I couldn’t have summed it all up any better myself. From highlighting the glaring faults of the current Election Commissions’ voter list to commentary on the chance the Opposition line has been handed – all in all this is what I call a good news segment piece.
As the choppy day winds down yesterday, a whole lot of decision had and were being made. Even the largest single stock market plunge of 9.5% on the KLSE Composite Index did not deter the Barisan Rakyat coalition from putting forward their agendas and plans. First and foremost on the mind of everyone will be the naming of the 4 Menteri Besar’s (Governor) and the single Chief Minister for the 5 opposition led states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Perak & Kelantan. This should closely be followed by the naming of their deputies and the state executive councilors for each state. Not to be left out is the the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur where the opposition has swept most of the seat.
For now the expected and confirmed candidates for the MB and CM posts are:
DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng will be officially instated as the Chief Minister of Penang today. He is expected to lead a formation of Barisan Rakyat (DAP-PKR-PAS) executive councilors in forming the next Penang state government.
Already DAP are making all the right noises – from pledging to stand by the promises made and its manifesto for Penang, to putting public interest first in the implementation or review of any project or policies & also projecting a business-friendly environment for existing MNCs to operate in Penang. In fact word on the street is that a 3-man team of newly elected parliamentarians led by Jeff Ooi will be given the task of liaisoning with investors, MNC & SME on Penang’s business outlook following the recent political changes.
PKR Secretary-General Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has officially been announced to the Menteri Besar designate of Selangor. After consultation with the Sultan of Selangor the official blessing to form the state government is contingent on the Sultans meeting with the DAP & PAS components of the proposed Barisan Rakyat state government.
Meanwhile Khalid Ibrahim is expected to name the state executive councilors as early as tomorrow or Thursday and will be looking into the possible naming of a Deputy Menteri Besar of Chinese or Indian ethnic decent. Khalid Ibrahim comes into the position of Menteri Besar will a top credentials from his time as CEO of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and later on CEO of Kumpulan Guthrie.
Khalid Ibrahim is off on a great start. He has already bringing his business experience to bear by stating that he will implementing a quarterly development report to the Selangor citizens. Also he has stated that transparency in governance in the new state government will a fact and no more fiction as was wont in the previous establishment. Better still is a possible move, pending a legal review, to free Selangor from the Official Secrets Act – the every act that has allowed the previous state government to dissemble and hide previous bureaucratic decisions and paperwork. Selangor citizens are on track to get what they have long wanted – proper governance, transparency and check and balance in place!
Kedah PAS Commissioner, Azizan Abdul Razak has been sworn in as the Menteri Besar of Kedah. PAS has the most seats in the 3 opposition parties and is expected to from a joint PAS-PKR state assembly. The current word is that the newly formed state government will see the inclusion of 2 non-Muslim PKR assemblypersons and 1 DAP post as state exco members.
Right now the ball is is the hands of PAS Menteri Besar and his soon to be announced councilors. The people of Kedah will be eyeing any overt introduction of Islamic administrative systems and regulations. YB Azizan has stated that the state government will approach this matter sensitively and also reassures that PAS will not be on an Islamic agenda in the state. He also said that a review of the project initiated by the previous BN led state government is on the cards.
Speculation is rife on the possible candidates for the post of the Menteri Besar of Perak. It’s widely expected that the future MB will be chosen from the ranks of either PAS or PKR. Even though DAP leads in terms of number of seats, they are expected to make way for a Malay MB as its required by the state’s law – unless the Sultan’s waves the prerogative for a Malay MB out of the way.
The latest news has it that the PAS candidate is Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin (Pasir Panjang) while the PKR candidate is Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang). Still a third candidate from DAP was possibly named in a list submitted to the purview of the Regent of Perak. Thus far as the decision seems to be in the air, the state leaders of the Barisan Rakyat coalition have already reassured that a joint-ruling will be the focus of the state government.
The traditional long time seat of PAS will continue as usual. With an even bigger mandate compared to the 2004 election, the state government of Kelantan will remain in the control of PAS with Dato’ Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat expected to continue on as Menteri Besar.
With all the election shockers hitting stunned members of the public an even more ominous cloud hangs over the horizon. Earlier today (10th March 2008) the KLSE Stock Exchange saw a steady plunge to a possible 7 month low!
According to Reuters’s Investors Sell Malaysia On Political Uncertainty, the KLSE composite index has seen a drop as much as 7.6 percent as of 11.32am today. A quick survey of KLSE market updates available online here at around 3pm local time shows an even further slide to a near 10% decline!
Leading the list of top loser are stocks linked to the federal government which took the brunt of the damage. Among these are plantation-to-energy group Sime Darby Bhd, construction and engineering firm UEM World Bhd & Scomi Group.
Siting the reason of political uncertainty, the advent of 5 states being lost to Opposition parties has raised questions on the future of the various long-term development agenda (Corridors) that now will hinge on the on the cooperation of the opposition states.
As the dust has settled and the shock and general confusion is gotten over Malaysian’s today find themselves is uncharted waters. Never in the 50 years of nationhood has the ruling coalition (Barisan National) seen a loss to such a magnitude that saw a full 5 states falling to Opposition control and the penultimate denying of the often enjoyed, yet much exploited, 2/3 majority in parliament that BN has thus far always obtained with exception to the 1969 elections.
As Chief Ministers get officially announced and the rumbling governmental machinery – both at the state and federal levels – finally stir to life, most Malaysians are left wondering on the various interpretation of how this has come to pass. This general miasma of confusions can be laid squarely at the feet of the Barisan National’s propaganda channels i.e. the mainstream media (MSM). Long known to be sympathetic to the BN cause and added to the fact that the various MSM’s are controlled in part by the various BN component parties, Malaysian not privy to independent news reporting avenues were regaled with the advertisements, news articles & so on – each and every one painting the every so rosy picture of BN supremacy.
From the praise of anything and everything BN related, to feel-good news of expected BN victories in near to all contested seat and also including advertisements detailing various achievements – BN seemed just about unbeatable come polling day. Yet come the dawn of the 9th of March, mere moments after the strike of midnight – the impossible had happened. The coalition that could do no wrong was soundly trounced in 5 states and the rest as they say is history – Malaysian’s woke to the dawn of a new political paradigm in Malaysia.
It is on this day that the average Malaysian were surprised to find out that the biggest loss in the history of the BN
coalition had come to pass, apparently out of thin air!
But the newspapers said that BN was going to win big?
What happened to all that glowing reviews?
Why are Malaysians suddenly voting for the Opposition? Is there something going on that we don’t know about?
This are just some of the many many question that were sure to be on the top of peoples minds. And this was unmistakably followed by the mass purchasing and buying out of the local dailies early in the day – all in order to get to the reasons for the defeat and the truth of the matter! A truth that was long in the making and heavily censored by the people in power.
A far cry from the sterling sweep Barisan National obtained in the 2004 elections, the 2008 or 12th General Election has seen a unmistakably clear sign from the rakyat – resulting in the fall of the Barisan National coalition from it’s once lofty heights. The time for change is now, the wind of change is blowing and the Tsunami has swept the polls.
This blogger has unfortunately not kept a detailed timeline of the rise of the Opposition as the results began to stream in earlier this night. However as a round up on the current status of the election results, this post is a general summary of the events that has just occurred – summarised from the live-blogging site of Malaysiakini.
* This summary will cover the relevant hot seats, general and pertinent info and will focus on the Opposition & also Barisan National parties.
As early as 6.45pm various online source, chiefly led by online news portal Malaysiakini, began rolling out live updates of the results on their site. What began with a every increasing deluge of both confirmed & unconfirmed results tally soon turn to a glaringly obvious statement of sweeping wins made by Oppositions parties of DAP, PKR and soon to follow PAS in hotly contested seats in the states of Penang.
Major victories for Opposition’s DAP were announced at 8.30pm with at at least 2 confirmed state level and 14 parliamentary seats were won. Also on the list were 9 other parliamentary seats seen to be winners for the party. Major number of seats in Penang and some other in Selangor were touted as victories for DAP causing DAP’s Lim Kit Siang to declare it as the Political Tsunami.
(Also on the winning list was Petaling Jaya Utara parliamentary seat, this blogger’s area of residence, for DAP’s Tony Pua. Noticeable mention goes out to Teresa Kok of Seputeh and Kinrara – both were undeniable victories).
Early unconfirmed results has also indicated to major losses for chief BN component parties leaders Samy Vellu (MIC), Koh Tsu Koon (Gerakan) & M Kayveas (PPP). Soon the results were announced and true to prediction long time MIC veteran Samy Vellu was soundly beaten by his opponent. The voters in the Sungai Siput district has finally had enough and the results speak volumes of the dissatisfaction of the humble joe public. Similarly for Koh Tsu Koon it was also the storey of defeat in his Batu Kawan seat. Unsurprisingly M Keyveas also saw the loss of his and his party’s only seat to DAP’s Nga Hon Ming in the Taiping seat.
Around 10.30pm onward the results kept coming in and even more good news there was. Former Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin (of Al Jazeera fame) lost to PKR candidate Johari Abdullah. This was soon followed by the even more surprising news that PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar had succeeded in defeating BN incumbent Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
The clincher for the Opposition came with the televised news conference of Koh Tsu Koon promising a smooth transition of power of the Penang state to the joint DAP-PKR-PAS front who had all but swept the state in stunning victories. This was soon followed by the confirmation that the Opposition PKR & PAS had won the majority of seats, 22 out off 36 seats, in the Kedah state government. This was the second state to fall into oppositions hands. Kelantan was not far behind in joking the ranks of states won over by the Opposition with unconfirmed results placing them at cleans sweeps of the majority of state and parliament seats.
Around this time also it was announced UMNO’s President, Abdullah Badawi, won his Kepala Batas seat with a reduced majority. Also to announce their victories were UMNO’s Deputy President, Najib Abdul Razak, and UMNO Youth Chief Hishammuddin for their respective seats of Pekan and Sembrong.
Before the midnight mark statements from various candidates and party leader were being made. Most noticeably of this are 2 cases of high contrast. Whilst Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was speaking on the loss of the 3 states (Penang, Kedah & Kelantan) to the hands of the Opposition, he accepted it as part and parcel of democracy and urged everyone to
remain calm. Minutes later word from the DAP camp strong suggested that Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng was the candidate of choice for the position of Chief Minister.
A slight issue of uncounted ballot boxes arised at Lembah Pantai but was later cleared up and label as technical issues with the results still remaining the same. Meanwhile unofficial results began stating that Selangor had also followed suit and fallen to Opposition hands. Quoting a win of 35 of out 56 states seats, PKR Secretary-General Kahalid Ibrahim was touted to be named as Chief Minister. Meanwhile on the BN front, Barisan stronghold Johor along with Melacca, Perlis & Negeri Sembilan were declared as BN victories.
Next Kelantan was declared to be a firm victory for Opposition party PAS. DAP stalwart Karpal Singh also declared victory and demolished his BN opponent. The understatement of the day came next from MCA President Ong Ka Ting – who express shock at the loss of ‘scores of seats‘ and also added that a detailed study will be conducted on the defeat. Officially at 1am Lim Guan Eng was named Chief Minister of Penang and also stated was that DAP would form the state government of Penang along with PKR. Even more enticing news was stated that Perak had also fallen to Oppositions hands with a simple majority as well in lieu of the 30 out of 59 seats already won by the opposition.
Simple majority was declared for BN who is expected to form the next federal government. Number of seats claimed by Opposition had not be finalized at this point by the EC. MIC also sees losses for its major leaders
(Hulu Selangor) G Palanivel to PKR’s Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad,
(Kota Raja) Vigneswaran to PAS’s Siti Mariah,
(Teluk Kemang) Sothinathan to PKR’s Kamarul Baharain Abbas
and earlier casualty (Kapar) Komala to PKR’s S Manikavasagam
At 2.25 UMNO leaders were already in an emergency meeting with moods made all the more grimmer with the shocking
results of the election thus far. Lastly at 2.40am unofficial news put it that the Barisan National coalition has been denied 2/3 majority in parliament by the Opposition parties.
I just finished casting my vote and boy to I have news. When I took a look at my voting ballot slip I straight away noticed that there was a Serial Number on each of the ballot slip. And mind you I’m not talking about the white paper with the voting room (Saluran) number on it. I’m talking about the ballot slips – 1 orange the other yellowish in colour!
I am under the impression that there should not be any such numbers or marks of identification that could possibly render my voting choice being know to the powers that be. Isn’t this one of the new changes that BERSIH requested and the EC are supposed to comply to?
When I asked the guy who seemed to be in charge of the counter I voted at, he said that that’s normal and the serial number are for them to count how many people have voted. Is this true? Could I be wrong? I’m not sure exactly. I would have taken a picture of the ballot paper if I was sure that it was legal and if also I have a decent camera phone, and posted it online with this here post.
I don’t want to blow up this issues into a big bruhaha all over nothing. I’m very very worried of this and I’m trying to get in contact with BERSIH to talk to someone about this matter!
For you blogers, Malaysians, netizens and anyone else who think that this is odd – fyi my voting district info is as follows:
Kod Dearah : 146/15/02
Nama Daerah : MAHARANI
Nama D.U.N : MAHARANI
Nama Parlimen : MUAR
Mr. Badawi has said it out!
It’s just that we always knew it was the silent truth!
Now that it is out in the open it is without a doubt a clear threat to democracy and to us Malaysian. A vote against MCA & MIC will bring about no representation of those communities a.k.a. races represented by these parties (i.e. the Chinese and the Indians). No more clearer indication is there that the so called “Barisan National” is not for the people of Malaysia regardless of race or religion! Nothing speaks volumes about race-based politics more so than this statement.
The statement made by by the head of the ruling party of the coalition, UMNO, indicates and validates the perception the so called national coalition is only a coalition of convenience – convenience for the ruling party at the expense of all Malaysians. That’s right fellow Malaysians, is it not the prerogative of UMNO to look out for the benefits of the other races!
The statistics speaks volumes – in the 2004 election UMNO received 35.9% of the popular votes but has 110 parliamentary seats or 50% of all parliamentary seats! That means if this election see the reduction of seats for MCA & MIC and assuming that UMNO keeps the same amount of seat allocation that means the the non-bumis are out of luck as 50% of parliament will not be looking out for their interest!
That’s exactly the fear that BN has perpetuated all this years. A vote against BN means for the next 5 years you will not be taken care off. You cannot hope to see and development in your voting district. Only via BN is there hope and the chance to move forward. Not fair you may cry out but it’s our way or the highway. That smug superiority backed with such propaganda has kept Malaysians from putting in the right people for the job be they people from either BN or the Oppositions.
So to ye Malaysians, be ye planning on voting or especially if ye think on abstaining from voting – do you duty and vote!
Vote not through resignation that nothing can be done, instead vote for a chance at change.
Vote not based on racial lines, instead vote for the people with the right attitude and vote against those who promise but never deliver!
Vote because your vote counts.
Once more the power of new media has allowed sentiments of the people to be placed on the forefront and not be censored by the Malaysian traditional media which is on the leash of the ruling party. I have come across many good articles and recently videos stating the truth from the perception of the people. Today I stumbled upon the following video brought you by Youth For Change, which can be said to summarise all that we Malaysians can hope for by placing Barisan National in power.
Firstly allow me to state my opinion that PJ Utara MP Chew Mei Fun has proven too be a caring MP for the people of her constituency. Sure as the fact that she has been label the Drain & Pothole minister the fact does speak for itself as the residents of PJU know they can rely on her to solve all these type of issues. Forget the MBPJ local council, YB Chew the one you need to approach for guaranteed solution.
Unfortunately when gauged in a Malaysiakini Q&A session and while being pitted against her contender for the PJU parliamentary seat Tony Pua (DAP), it’s on the hot button issues that we sadly see what’s lacking in MP Chew’s stand. The article titled “Question time: PJU’s Chew vs Pua” from Malaysiakini via Pua’s blog post highlights this case and even more beyond.
Question time: PJU’s Chew vs Pua
Clogged drains and potholes may be the concern of many voters in the mixed Petaling Jaya Utara (PJU) constituency but what are the candidates’ stand on national issues?
As election debates are rare in this country, Malaysiakini pitches 12 questions to opposing candidates to allow readers and voters to gauge their respective stand on several hot button issues.
For this round, we pit Barisan Nasional’s incumbent Chew Mei Fun against DAP’s ‘boy wonder’ Tony Pua Kiam Wee in the ‘battle royale’ for the PJU parliamentary seat in Selangor.
Chew still appeals to many voters based on her two-term service track record but pundits predict Pua will deny her a victory by riding the wave of a discontented lower and middle class.
The diverse PJU constituency has 76,618 voters comprising of 76.60 percent Chinese, 15.20 percent Malay, 7.40 percent Indian and 0.8 percent of others.
Chew Mei Fun vs Tony Pua Kiam Wee1. Will you support the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)?
Chew (left): Yeah, I do agree with the setting up of the IPCMC.
Pua: Absolutely. The reason is very simple. We need to increase the credibility of the police force, we need to ensure that the police treat all victims as innocent until proven guilty. The police needs to be (subjected ) to laws themselves. There have been too many cases where the police have been abusing the laws in order to extract, say for example, confessions of the victims.
2. Will you support the implementation of local council elections?
Chew: There (are) many ways to make sure that local councils perform and from what I know the government is looking into the method of appointment of councillors.Pua: Absolutely. That is one of our platform in this campaign. The reason why MPs and state assemblymen in Malaysia are forced to do some of the work of local councils is simply because local councillors are not effective. They are not effective because they are not accountable to the public and (as such) they do things according to their own personal vested interest. So local council elections can be introduced so they will be accountable to the people and if they are not, they can be booted out in the next elections.
3. Will you support that Petronas’ accounts be made public?
Chew: I thought they already have their annual report. I thought the annual report is actually the accounts for (listed) companies to disclose to everybody.
Pua: Absolutely. I think it is important because Petronas controls a huge amount of wealth of the nation. Oil resource of the country belongs to the people and Petronas being the agent that manages the oil wealth of the country must be transparent for the people in order to show that the money has been invested and reinvested and distributed fairly.
4. Will you support the idea of retaining subsidies of oil and other essential items?
Chew: Yes, I think so.Pua: I think the subsidy system at this point in time needs to be readjusted as such that it benefits the poor and marginalised more and less so the wealthy. So for example the subsidy system in existence benefits more of the wealthy because they use the product more, then it is an unfair allocation of resources.
So we believe in a system whereby grants are given directly to the poor and to the lower middle income to cope with the rising price increases. They are targeted and controlled, you won’t find leakages. For example our subsidised diesel being sold by fishermen from Malaysia to Indonesian fishermen. So that is the problem with the existing subsidy system and those need to be resolved.5. Will you support universities to be autonomous or agree to the abolishing of the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971?
Chew: I think university students to concentrate in (their) studies is something (that) they should focus on. But if there (are) weaknesses in the Act, then (there is) no harm to review and do some adjustment or some amendment.Pua: I subscribe to the policy that the UUCA must be abolished. It does not make sense for the university to restrict the thoughts and inquiry of the students. Students must not be taught to think only in a certain way or prevented from being politically active for being politically active actually increases their awareness and critical thinking as well as their analytical skills to enable them to be more adaptable to the global environment when they graduate.
6. Will you support the idea of an Islamic state being established in Malaysia?
Chew: Under the constitution, everybody has freedom of religion. Islam is just the official religion, that’s all. But Pak Lah (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has already said that we are not an Islamic state and we go according to the constitution. The most important thing is according to the constitution. I think we are a secular state if you ask me.Pua: Absolutely not. We believe that a multiracial and multicultural country such as Malaysia has to provide protection to all religions such as the freedom of worship. We believe that the best form of government to protect all religions including the official religion is actually a secular state.
7. Will you support the setting-up of the Inter-faith Council or a Non-Muslim Affairs Department?
Chew: The (BN) manifesto already answers your question.Pua: Yes, certainly. I think the more we understand each other’s culture, religion and practices, the more we are able to live in harmonious terms with one another. When there is a lack of understanding, chances of conflict and misunderstanding would be a lot higher.
8. Will you support the call that the Anti-Corruption Agency be placed under Parliament?
Chew: I think we need to make sure the ACA carry out their work fairly and (transparently) and make sure that they actually take action to investigate whatever, whoever (that are) involved with corruption. If you ask me, in my own opinion, yeah, I agree but this depends. Any how the government still needs to study and many of the issues (are) not that straightforward.Pua: Yes. I think it is silly for the ACA to be placed under the Prime Minister’s office because then it is subjected to tampering, instructions and lobbying by the PM’s office. So under the Parliament which is elected by the people, it should have greater independence.
9. Will you support the idea of abolishing the Internal Security Act (ISA)?
Chew: I think the ISA somehow on some occasions does work like what happened in America. Before that they didn’t have ISA and after the 9/11 (attacks), they now have their own. That’s why this all depends and (it’s) very subjective.
Pua: Yes. It is a draconian law for the simple fact that you are detaining people for months and years without access to fair trial. I think that breaches the natural laws of justice founded since ages ago. Everybody should be given a fair day in court if they are charged as terrorist, then they must be proven to be terrorists before they are jailed for a long time.
10. Will you support public assemblies being held without needing to apply for police permits?
Chew: I think police permits is a must in order to make the situation under control and everybody must be responsible.Pua: Yes I do but on condition. I accept that no permit needs to be required but in the interest of public safety the police needs to be informed and it should be given sufficient time for preparation to ensure that traffic is orderly, the crowd is well controlled and well behaved but they are there to see through a peaceful assembly rather than to prevent a peaceful assembly from happening.
11. Will you support the idea of fixing a minimum wage for workers?
Chew: Yeah, why not? I mean there are so many levels [...] that it is not so straightforward to fix a minimum wage. But for those lower income (groups), I think we should, just to draw them (out) from poverty.Pua: I think we support an idea whereby there must be a fair wage for workers and I think in order to not place a higher burden on employers it is important for the government to step in to ensure that these workers who are having wages below that of a reasonable level are subsidiesed additionally to make sure that they make sufficient monthly income to make ends meet.
12. Will you support the idea of abolishing the New Economic Policy (NEP)?
Chew: I thought the NEP has already ended. The most important thing is that we must make sure that [...] you can actually help one particular race but in the expense of the other race. Everybody must be given a chance to have their own business and work together to create a win-win situation.Pua: Absolutely. We believe that the NEP as it stands today favours the rich, wealthy and influential particularly from the bumiputra community. It does not benefit the bulk majority of the bumiputras as well as the non-bumiputras in this country. So inequality in the country has been increasing rapidly and only with opposition and it’s replacement with a policy that focuses on merit and needs, will the equality be reduced.
Sadly when it comes down to the hot issues like the freedom of religion, accountability, governance & most importantly the corruption prevalent in the country today – it is on this issues where we will undoubtedly find MP Chew most lacking in. Moreover she has not made a single dent let alone voice any vocal opposition to the unjustness of it all. Judging from some of her pointedly short answers she is giving the usual politically sterile answers – making the just right amount of noise in order not to seem incapable.
To be a champion of the minor everyday issues like drainage & potholes is a fine thing. But let it not be all we can hope for while the really important issues are not championed and thus forever dooming our futures and that of our children who will follow in our footsteps and face these issues again and again. I am mystified that prevalent issues that date back before I myself was even born are still hounding us today!
Does this mean that MP Chew is a terrible minister? Unfortunately for us and fortunately for MP Chew the blame doesn’t squarely lie at her feet. For the truth of the matter is that MP Chew is only a member of one of the lesser component party in the ruling coalition where the ruling party (UMNO) has made it blatantly clear – toe the party line on such issues or suffer the consequences. A party stand that blatantly disabuses the facts, plain ignores the issues at hand & buries any suggestion for reform in shambling governmental machinery.
This is the government the we Malaysians have for the past 50 years been blindly & ignorantly putting into office. Chew on that fact as the election day draws ever closer.
It has never stopped amazing me how much the alternative media, most especially The Internet, has seen involvement to a much greater degree than ever before. Sure the Opposition parties and the Governing coalition have always had their website’s before where to a certain degree information of the informative type besides the normal rhetoric and propaganda can be found.
However Election’08 has seen this trend taking a life of its own and progressing to previously unseen levels of information dissemination. I myself being of the Internet generation have always relied on getting my information from various sources via the net. A very strong argument that I myself subscribe to is that the local media be it the newspapers, televisions or radios – all are to an unbelievable degree in bed with the Barisan National government. And as I’m feeling the election fever let me go so far as to specifically to put a name to the face behind all the media restrictions, yup unsurprisingly its none other than UMNO.
Getting back to the issue of this post is my desire to highlight the various website’s, news portals, blogs and any other online resource that the average Malaysian surfer can visit to get the unbiased version of election related news. The following is a list of some of the best online unfiltered & unbiased sites around.
The grand-daddy of listings of any and all of Malaysia’s general election 2008 related sites, blogs, information, manifestos and etc. A must visit for any intrepid netizen looking for information from the mundane to the specific.
First kicked of by 3 seasoned journalist and now with great contribution posts that any voter would find to be most informative if not relevant. As stated on the website cum blog
The news site aims, wherever possible, to provide news about the main issues that the nation is grappling with as we go to the polls, as well as news on the elections that would not gain either the attention of or fair coverage from the traditional media in Malaysia.
For the first time voter who happen to be looking out for the basic information on voting such as do & don’ts, Komas Voters Rights does a bang-up job in presenting the information in eye catching cartoon animations & video dramas. I personally found the video aptly titled “Dah Dafter ke Belum?” to have a hilariously funny comparison of likening smokers as contributors of the countries economy who are willing to lay down their lives for the countries sake!
An election portal by Malaysiakini which has historical data on the last general election along with some other details all nicely laid out in hierarchal methods of state and parliamentary levels. Also readers will find like to other Malaysiakini’s blog posts, news & articles directly related to the election. Plus come election day the site will be updated to reflect the voting results for Election 2008.
Malaysiakini’s Youtube channel has long provide video clips on all issues & news they have reported on. Now serving a bumper of election related videos, this is the No. 1 place of interest from the Youtube generation.
