Islamic Opposition Blasted For Permitting Personal Attacks In Campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysia's main Muslim opposition party is allowing its members to make personal attacks against rivals while campaigning for next week's general election, party officials said Friday (29 Feb), despite the government's contention that Islam forbids such tactics.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, told its candidates earlier this week that they can make public accusations about an opponents' misbehavior or personal flaws "based on facts," party secretary general Kamarudin Jaffar said.

"We are all politicians. We are open to scrutiny by the public," Kamarudin said. "There are clear characteristics for (Muslim) leaders ... to live a clean life."

Kamarudin did not say what specific leaders or officials might be targeted with personal attacks, but the party has often accused Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other government leaders of being corrupt and immoral.

PAS is the chief rival of Abdullah's National Front coalition for votes among ethnic Malay Muslims, who make up nearly 60% of Malaysia's 27 million people.

On Thursday (28 Feb), Abdullah criticized the opposition's decision, saying its leadership "teaches people to do things which are improper."

"This is prohibited by our religion," Abdullah said. "I would not go around hurling abuses at other people."

Abdullah urged National Front officials not to resort to personal attacks, stressing that "there must be courtesy in dealing with other human beings."

Both sides are waging a hard-fought campaign ahead of the March 8 elections, with top leaders crisscrossing the country making speeches.

The National Front's campaign is centered on persuading the public that its policies have preserved social and economic stability.

The coalition is widely expected to retain power, but with a smaller parliamentary majority because of public complaints over inflation, crime and racial and religious tensions.

The National Front also hopes to gain control of northeastern Kelantan state, the only one of Malaysia's 13 states ruled by the opposition. PAS has been in power in Kelantan since 1990. (By JULIA ZAPPEI/ AP)

Opposition Pact Only On Seat Distribution

BUTTERWORTH, Feb 29 (Bernama) -- The opposition coalition is merely an electoral understanding on the distribution of seats for the general election and nothing more, said Deputy Prime Minister Dauk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said this was because they believed that by contesting on a one-to-one basis against the Barisan Nasional (BN), they would gain an advantage in the general election.

"They can't go further than that. They are afraid of forming a coalition. They are even afraid of being photographed together, they collaborate in the dark.

"In fact, they are afraid to issue a joint manifesto, logo or policy. The pact between the DAP, PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and PAS is fragile. Don't try to form a government," he said at a meeting with community leaders, here Thursday night.

Najib said the opposition tried to copy the concept of power-sharing adopted by the BN but failed because the BN coalition was openly achieved with a winning formula which had prevailed for the past 50 years and had passed the test of time.

He said the BN coalition was not only confined to power-sharing but also trusted each other which had enabled it to prevail until today.

Commenting on the power-sharing, Najib said the BN would always defend its partners in whatever circumstances.

Citing the MIC, he said although the Indian community formed 7.9 per cent of the population in the country and it would be difficult for them to find a constituency with an Indian majority, the BN would always give Indian candidates an opportunity to contest.

He said the best example was the by-election for the Ijok state constituency on April 28, last year.

Although it was a Malay-majority area, the BN had nominated the MIC candidate, K. Partiban who won with a majority of 1,850 votes.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the PKR, which is a multiracial party, had fielded Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar had sacrificed his good and loyal friend Datuk KS Nalakaruppan for the sake of politics.

"Friendship does not mean anything (to PKR) compared to the BN which emphasised on comradeship and this is our success because we don't look for opportunities," Najib said.

-- BERNAMA

DAP's Public Rally Attract More People Than MCA's

PETALING JAYA: For the first time, DAP and MCA held their public rally at the same time on Wednesday (27 Feb) evening. Obviously, DAP won the first round in this public rally at Kampung Baru Cempaka by attracting more than 500 people with the party Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng as the speaker.

The two camps began to invite speakers to give their speech since 8pm. DAP had their public rally in front Fu Xi Restaurant, while MCA had theirs at the night market behind the restaurant. The two camps attracted huge crowds and caused traffic congestion. The DAP camp was packed.

The Wednesday public rally is the second public rally for DAP Petaling Jaya Utara candidates after the nomination day on 24 Feb. The party Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng, Petaling Jaya Utara candidate Tony Pua, Damansara Utama candidate Dr Cheah Wing Yin and Kampung Tunku candidate Lau Weng San gave their speech on that night. (Sin Chew Daily)

Malaysia: Koh Tsu Koon Is Worried

BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA: Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) candidate for Batu Kawan parliamentary seat Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said: “Frankly speaking, I'm so worried.”

He said he is clear that Indian votes are uncertain in Batu Kawan but he is willing to stay together with them to show his sincerity in helping them to resolve problems.

Koh told reporter Wednesday (27 Feb) that he hopes Indian voters would support him because of his sincerity.

He said the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) incident have a profound impact on Indian votes as some Indian voters are dissatisfied with leaders of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), and it is likely to affect his chances of winning. Therefore, he hoped that Chinese and Malay voters would help him as he has been getting good responses from them.

Koh said he is worried about Indian votes and he hopes Indian voters would understand that Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition can really resolve the problems for them.

Koh said his chances of winning is 50% and he would take cautious steps. (Sin Chew Daily)

Najib Outlines Four Factors In Choosing Govt

PERMATANG PAUH, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today outlined four factors for the people to consider in casting their ballots on March 8.

He said the voters must ensure that the candidates and party chosen were capable of forming a credible government with clear direction.

"In addition, they must also have good track record and well-planned policies such as the Vision 2020 and the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER)," he said when launching the Family Friendly Carnival at the Sekolah Menengah Permatang Pasir, here today.

Also present were Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

More than 4,500 people attended the carnival.

Najib said the voters must choose leaders who could serve the people well and effectively as there were all kinds of candidates contesting.

He said by choosing candidates who were truly credible, the voters could then ensure that the country would continue to progress to a level that they could be proud of.

He also reminded the voters to be wary of candidates who liked to make promises.

He said it was easy to make promises, but implementing them would be difficult especially those which were unrealistic.

For example, the promise to reduce the toll rates, to raise subsidy and bring down petrol price, he said.

-- BERNAMA

‘Sorry’ for tense atmosphere

KANGAR: Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has apologised for the tense political scenario in the state that led to two reporters being assaulted on Wednesday.

He promised such an incident would not be repeated.

“I am in the midst of pacifying some members in the party who have different views and opinions, and I promise the matter will be settled within a week,” he told reporters at a luncheon for the media and state Barisan Nasional leaders here on Thursday.

He said that there were certain functions reporters that could attend, while there were some closed-door sessions for important discussions.

“But beginning next week, I promise that all functions will be open to the media,” he said.

He was commenting on the incident where four men reportedly assaulted two reporters when Shahidan was delivering a speech at the Beseri Barisan Nasional operations room in Padang Besar on Wednesday.

The suspects involved in the assault, aged between 27 and 53, were arrested after Harian Metro stringer Rashidi Karim, 41, and Berita Harian state representative Adha Ghazali, 30, reported to police that they were assaulted by a group of people outside the ceramah hall.

--THE STAR

Don't Let Opposition Experiment With Country's Administration

KEPALA BATAS, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on the people to reject the opposition parties' plea that they be given a term to rule the country.

He said the issue of choosing a government was not something that the people should experiment with because one wrong choice would be catastrophic for them.

He said the people should not gamble with their future by voting in the opposition.

"They want to form a government just to experiment with the country's administration. If the experiment fails, the result will be disastrous," he told reporters after attending a gathering with Kepala Batas education officers and teachers today.

He was asked comment on the opposition's appeals at their ceramah that they be given a term to prove their ability to rule the country.

Abdullah said the people would be taking an enormous risk if they ever thought of giving the opposition the opportunity to rule the country.

"I hope the people will not entertain this," he said.

Abdullah said the people should continue to put their trust in Barisan Nasional (BN) as the coalition had proven its ability to spur the country's development in various fields.

"The BN government has successfully ensured that the country's development is implemented efficiently and the economy continue to register growth," he said.

Asked on the DAP's expression of confidence of wresting control in Penang in the March 8 general election, Abdullah said: "Let them be confident. In the end it's the people who will decide," he said.

Abdullah said that based on his observations, he was confident that the people would continue to support the BN.

"It's still a good feeling. The people are comfortable (with BN) but of course we still need to work hard as the polling day is fast approaching," he said.

-- BERNAMA

MCA, MIC Counter Attacks With Ads

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- The MCA and MIC, the two largest Barisan Naional (BN) component parties representing the Chinese and Indians, have stepped up their defence as well as attacks on claims that they have let down their communities.

"While the opposition put on a show, MCA worked," said an MCA advertisement in an Englih daily today while MIC's stressed that voting for the opposition is equivalent to a "vote for sweet talk".

Transparency International (Malaysia) (TI-Malaysia) said the media ads to woo voters had increase in the past few days, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) was estimated to have spent over RM1.049 million.

MCA has taken out ads in newspapers and televisions in the run-up to the March 8 general election, emphasising its "behind-the-scene" efforts to help the Chinese community.

The party said 2,300 non-Bumiputera students obtained full Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships to study overseas between 2000 and 2007, a marked increase compared with only 100 students before 2000.

"An increase of 2,200 percent in JPA scholarship funds amounting to more than RM1 billion," the party said, stressing its motto of "Working quietly, effectively for results".

In the ad, MCA said it was just one of the many areas the party has been working hard and would continue to do so for the future of all Malaysians in business, education, socio-cultural areas and women's welfare.

The opposition, in the election campaigning, accused both MCA and MIC of not fighting for the rights of the non-bumiputeras.

MCA's move was emulated by the MIC which has been besieged lately by supporters of the unregistered Hindraf who claimed that the party has not done much to help the Indian community.

"Every Indian who has benefited directly or indirectly from MIC is a silent majority and a silent supporter who has assisted MIC to rise and evolve to where it is today. Can anyone come up and say that MIC is irrelevant or redundant," said the ad.

The ad said if the Indian community did not vote for MIC, they would deprive their children the right to preserve and uphold Tamil, Hinduism and the right to seek education.

"Vote for PAS and see where Kelantan is today. That's how your constituency will be for the next five years, If you think that you are not progressing under MIC, then you can now imagine getting disintegrated under PAS," the ad said.

Besides monitoring political parties' print media ad expenditures in 18 newspapers daily, TI-Malaysia said in a statement today that it has started to monitor the television ads today.

It said under the Election Offences Act 1954 parliamentary candidates were allowed to spend up to RM200,000 and state seat contenders RM100,000.

BN candidates can collectively spend up to only RM94.8 million, it said.

Of this, 1.11 percent had been spent on print media ads thus far, TI-Malaysia said, adding that candidates from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and PAS had not taken up any ads so far.

"This is the first time that campaign expenses are being monitored. This is a new addition to election process and media monitoring that was started from previous elections and is being performed now," it said.

-- BERNAMA

Sneakers show Teng is up and running

GEORGE TOWN: Arriving at the Gottlieb Road market here at 8.15am in a green Volvo, the Pulau Tikus state seat incumbent Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan begins his campaign a day after nominations on Sunday.

His white shirt and black trousers suggest he is going to the office for another day's work; the shoes, though, tell a different story.

Teng, a father of four, is in sneakers -- showing he is ready to hit the track running for 12 days of campaigning.

His family joins him. His wife, Chang Lee Lee, and youngest son, Teng Sheng Jie, 14, help Teng's service team set up a voter verification centre at the entrance to the market.

Teng and his wife start distributing flyers to the mainly middle-aged or elderly women going to the market.

With a smile and a "Good morning. Please support, ya," Teng and Chang greet the constituents who know him and react warmly.

Teng is seen as one of the two men likely to succeed outgoing chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. The other is another Gerakan candidate, Datuk Lee Kah Choon.

One voter tells Teng: "Looking at the marks on your face, I think you will be the next chief minister."

Teng is caught off-guard but recovers quickly enough to borrow a bicycle from an elderly woman and take it for a short spin. A short while later, the 62-year-old Teng tries frying crackers at a stall a few steps away.

These are the things that politicians do during the "silly season" of campaigning.

It is inevitable that he would run into his challenger: the market is a favourite hunting ground for voters. 

DAP's Koay Teng Hai is doing the rounds along with the Bukit Bendera DAP candidate, Liew Chin Tong. They exchange pleasantries and shake hands with Teng before going their separate ways.

Halfway through, Teng's colleague and the 2004 Bukit Bendera winner, Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, joins him.

After Chia and his wife leave, Teng, his wife and the rest of the service team stop at the Sin Hup Aun coffee shop near the market for breakfast.

They then adjourn to another shop nearby selling nyonya food. A quick meal later, Teng is up and running to his third destination -- Kampung Herriott.

He is joined by some 20-odd Umno members, as they go door-to-door trying to garner as much support as possible.

Some voice their support for Teng, with encouragements such as: "Don't worry, we're behind you. We are not just talking for the sake of talking. We are really behind you".

Their support seems to indicate the Pulau Tikus seat is Teng's but he is not taking things for granted -- the campaigning continues for the next nine days.

--NST

Traffic, development concerns in Pulau Tikus

GEORGE TOWN: Pulau Tikus is a fast-developing residential and commercial area.

One of the island's growing upper-class neighbourhoods, dotted with mansions, bungalows and colonial buildings and high-end condominiums on the Gurney Drive promenade, the constituency was created in 2004 following a delineation exercise. It was previously known as Kebun Bunga.

The electorate of 16,763 voters comprises Chinese (79 per cent), Malays (14), Indians (seven) and others (0.1).

Among issues affecting constituents is traffic congestion. Rapid development is another cause for concern.

Residents have expressed unhappiness over a major RM700 million project near Gurney Drive.

Incumbent Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan is seeking re-election after defeating Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Jason Ong Khan Lee in the 2004 election, polling 8,613 votes to Ong's 2,507.

--NST

Pressmen attacked at BN ceramah

KANGAR: Four men were detained for allegedly punching a 

Berita Harian reporter and stringer at a ceramah by Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

State police Criminal Investigations Department chief Superintendent Mat Nasir Hussein said the four men were arrested separately. They were aged between 27 and 53. 

The reporters were covering the ceramah at the Barisan Nasional operations room in a shoplot in Beseri, Padang Besar.

Stringer Rashidi Karim, 41, said one of the assailants had asked him to step outside while Shahidan was giving his speech.

"I refused because I wanted to hear the speech. But he persisted and pulled my shirt and tore it," said Rashidi, adding that the man dragged him out to the road in front of the shoplots. 

That was when a few others surrounded Rashidi and punched him repeatedly. One man kicked him on the chest and he fell on the road. 

He suffered a bruised lip, a cut on the left elbow, and a numb right arm from the impact of falling to the ground. 

BH state representative Adhai Ghazali, 30, who went to Rashidi's aid was punched on the head.

Both received outpatient treatment at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital. 

They lodged a report at the Beseri police station.

--NST

Malaysia: Najib Fed Up With Kelantan UMNO

MACHANG, MALAYSIA: UMNO Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pointed out that the Kelantan UMNO must first resolve their internal problems if they want to recepture Kelantan .

“I'm tired. If the Kelantan UMNO's internal disputes can't be resolved, when can we recapture Kelantan then?”

When Najib gave his speech in a public rally Wednesday (27 Feb), he told the Kelantan people that “It is time to make a change!” in hope that they support BN. However, the unsolved internal disputes of Kelantan UMNO is definitely their biggest resistance.

He stressed that the BN should have won Kelantan regime in the last election. However, he could not understand why the BN could win the Machang parliamentary seat, but lost in its state seats of Pulai Chondong, Temangan and Kemuning. It clearly shows that UMNO has internal disputes.

Najib said that the internal UMNO must first work in unity and solidarity in a bid to regain the political power in Kelantan. At the same time, they must get rid of the culture of betrayal.

Najib also thanked Kelantan Umno Liaison chairman Datuk Seri Annuar Musa, for making way for Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin to lead the elections team.

Awang Adek contests for one parliamentary seat and one state seat at the coming elections. With such arrangement, it is believed that he is slotted to be Kelantan Menteri Besar should BN win. (Sin Chew Daily)

Malaysia: DAP Fires Up Its Rocket

BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA: Supporters and members of Democratic Action Party (DAP) has positioned its 38-foot giant red rocket and placed it along a road in Berapit, attracting much attention.

The giant rocket also marked the start of the battle in Berapit between DAP and Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

DAP candidate for Bukit Mertajam parliamentary seat Chong Eng said the giant rocket is a gesture of support from the party's members and supporters. (Sin Chew Daily)

Hisham: Opposition not taking polls seriously

He said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng reportedly saying that he did not think DAP could win two-thirds of the majority and establish a ruling government showed that the party was not treating the elections seriously.

“If you said those things, then there is no use coming out with a party manifesto,” Hishammuddin said.

“It means they are promising things they know they cannot deliver,” he said, adding that such tactics were designed to confuse the rakyat.

Hishammuddin, who is also Education Minister, said other opposition parties were not that much different.

“The coalition of opposition parties claims they are the alternative but their manifestos are different from each other,” he said after launching the SM Sains Sembrong boarding school here yesterday.

Hishammuddin added that PKR putting up posters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh instead of incumbent Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail also showed the party was treating the elections as a game.

“PKR has even announced openly that the Permatang Pauh seat would be vacated once they won it, to give way to him (Anwar).

“He (Anwar) is willing to sacrifice his wife’s seat for his own sake,” he said, adding that this was a desperate tactic.

Hishammuddin said he would go to Permatang Pauh to assist Barisan Nasional’s machinery there.

“We want to win back all the seats there and deny PKR any chance,” he said.

--THE STAR

Altantuya Blown Up Naked, Court Told

SHAH ALAM, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu whose remains were found in some bushes in November 2006 could have been naked when she was blown up at the scene, the High Court here heard today.

Forensic consultant Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood said he drew this conclusion because no traces of fibre were found at the site in the bushes between Puncak Alam and Puncak Perdana here.

"I went to the scene on Nov 7 and 9, 2006 to carry out investigations into the remains of a person found there. From my observation, the deceased was probably undressed when the injuries were inflicted," he said.

Dr Mohd Shah who is Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Forensic Department Head said that during the investigations, he found 322 human bone fragments at the scene.

Asked by deputy prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah why he went to the scene twice, he said that after his first visit, he found that the bone fragments were not enough to form a complete human skeleton.

"I later suggested to the investigating officer, ASP Tonny Lunggan, to carry out a more thorough search," he said at the trial of Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 32, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37, charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19 and 11am the following day.

Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 48, is charged with abetting them.

Dr Mohd Shah, who is the 70th witness, said that after carrying out the examination for the second time on Nov 9, the bone fragments still could not form a complete human skeleton.

He said he carried out the examination and pieced together the bone fragments together with forensic anthropologist Dr Nurliza Abdullah.

All the bone fragments were handed to him by Lunggan at the mortuary of the Forensic Department, HKL.

Dr Mohd Shah said Lunggan gave him 34 packets of exhibits for analysis which were later handed over to the Chemistry Department.

The trial before justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin continues tomorrow.



-- BERNAMA

Much Progress By BN Govt In Penang

PENANG, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Penang had achieved tremendous progress in terms of development and the economy in the last four years as a result of the hard work put in by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government helmed by Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

According to the report card on the progress of Penang 2008, launched by Koh here today, significant progress had been achieved in the fields of economy, provision of infrastructural facilities, training and manpower, manufacturing, industry, agriculture and fisheries, tourism, commerce and services.

"Although there are many more projects that are in various stages of implementation, the report card shows much progress and success had been achieved between 2004 and 2008. The BN government and the people were not only able to defend Penang as the most progressive state in the country but had even advanced further," he said at the launching of the report card at his office, here.

What was more significant, he said, Penang had been chosen among the top 10 most liveable cities in Asia by an international body.

"This is not a BN publicity stunt but an opinion or perception of the international community. Out of the 254 cities in the Asian continent, Penang and Kuala Lumpur are among the 10 cities chosen by them," he said.

Koh said Penang was also the first state to be accorded the MSC Cyber City status outside the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) area and identified as the hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

In addition, he said, Penang was also identified as the "Silicon Island of the East" for the manufacturing sector and had been chosen as the centre of excellence for the microelectronic sector within the NCER scope of work.

The Chief Minister said Penang's progress was also gauged from the poverty rate which was the lowest in the country at 0.3 per cent, the water and electricity supply coverage which exceeded 99 per cent, literacy rate at 93.8 per cent and employment rate at 97.9 per cent.

He said Penang had also succeeded in attracting the highest foreign investment for three years consecutively, exceeding RM4.5 billion, and this showed that the state was still the favourite place for investment despite strong competition from China, India and Vietnam.

Koh said that during the four years under review, several important programmes to improve the state's transport system had been implemented including the introduction of the public bus transportation, RapidPenang and the completion of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) and the Jelutong Expressway.

Preliminary works on the construction of the second bridge had also commenced while the monorail service project which was in the final stage of planning was expected to start soon.

He said currently there were more than 200 multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Penang and several of them had made the state as their main production centre for the world market.

In terms of the agricultural and fisheries sector, Penang was promoting the use of a new technology and professional management to raise productivity in this sector.

The tourism sector had also seen an increase of 36 per cent in the number of aircraft passengers during the last four years with seven airlines introducing their direct flights to Penang.

Koh lashed out at the opposition, particularly the DAP, for trying to distort the facts on the economic performance and development in the state.

"The BN government has proven its success based on the data and facts but the opposition are still planning and proposing what they want to do. We have been walking and working but the opposition have only done the talking," he said.

-- BERNAMA

PKR claims candidates bribed with million ringgit bounty to pull out

KUCHING, Wed:

Parti Keadilan Rakyat said today it would lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency over alleged attempts to buy off their candidates and independents aligned to the party.

Sarawak PKR chief Dominique Ng claimed that PKR candidates Rahmat Idil (Santubong), Hussain Abang Apok (Kota Samarahan), Piee Ling (Batang Sadong), Labang Jamba (Julau) and Japar Suyut (Lawas) were aggressively pursued and offered a buy-out .

Ng claimed there were also attempts to buy out two independent candidates, Cobbold John Lusoi (Sri Aman ) and Nicholas Bawin Anggat (Lubok Antu). The buy out offer ranged from RM300,000 to RM1.5 million, Ng claimed.

PKR and the Independents are in a straight fight with the Barisan Nasional in all the seats Ng mentioned during a Press conference.

Rahmat, who was present, said a few hours before the press conference, an anonymous caller offered him RM300,000 to withdraw his candidacy.

"They have been pursuing me since last night (Tuesday night)," Rahmat, who is challenging the BN incumbent, PBB's Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, claimed.

PKR candidate for Batang Sadong Piee Ling claimed he was offered an astonishing RM1.5 million to pull out.

"That was yesterday (Tuesday) and I believe the amount being offered would go up as (the) midnight (deadline for withdrawal) approaches," he added.

Piee is facing BN newcomer Nancy Shukri in the coastal seat in Sri Aman Division.

In an immediate response, State Barisan Nasional secretary-general Dr Stephen Rundie dismissed the claims as "lies and wild allegations."

"The BN will never buy the Opposition candidates to withdraw," he said. "Why should we? They want to fight us, we will fight them to the end." 

Dr Rundie, who is also the Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general, dismissed Ng as "bankrupt of political capital for making the allegations."

"He is out to tarnish our image to gain voter symphaty," he said.

Malaysia: PKR Tian Chua Challenges Gerakan Lim Si Pin

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Tian Chua who competing for Batu parliamentary seat, challenged Gerakan candidate Lim Si Pin to have a public debate on national issues.

He said both candidates could debate on national issues such as the increasing of criminal cases, corruption cases, legal crisis, economic and other issues.

"Public debate is not only provides a platform for both candidate to compete fairly, but it lets voters to compare the candidates and make smart choices," Tian Chua told reporters at a press conference here, Wednesday (27 Feb).

"As far as I know, residents hope two candidates to have public debate. Why do we turn down their requests?"

He said if candidates only went to night market and shaking hands with people, or went to temple and smiling with people, voters did not know the quality of a candidate.

"They are not able to differentiate the quality of candidate from shaking hands, smiling or posters," he added.

He said voters would decide whether they wanted to choose members of parliament (MPs) who monitoring the government or those who fight for interest or allocation. (Sin Chew Daily)

Samy explains rationale behind MIC's print ads

SUNGAI SIPUT, Wed: 

The MIC is placing advertisements in the print media to inform the public and the Indian community on programmes carried out by the party.

The one-page advertisement in newspapers with the heading "MIC Cares...The power of truth" outlined the benefits and achievements enjoyed by the community which was initiated by the party.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said this had to be done to counter those who question what the MIC has done for the Indian community. 

"The advertisement is only the first of four parts to counter all these negative claims," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a MoU between Masterskill College Of Nursing and Health and the MIC's Education Bureau here today. 

The college was represented by its chief executive officer Edmund Santhara and vice president Mohd Nasri Nordin while the signatories for the bureau were its chairman Professor Datuk T. Marimuthu and committee member Madhu Marimuthu. The MoU will see the setting up of a RM1 million Masterskill Intellectual Development Fund by the college to provide scholarship to poor students planning to further their studies at Masterskill colleges in the country.

Chiding those behind the allegations, Samy Vellu said he was not sure whether they read the Tamil dailies or were not residing in Malaysia.

"Maybe the newspapers did not print daily the programmes carried out by MIC and they came to a conclusion that we are doing nothing."

Samy Vellu hit out at Parti Keadilan Rakyat supporters who disrupt BN campaigns and ceramahs, citing the case in Penang on Tuesday when a group of 700 PKR members tried to disrupt the function.

"Those involved were mostly youngsters and 70 percent of them do not even vote,” he said.

--NST

Opposition manifesto does not portray reality, says Khairy

BERNAMA

REMBAU, Wed.:

The opposition manifesto does not represent reality, said Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Rembau parliamentary seat, said: “The opposition can promise the sky but in the end, we (the government) have to pay...we will be taking out the money to fulfil the promises.

“I don’t think the opposition can fulfil their promises. But if such promises were to be fulfilled, this country will be destroyed...it will go bankrupt.

“Just like human beings... we can only spend what we have and not what we don’t have. Otherwise, we have to borrow. And from whom will we have to borrow"

Khairy was met by Bernama after making a courtesy call on the Undang Luak Rembau (territorial chieftain) Datuk Muhamad Sharif Othman at the latter’s ceremonial court here today.

Present were the BN candidate for the Kota state seat Datuk Dr Awaluddin Said and the candidate for Chembong, Zaifulbahri Idris.

Yesterday, opposition parties, DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS introduced their “welfare-oriented” manifesto for the 12th general election.

Among the promises made by the DAP, is that it will give an annual bonus of RM6,000 to each family earning less than RM6,000 per month, while PKR has promised to introduce a minimum wage of RM1,500 per month and to extend the housing loan repayment period to 60 years.

PAS will introduce an allowance for single mothers, among its plans contained in the party’s election manifesto. 

Khairy said: “If this country goes bankrupt, it will have to borrow from the World Bank and from the United States. The PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be happy if we borrow from his friends.” 

On the BN winning the Igan parliamentary seat in Sarawak after the Independent candidate Junak Jawek withdrew from the contest, he said it was a good sign for the BN in this general election. 

"This also shows that the opposition is short of candidates and election machinery and not confident enough in their struggle.” Speaking at the ceremony earlier, Khairy said if victorious, all the BN candidates in Rembau would work hard in serving the people.

In congratulating the candidates, Muhamad Sharif expressed his hope that the three, if they win the seats, would help further develop the Rembau district.

Koh singles out Ooi as ignorant, irresponsible in spreading hearsay

GEORGE TOWN, Wed: 

A visibly irritated Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has branded those who claimed that Penang had lost its dynamism and competitiveness as ignorant and irresponsible.

Singling out Jeff Ooi, who is contesting the Jelutong parliamentary seat on a DAP ticket, he accused the controversial blogger of spreading hearsay stories in campaign rounds.

"I want to ask those who criticise us if they have visited any factories,” he said. "I have visited a lot of factories, promoted them and worked with them closely. My first question to him (Ooi) is how many factories has he visited. I can name all these factories which I am sure he is not even aware of.”

The outgoing chief minister said the Penang government has the facts and figures to prove that the island was still a vibrant economy, including the fact that 200 multinationals were still doing good business in the state.

"If you go to the industrial area you will see for yourself that the factories are still there and they are functioning,” he said. "Yet, some people are saying they (the factories) are pulling out. What kind of a story is this. It is ignorant and irresponsible.”

Koh said this after presenting a progress report on Penang from 2004 to 2008. A booklet detailing all the state government's successes over the past four years would be distributed to the people here by the state Barisan Nasional when its candidates go on their house to house campaign rounds.

Among the achievements highlighted include how Penang was now ranked one of the top 10 most liveable cities in Asia, honoured as the first state to roll-out a MSC Cyber City outside the Multimedia Super Corridor and identified as the hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

Koh said besides being the state with the lowest hardcore poverty rate in the country, Penang was also attracting the highest amount of investment in its history.

Infrastructure projects like the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR), Jelutong Expressway and Bayan Baru elevated highway had been completed while the RapidPenang bus service had also been introduced. Other projects like the monorail are in the final stages of planning.

On the DAP manifesto, Koh said the BN had already addressed the issues raised by the opposition party. "We have done the work while they are stuck at the level of words only. They have been talking when we have been walking and working," he said.

--NST

Koh feels the love of the Indian voters

GEORGE TOWN, Wed:

They are said to be shunning the MIC president but for Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, he said he was overwhelmed by the warmth shown to him by Indian voters.

"I speak for myself but the first impression that I get when I meet them is that they are showing me genuine warmth. Some of them even hug me," he said when asked how the Indian voters were responding to him during his campaign rounds in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency.

Koh, who is contesting there after deciding that he wanted to move to the federal level, is facing DAP rookie Dr P. Ramasamy. The Batu Kawan constituency, covering the Prai, Bukit Tengah and Bukit Tambun state seats, has 47,378 voters, of whom 56 per cent are Chinese, Indians (24 per cent) and Malays (20 per cent).

Koh, who is acting Gerakan president, said most of the issues raised by the Indians in the constituencies related to problems like clogged drains and temples that were marked for relocation.

"We are working out the solutions to their problems. They have responded positively and they expect the government to do more for them, which is also the case for every community," he said.

--NST

Disciplinary action for two MCA members

KUALA LUMPUR: Two MCA members who stood as independent candidates to contest in the elections will face disciplinary action to be expelled, says MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who heads the disciplinary committee.

"They will be sacked eventually,'' said Chan, in reference to Ho Yip Kap and Koh Boon Heng who are contesting state seats as independant candidates. Ho is contesting the Tanah Rata state seat and Koh is contesting the Damak state seat.

Both are involved in three-cornered fights.

For the Tanah Rata state seat, Chai Kok Lim of MCA, contesting as a Barisan Nasional candidate, faces Go Mong Nging of the DAP and Ho.

For the Damak state seat, Lau Lee of Barisan (from MCA) is facing Mohd Nor Jaafar from PKR and Koh.

Chan also said those who acted as proposer and seconder for non-MCA candidates in seats where MCA candidates were contesting would also face disciplinary action.

--THE STAR

Malaysia: Ong Ka Ting: MCA Is The Bodyguard of Chinese Community

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) was the bodyguard of Chinese community, the party was a political representative to protect the Chinese's rights and interests in politic, economic, cultural and education sectors, said MCA president Ong Ka Ting.

Therefore, MCA was not the bodyguard for others, added Ong.

He said MCA and other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, such as UMNO and MIC, were political vanguard, they were contemporaries. MCA has improved the Chinese qualifications and experiences in politic arena, Chinese has contributed a lot in building the country.

"Today, there are shameless opposition parties which belittles MCA as others' bodyguard because they want to win and to achieve their dreams. In fact, we are "body guard" for Chinese, we are the political representative for Chinese in politic, economic, cultural and education sectors," he said during the MCA 59th Party Anniversary Celebration.

"During the campaigning period, most of the statements by opposition parties are distorting the fact. It is unfair to MCA. Moreover opposition parties urges Chinese to vote them in order to give a lesson to UMNO, it is a lie," Ong said.

He said MCA has contributed a lot in politic, economic, cultural and education sectors, and MCA was unlike opposition parties which only shouted the slogan without actual contribution.

He also requested the MCA members to be careful during election campaigning period in order to reveal the fact.

However, he said MCA was very confident in Chinese community because Chinese was a smart, and those who approached MCA would know MCA's contributions in the past. (Sin Chew Daily)

PAS calls for TV boycott

BACHOK: PAS deputy president Nasruddin Mat Isa wants voters to boycott all television programmes in the run-up to polling day on March 8, claiming there was only Barisan Nasional propaganda available. 

Nasruddin said voters including their children should only view animated programmes such as Doraemon and Power Rangers. 

“The electronic media has become one-sided. For voters to have a clear head when they cast their ballots, they should refrain from watching television for now,” he said at a ceramah in Kampung Bukit Chenda here yesterday. 

He promised that the PAS-led Opposition would lower the prices of goods if voted in as the next government of the country.  

--THE STAR

‘Karaoke YB’ is back

AYER HITAM: One MCA candidate in the state is campaigning in her own special way – singing her way into the hearts of voters. 

Yong Peng state seat incumbent Lim Kee Moi, also known as the “Karaoke YB” among her constituents, said that she and her team were busy singing at events organised by the people. 

Lim: ‘Most political talk can be boring but when you have a karaoke session, the atmosphere changes and people are more relaxed’

“Most political talk can be boring but when you have a karaoke session, the atmosphere changes and people are more relaxed,” she said, adding that this was an effective way to get close to the people. 

Lim said she and her team of MCA women have even been invited to sing at weddings in her constituency. 

“We were very busy singing at many events during the recent Chinese New Year celebrations,” she said in an interview. 

Asked whether she had a karaoke set in her car, she just smiled and said that most of the time there were public address systems and a karaoke set at the events. 

Lim, who is also state MCA deputy Wanita chief, said that most of her constituents were people working in rubber and oil palm plantations. 

“Once they finish work they relax and many of them sing,” she said, adding that her favourite song was a Mandarin number by the late Teresa Teng titled Tian Mi Mi (Very Sweet or Happiness). 

Asked if she had taken part in any karaoke competition, she said she won a consolation prize during a family day for Johor assemblymen and assemblywomen. 

Lim added that besides her favourite songs, the group also sang five other songs, which were meant for weddings and other auspicious events. 

Lim is facing Ng Lam Swa of the DAP.  

In the 2004 elections, she beat DAP’s Chew Peck Choo with a 3,847 majority.  

--THE STAR