Welcome, Guest |
You have to register before you can post on our site.
|
Online Users |
There are currently 379 online users. » 1 Member(s) | 375 Guest(s) Applebot, Bing, Google, Drograms
|
|
|
YOURSAY | Despite status quo, Umno performed poorly |
Posted by: superadmin - 08-13-2023, 07:51 AM - Forum: Politics
- No Replies
|
 |
Apanama is back: Even though the status quo remains at 3-3 (Pakatan Harapan-BN vs Perikatan Nasional), Harapan-BN has performed rather poorly in this six states election.
Look at the number of seats the coalition won throughout the six states thus far (a total of 232 seats). Of course, we practice first-past-the-post-system, but the seats won by Harapan-BN were 93 seats while PN won 139 seats.
This means PN's popular votes increased since the 15th general election (GE15) last November. The first-past-the-post system hides this popular vote.
The federal government needs to do something rather than feel satisfied with the so-called 3-3 status quo.
Moreover, some of the seats won in Selangor, for example, were won with a small majority against PN. Or course, for now, it appears safe. Yes, as I always fear, our secularism is in danger.
Meanwhile, Umno/BN performed very badly. So far, out of 230 seats, it has won only 17 seats in six states. BN was given 108 seats, the highest in the Harapan-BN coalition. From day one, I was concerned about their risk.
However, Umno will pretend as if nothing has happened and its president cum Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will not resign even if there is a call for him to do so.
The party's members have sent their protest votes, almost en bloc.
I always mentioned that it is risky to give 108 seats to Umno/BN. Looking at the high percentage of voters in Kedah and Terengganu, which are from PN/PAS strongholds, Umno has lost very badly.
GE15 showed that the party is almost totally rejected by the Malays. The trend has not receded yet.
No one can say anything because Zahid is still at the top. He is a liability for both the party as well as the unity government. This will cost some damage to the Harapan-BN coalition as far as results in these six state elections are concerned.
In Selangor, PN was able to deny Harapan-BN its two-thirds majority. We need to wait for the Malacca and Johor elections in two years to see if this is a trend in future elections.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim needs to do something rather than leave it as it is. I hope he does not underestimate this “Green Wave” phenomenon.
- More -
|
|
|
The constitutional case that Donald Trump is already banned from being president |
Posted by: superadmin - 08-12-2023, 10:30 AM - Forum: Politics
- No Replies
|
 |
Two conservative legal scholars, members of the Federalist Society in good standing, have just published an audacious argument: that Donald Trump is constitutionally prohibited from running for president, and that state election officials have not only the authority but the legal obligation to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot.
The legal paper, authored by University of Chicago professor William Baude and University of St. Thomas professor Michael Stokes Paulsen, centers on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — a provision that limits people from returning to public office if they have since “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or “given aid or comfort” to those who have. Baude and Paulsen argue that this clearly covers Trump’s behavior between November 2020 and January 2021.
“The most politically explosive application of Section Three to the events of January 6, is at the same time the most straightforward,” Baude and Paulsen write. “Former President Donald J. Trump is constitutionally disqualified from again being President (or holding any other covered office) because of his role in the attempted overthrow of the 2020 election and the events leading to the January 6 attack.”
The consequences of this argument are astonishing. On Baude and Paulsen’s read, Section 3 is “self-executing” — meaning it does not require an act of Congress to enter force and binds those public officials in the position to act on its dictates. Basically, if a single official anywhere in the US electoral system finds their constitutional analysis compelling, Baude and Paulsen urge them to act on it.
- More -
|
|
|
China well on track of stable economic recovery, defying ‘time bomb’ rhetoric |
Posted by: superadmin - 08-12-2023, 09:47 AM - Forum: Business, Economy and Investment
- No Replies
|
 |
Following the newly-announced executive order that restricts US investment in some high-tech industries in China, US President Joe Biden on Thursday intensified the smear campaign against China by claiming that the country is a "ticking time bomb" due to its economic challenges and it was in trouble because of weak growth. Chinese experts said on Friday that Biden purposely made these demeaning and smearing comments to distract the domestic audience's attention from domestic issues and gain political benefits for his campaign in the 2024 US presidential election.
Despite recent exchanges between senior Chinese and US officials, there has been no real easing of bilateral relations, experts said. They said since the US side is unlikely to change its foreign policy on issues such as the Taiwan question, the South China Sea and economy and trade, and especially the high-tech sector, it will be more aggressive toward China on these issues.
"China is in trouble," Biden said at a political fundraiser in Utah on Thursday, Reuters reported. "They have got some problems. That's not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things," Biden said, claiming that he did not want to hurt China and wanted a rational relationship.
- More -
|
|
|
Wage subsidy a bad idea, experts tell govt |
Posted by: superadmin - 08-12-2023, 09:04 AM - Forum: Business. Economy and Investment
- No Replies
|
 |
PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to subsidise the private sector wage bill has drawn flak from various quarters.
Experts who spoke to FMT Business reiterated the fact that pay increases must be tied to raising productivity. They also expressed concern over the impact it will have on government expenditure.
Penjana Kapital CEO Taufiq Iskandar said wealth creation and income distribution should be based on productivity.
He said interventionist measures such as the proposed subsidy for private sector wages had proven essential to prevent unemployment.
- More -
|
|
|
Smearing China: Apart from pleasing US, what other benefits can Canada get? |
Posted by: superadmin - 08-11-2023, 08:05 PM - Forum: Politics
- No Replies
|
 |
On Wednesday, Canada said it is "highly probable"that China helped orchestrate an online disinformation campaign against Conservative Party lawmaker Michael Chong in May.
Upon closer examination, the statement is replete with phrases such as "likely" and "no indication." It pointed out that "while China's role in the information operation is highly probable, unequivocal proof that China ordered and directed the operation is not possible to determine."
Even without any clear evidence, Canada is claiming the Chinese government was behind the "WeChat campaign" of sharing the so-called "misleading narratives" about the Conservative politician. This is blatantly a smear and slander.
Such practices resemble rogue behavior, with the main purpose being to attract attention and spur discussion in the international community. Regardless of the truth, even if the allegations are ultimately proven unfounded, the smear has already had its effect. Western countries are too familiar with the rules of this game and know how to use words like "probable" and "likely" to draw attention, criticize, or question China.
- More -
|
|
|
|