Malaysia GE 15

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Umno ‘rejecting’ PAS is good news for PN, says Muhyiddin

PETALING JAYA: Umno’s alleged decision to refuse cooperation with PAS is good news for Perikatan Nasional (PN) and will allow the coalition to win more seats, says Muhyiddin Yassin.

The PN chairman said the coalition’s relationship with PAS was still strong and in line with the Islamic party’s position as a founding member of PN, alongside Bersatu and other component parties.

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Not racist to have Malay-Muslim dominated government: PAS

KUALA LUMPUR – A government dominated by a single majority race cannot be regarded as racist, PAS said today amid its continued push for a Malay-Muslim federal administration.

In a statement, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan claimed that such a make-up of a government is common and generally accepted anywhere in the world.

“In this regard, PAS is of the view that the concept of political domination by a majority group in a country is not racist and unjust,” he said.

Takiyuddin said PAS is also confident that the party’s push for ummah unity can be easier achieved if all Malay-Muslim political outfits in the country adopt a more open-hearted approach in facing the coming general election.

In an apparent message to Umno, the PAS lawmaker said these parties should place greater importance on the stability of the country and the happiness of the general public ahead of the polls.

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GE15: GRS to contest 13 seats, BN 12 in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest 13 and 12 federal seats respectively in an apparent seat-sharing formula between the two political groupings in the 15th general election (GE15).

According to sources close to the matter, the two coalitions are still finalising the terms on at least three more seats.

“They are Kota Marudu (now held by PBS), Sipitang (Bersatu) and Beluran (Bersatu),” he said.

“Kudat (now Bersatu) will be returned to BN, as well as Tuaran, Beaufort, and Libaran,” said the source who obtained first-hand information from the GRS leadership.

GRS comprises Bersatu, Sabah Star, PBS, SAPP and Usno, while BN’s components are Umno, PBRS, MIC and MCA.

Yesterday, Sabah BN chairman-cum-state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has confirmed an electoral cooperation with GRS led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah Bersatu chairman and GRS chairman.

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PKR to name GE15 candidates by Oct 19

PETALING JAYA: PKR will name its candidates for the coming general election (GE15) by Oct 19, said deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi said a committee headed by himself and the party’s vice-presidents will decide on a shortlist of candidates.

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No decision yet on Perak state assembly dissolution

PETALING JAYA: The dissolution of the Perak state legislative assembly has yet to be decided, says Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad.

Saarani, who was granted an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, earlier today, confirmed that the meeting was to seek the ruler’s consent to dissolve the state assembly in line with the dissolution of Parliament on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the audience, Saarani said the sultan would grant him another audience after he has made a decision.

“The power to dissolve the state legislative assembly lies solely in the hands of the ruler.

“After His Highness has made a decision, he will grant me an audience.”

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Bersatu, PAS may swap seats in GE15, says Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu has not ruled out the possibility of swapping seats with PAS in the 15th general election (GE15).

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said this was among strategies for the party to win in the coming polls.

“It is important that component leaders win in constituencies they stand in.

“Which is why we are looking at swapping seats. Depending on the candidates PAS intends to fill, it may need the seats won by Bersatu (in the previous polls) and vice-versa,” he told reporters after attending a briefing on flood preparations at Bukit Aman here.

It had been previously reported that PN component parties would finalise seat allocations soon.

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Pakatan to review decision not to dissolve state assemblies

KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is currently reviewing its previous decision not to dissolve the state legislative assemblies held by the coalition, following a request made by Penang. 

The matter was deliberated in today’s PH presidential council meeting, although an official announcement is only expected to be made within the next couple of days, according to the coalition’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

“We discussed the matter, and at the moment, there are several specific issues that are being reviewed,” he told reporters here today.

“God willing, in the near future, the PH leadership will make an announcement… There were requests from our friends from Penang. As such, the issue was discussed.”

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Stick to decision not to dissolve state assemblies, PH told

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan should stick to its initial decision and not dissolve the state assemblies in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, says political analyst Wong Chin Huat.

“The public would expect the state government to focus all their energy and resources on flood relief instead of being distracted by electioneering and campaigning,” he said during a televised programme on Astro Awani.

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Let the games begin

Although there has long been speculation that a general election will soon be called, most political parties have not yet completed their candidate lists. Some parties are finding it difficult to field candidates, as candidates must fund much of their campaign by themselves.

However, within Umno, infighting among division heads for candidacy has been reported, as one term as an MP provides a lifelong pension.

There are also rumours of some surprises in the Umno candidates’ list, with some new faces presented. DAP is also rumoured to be presenting more Malay candidates this time.

Some ministers, among them Khairy Jamaluddin, may contest in a different seat.

Party alignments are also making candidate selections more difficult. Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s youth party Muda may be forced to go it alone, while Gerakan’s alignment with Perikatan Nasional has not yet resulted in seat allocations.

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Thanks but no thanks, says Anwar on Dr M’s offer to cooperate

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim has turned down Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s offer of cooperation ahead of the 15th general election (GE15).

Anwar said he had to refuse Mahathir’s offer as he feels the former prime minister’s stance on matters is inconsistent.

“It’s all right. We will continue to monitor (what Mahathir says). Next week, he will have a different (stance),” he told reporters after last night’s PH presidential council meeting.

On Tuesday, the 97-year-old Mahathir announced that he will be defending his Langkawi parliamentary seat in GE15, after stating in March that he would not stand for re-election.

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