Malaysia GE 15

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Sabah, Sarawak will be kingmakers in GE15, says Shafie

KOTA MARUDU: Sabah and Sarawak will be the kingmakers in the 15th general election due to the number of seats in the two states, says Warisan president Shafie Apdal.

Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats while Sarawak has 31.

Shafie said they would be able to determine which coalition formed the next government.

“It is time to change the country’s political landscape.

If the two states act wisely, Sabah and Sarawak will no longer be controlled by a party from Kuala Lumpur,” he said at a Warisan event here.

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Consider dissolving all assemblies in PH-led states, says Ramkarpal

PETALING JAYA: A DAP leader has urged Pakatan Harapan (PH) to consider dissolving the legislative assemblies of all three states it governs in line with Parliament’s dissolution to make way for simultaneous parliamentary and state elections.

DAP national legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh said PH should not burden the people by holding separate parliamentary and state elections since Putrajaya has forced the nation into the 15th general election (GE15).

“We are forced to consider state elections now because of the selfish decision of the federal government in calling for parliamentary elections.

“As the rakyat have to come out and vote for MPs anyway, why not vote for both state assemblymen and MPs as well?” he said in a statement.

The incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP said he had gone to the ground in Penang, and the people have made it known that they do not want separate elections.

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Khairy still doesn’t know where he will stand

PETALING JAYA: Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin is still unsure where he will contest in the 15th general election (GE15).

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be so worried,” he said in jest to reporters on the sidelines of the Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) conference today, before adding that he would “leave it to the party’s leadership (to decide)”.

Khairy, who has held the Rembau parliamentary seat since 2008, said last month that he was asked not to defend the Rembau seat to make way for Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who wanted a role in federal-level politics.

“I was (recently) sent a message by Mohamad to get out of the way. I’ll follow what Umno wants and where they want me to contest. It’s okay,” he had said.

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BN has own strengths despite going solo, says Ku Nan

PUTRAJAYA: Umno treasurer-general Tengku Adnan Mansor says his party and Barisan Nasional (BN) have their own advantages and strengths despite the decision to go solo in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

Tengku Adnan, who is also the Putrajaya Umno division chief, said he was optimistic the people would continue to support Umno and BN because the coalition has a clear goal and direction in developing the country, in addition to having a good track record.

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Anwar’s ex-aide to challenge Dr M for Langkawi seat

PETALING JAYA: Ezam Mohd Nor, a former political secretary to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to challenge Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the Langkawi parliamentary seat in the coming general election (GE15).

Ezam will contest either as an independent candidate or with any party willing to take him on their ticket, the Pertubuhan Perubahan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerak) organisation said.

Gerak secretary-general Syed Putra Syed Isa said various people had urged the group to field someone against Mahathir in Langkawi.

Mahathir, then representing Pakatan Harapan, was elected MP for Langkawi in 2018 by a majority of almost 8,900 votes against Nawawi Ahmad of BN and Zubir Ahmad of PAS.

He is now chairman of Pejuang, having left Bersatu in early 2020.

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Largest Chinese business, community associations in Klang back Santiago to remain as MP

KLANG – Influential Chinese groups have rallied behind incumbent Klang Parliament member (MP) Charles Santiago following speculation that he will be replaced in the coming general election.

At a lunch today, leaders representing the largest Chinese business and community associations expressed hope that Santiago will be retained.

Among them were local luminaries such as legendary lion dance troupe master Siow Ho Phiew, the Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Goh Ah Lek, and Klang Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCCI) representative Ter Leong Leng.

Others in attendance were the Hokkien Association of Malaysia honorary president Datuk Ng Bee Chai, prominent local business leader Datuk Seri Tan Kok Chui and Fui Chui Association president Louis Chen.

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The psychology of the Malay heartland

Many cannot understand why Najib Razak, convicted and jailed on corruption charges, remains so popular with the electorate.

Although he is now incarcerated at Kajang prison, he is still very much part of the upcoming general election (GE15), through his massive social media presence.

Whether Najib plays a major role in the elections, or becomes just a marginal sideshow, brings to the fore an issue that many leaning towards the opposition do not see.

Malay politics will be the cornerstone of the outcome of the general election. Around 40% of the 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat can be considered to be from the Malay heartland, while some 51% of Malaysia’s population are classified as Malay.

The winner of the coming election will be the party or party grouping that best understands the Malay heartland. This is primarily Umno’s stronghold.

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No dissolution for Pakatan Harapan-led state assemblies

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has decided not to dissolve the state legislative assemblies for the three states under its control, saying that the focus should be on the floods instead.

“The presidential council hereby announces that Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan will not dissolve its respective state assemblies,” it said on Twitter.

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Popularity on social media key to attracting youth vote, says analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: Election candidates who are active and popular on social media have a higher chance of winning the hearts of voters, especially young people who will be voting for the first time in the 15th general election (GE15).

Political analyst Nasrudin Mohammed said it was based on the reality that social media platforms have a strong influence on these voters’ political stance.

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Dr Mahathir should back out, let another compete in Langkawi: analyst

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who intends to defend his Langkawi parliamentary seat in the coming 15th general election (GE15), should instead pave the way for another candidate, as his relevance in Malaysia’s political landscape is diminishing, opined an observer.

Sultan Zainal Abidin University political analyst Hussain Yusri Zawawi said that Dr Mahathir, 97, needs to accept the fact that the era of his rule has passed.

Dr Mahathir, he said, should emulate DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s move to take a step back from the political scene.

The Pejuang chairman, said Hussain, should ideally act as an adviser to the government and the opposition in order to create high-quality leadership.

“Dr Mahathir’s era has passed. He should be an adviser to the government or the opposition.

“His age indicates that he is no longer suitable to be an MP, as physical strength is important for one to be in the grassroots.

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