election until April this year, but he remains a force on the sidelines that the ruling coalition has to contend with.

Malaysia's political parties kick off election campaign, ruling party expected to win easily

KEPALA BATAS, Malaysia - Malaysia's political parties formally started campaigning Sunday for general elections with fractious opposition groups joining forces in a bid to deprive the ruling coalition of a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Hundreds of political heavy-hitters and first-time aspirants filed their nomination papers to contest 222 parliamentary constituencies and 505 state legislature seats. The process officially marked the start of a 13-day campaigning period ahead of the March 8 ballot.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was among the first to file his papers for the ruling National Front coalition in his traditional stronghold of Kepala Batas in northern Penang state.

Abdullah urged voters not to be swayed by the opposition, saying "their obsession is they want to deny the (government) the full support of the people."

More than 1,000 government loyalists thronged the nomination center to support Abdullah against a challenger from the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS. MORE YAHOO!'S HERE

Malaysian election reform activists threaten mass rally

Malaysian activists have accused electoral authorities of dirty tricks ahead of March 8 polls and are threatening to hold a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur in protest.

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) which last November gathered some 30,000 people in the capital to demand reforms, slammed last-minute changes to electoral rules ahead of nomination day Sunday.

They said that opposition candidates, particularly in northern states where Friday and Saturday are holidays, could be disqualified by a rule announced Thursday that they must pay stamp duty on their applications to contest.

"How are opposition candidates in states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu supposed to get the stamps especially when Friday and Saturday is the weekend here?" BERSIH organiser Mohammad Sabu told a crowd of 5,000 supporters.

If opposition candidates are disqualified over the issue, "we will get half a million people in KL for several days," he told a rally in northeastern Terengganu state late Friday. MORE HERE

Malaysia's PAS warns of tension ahead of polls: MALAYSIA's Islamic opposition party has warned its supporters could 'run amok' if the election authorities block its candidates from standing in next month's general election. Saying that Malaysia should avoid post-election violence that gripped Kenya, leaders of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) told a rally late on Friday that the March 8 election could turn into one of the country's dirtiest. 'We anticipate this election will not be free and fair,' party leader Syed Azman Syed Ahmad told the 5,000-strong rally in Kuala Terengganu, the northeastern city that saw a violent anti-government protest last September

Peraturan baru SPR boleh kecohkan hari penamaan calon: Belum pun hari penamaan calon, wibawa Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) khususnya Pengerusi badan tersebut, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman dipertikaikan parti-parti pembangkang. Malah peraturan baru yang dikuatkuasakan pada saat-saat akhir hari penamaan calon bakal menimbulkan kekecohan pada hari penamaan calon, kata Pengerusi Lajnah Guaman dan Undang-Undang PAS Pusat, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin. Ini ekoran arahan yang diterima daripada SPR pada Khamis, 21 Februari lalu agar Surat Akuan Berkanun, Borang 5 (bagi Parlimen) dan 5A (bagi Dewan Undangan Negeri) perlu disertakan dengan stem duti.

ELECTION 2008: Stamp duty requirement in accordance with law, says Commission: The stamp duty requirement for candidates’ statutory declarations for the March 8 general election is in accordance with the law, EC secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said. It was not implemented to create problems for the candidates, he said in response to a claim that the move was an attempt to disqualify the opposition parties candidates.Kamaruzaman said that the EC has obtained legal advice concerning the implementation on Thursday and has informed all the parties on the same day.

P5: Dr M yes to Mukhriz contesting but no to campaigning

Former prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave his son his blessing to contest in the general election but will not campaign for him.

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has been nominated as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Jerlun parliamentary seat in Kedah.

“My advice to him is to be serious and work hard,” Dr Mahathir said after launching the National Educational Guide for Youth Seminar 2008 at the International Islamic University in Gombak.

“If the people want to choose him, then they will choose him. I have no say on his nomination. It is up to the party leadership to decide,” he said, adding that the BN would win the general election.

“I am not sure if the BN will win with a big or small majority. But win, that’s for sure.”

He said pre-election tussles in Umno were a regular occurrence. “The main thing is how to resolve them,” he said.

Source:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/NewsBreak/20080223171724/Article/index_html

UNDI INFO: KEDAH: P5 - Jerlun

Feb 25, 2008:

Dr M not campaigning - JERLUN: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not be going around the country campaigning for the Barisan Nasional as he did last year. He won't even be on the trail in Kedah. If at all, he'll be focusing his attention on Jerlun, where his son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir is a candidate for the parliamentary seat.

P131: 'My focus is Rembau people'

"This is the place for me."

Those were the first words deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said when he was named as the candidate for the Rembau parliamentary seat.

Khairy, whose late father was from Negri Sembilan, said:

"If I was given other places, I would not have contested in the election. My focus is the people of Rembau," said Khairy, 32, who is also the BN Youth deputy chairman and Rembau Umno Youth chief.

Khairy, who appeared a little overcome, said he was touched and thankful that he was chosen to stand in Rembau and vowed that he would try to be the best wakil rakyat (representative) for the people of Rembau if he was given the mandate in the March 8 polls.

Khairy also regarded his candidacy as a sign of BN's recognition and appreciation of the role of Malaysian youth.

"I would like to thank the national and state BN for putting their trust in me and I promise to work hard and repay that trust.”

Asked about his chances of winning, Khairy said: [CLICK HERE]

Election 2008: Khairy among new faces in Negri line-up: Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was among 16 new faces named by the state Barisan Nasional yesterday to contest in the general election. Also in the list was Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who will be defending his Jelebu parliamentary seat. Khairy, who is also the Rembau Umno Youth chief, will contest the Rembau parliamentary seat.

UNDI INFO: NEGERI SEMBILAN: P131 - Rembau

Salahuddin harap Dr M bantu kalahkan Khairy: Ketua Pemuda PAS, Salahuddin Ayub berharap bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bersama-sama menyekat kemenangan menantu Perdana Menteri, Khairy Jamaluddin yang bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen Rembau. Beliau juga menggesa para pengundi di Rembau agar meminta ulama yang mereka yakin kesalehannya untuk bersolat istikharah bagi mendapatkan petunjuk dari Allah sama ada mereka patut mengundi Khairy atau tidak. Salahuddin memberi jaminan bahawa Barisan Alternatf (BA) sedang meneruskan usaha yang giat dan bersungguh-sungguh dengan para pemimpin dan ahli-ahli Umno yang mahu memastikan kekalahan Khairy.

ELECTION 2008: Khairy refuses to resort to personal attacks in Rembau campaign: Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin will not resort to personal in campaign to win the Rembau parliamentary seat. “However, I expect the opposition to do so against me,” Khairy said, pointing out that the opposition had been making personal attacks on him in the hope that he will resort to the same tactics.“What is important to me is the voters, not the opposition,” Khairy told reporters after a 'tahlil' at Kampung Gadong here today.

P44: Pirdaus Asks PKR, PAS To Prove Good Service Record In Permatang Pauh

KEPALA BATAS, 23 Feb (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat Datuk Pirdaus Ismail wants Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS to prove their good service in the constituency in the last two terms.

He said PKR which held the Permatang Pauh seat and PAS the Permatang Pasir state seat must show their service record and not just make empty promises.

"The people want to see changes in their areas which could improve their living standard and not hear promises only."

Besides Pirdaus who received his letter of candidacy, four candidates for parliamentary seats and 15 for state seats in Penang also received theirs from state Umno Liaison deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah.

He said after losing the contest for the seat to PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah in the last general election, he was more prepared this time around to wrest the seat for the Barisan Nasional.

He believes Permatang Pauh would see changes if the seat was under BN.-- BERNAMA

source:

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=315734

UNDI INFO: PENANG: P44 - Permatang Pauh

Feb 25, 2008:

Election 2008 / Penang: Wan Azizah and Pirdaus slug it out again -BUTTERWORTH: Barisan Nasional and opposition supporters at the Permatang Pauh nomination centre yesterday were only 100m apart. They were there to support Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail, who is defending her seat, and her second-time challenger, Datuk Pirdaus Ismail.

Wan Azizah declares she is Anwar proxy: Keadilan plans by-election once ex-Deputy PM is eligible to run for politics - IF the show of support yesterday was anything to go by, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is going to breeze through her defence of her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat. The president of opposition party Keadilan and wife of former Deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim has openly declared that after her victory this time, she will step down so he can contest the by-election - when he becomes eligible less than 40 days after the polls.

Pakistan Opposition Considers Candidate for PM after Election Victory

The party of Pakistan's late former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, met Friday to discuss their choice for the next prime minister after securing victory in Monday's polls.

Party officials say a top contender for the post is PPP Vice President Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Friday's meeting ended without an announcement and party officials say discussions will continue over the next few days.

On Thursday, the PPP and the other big winner in general elections, Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party, said they would work together to form a government of national consensus.

Ms. Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, now the head of the PPP, says he wants to form a broad government, but one excluding the main party that backs President Pervez Musharraf. That party came in a distant third in the balloting.

In a move that might spell trouble for Mr. Musharraf, the PPP and Mr. Sharif's party could - with support from smaller parties - gain the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to impeach the president.

In an opinion editorial in The Washington Post newspaper Friday, President Musharraf said he is ready to work with the new parliament to address key issues affecting Pakistan.

The president has said he hopes for a "harmonious coalition" following the defeat of his political allies in Monday's parliamentary elections. Some opposition leaders have called his resignation, which he has brushed off.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

source: www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-22-voa23.cfm

Focal Point Review: Is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a mediocre Prime Minister?

PM to present progress report for 2004-2007: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday he would present a progress report on the government's performance from 2004 to 2007. "Members of parliament and administrators have given me their reports and, as the prime minister, I am responsible for presenting the progress report to the people." He said this to loud applause from 3,000 leaders and members of the Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Also present were Second Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Aziz Shamsuddin and the chamber's president Syed Ali Mohamed Al-Atas. Abdullah said difficulties and challenges were actually opportunities to spur one to do better, a philosophy he had always upheld in discharging his responsibilities. There were no challenges or problems that could not be overcome, the prime minister added."If we are capable physically and mentally, there is nothing that can stop us. Whatever opportunities available must be taken."

Abdullah Gives Report Card On Progress Made From 2004 To 2007: With the elected representatives having given their report cards to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday that it was now his turn to give a report card to citizens on the progress made by the country from 2004 to 2007. "Parliament members have to give me report cards on their performance. I as the Prime Minister of a government given the mandate by the people, am also responsible to give a report card on the progress achieved by the nation from 2004 to 2007," he said. He said this at the Solidarity Assembly with members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) held at the Putrajaya Convention Centre here. Abdullah said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 18 per cent from RM427 billion in 2004 to RM504 billion last year.

What do you think? Is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a mediocre Prime Minister?