PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced that Parliament has been dissolved, paving the way for the 12th general election.
At a hastily convened press conference at his office Wednesday afternoon, he said he had met the Yang Di Pertuan Agong in the morning and received His Majesty's consent to dissolve Parliament.
"I've informed Parliament and the Election Commission," Abdullah said. The state assemblies have also been advised to dissolve.
The Prime Minister declined to speculate on what date Malaysians would cast their ballots, saying that it would be up to the Election Commission (EC) to decide.
"I am confident of winning, and I hope that we will retain our two-thirds majority," he said.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said it would announce polling and nomination day on Thursday at its office in Putrajaya.
The Election Commission held several meetings Wednesday in preparation for the Prime Minister's announcement of the dissolution of Parliament.
“We have got the declaration on the dissolution of Parliament by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong and the announcement of nomination and polling will be done tomorrow," said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.
When asked if nomination day was February 21 and election day on March 2nd, he said: “You can speculate anything you want. The official announcement is tomorrow.
“You wait for the official announcement,” he added.
Abdul Rashid also said, "We want to make sure of fairness in this election process. We will ensure the appropriate time and space is given for the parties to choose their candidates and for campaigning."
Election rules
The general election must be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved, in accordance with Article 55(4) of the Federal Constitution.
Once Dewan Rakyat is dissolved, the tenure of all MPs automatically ends, which also means that they stop enjoying the privileges, perks, and powers related to their function.
Until the next Parliament is convened, the country is run by a caretaker government.
The caretaker government's role is to keep the government machinery running, and should not involve making policy changes or formulating new legislation.
Are you Malay? Who would you be voting for? Since I am a Pakistani living in Malaysia with no PR or Citizenship none of my family nor I can vote. hehe. A lot of my Indian friends are saying that this time around the Indians will not go for Sammy Vellu/MIC instead opt for other options like DAP, etc. This Hindraf stuff was really disgraceful though. I also heard that Anwar is working hard. Is he eligible now?
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
Are you Malay? Who would you be voting for? Since I am a Pakistani living in Malaysia with no PR or Citizenship none of my family nor I can vote. hehe. A lot of my Indian friends are saying that this time around the Indians will not go for Sammy Vellu/MIC instead opt for other options like DAP, etc. This Hindraf stuff was really disgraceful though. I also heard that Anwar is working hard. Is he eligible now?
I am a Malaysian Muslim.
I'll vote whosoever against the current govt.
As you could observe nowadays lots of scandals involving "important people" came out right? eg. our ex Minister of Health sex DVD...
More to come... I've heard rumours about a Minister's homosexual dvd will come out...
PETALING JAYA: The cost of living, social issues, the crime rate and illegal immigrants - these are the issues that matter most to Malaysian voters, according to a survey conducted ahead of the general election.
These bread and butter issues are the prime concern of voters now.
Even hot issues like politics ranked lower than economic factors and crime.
The survey revealed that 96% of respondents were concerned with the current economic situation such as the rising cost of consumer goods, while 88% said they were worried about the incidents of crime in the country. Dr Syed Arabi: 'Certainly the Government is not passive about these issues'
The opinion poll was commissioned by The Star and carried out by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). It involved 2,930 respondents and was conducted in 58 clusters in 12 states in the peninsula from Dec 8 to Dec 29 last year. The survey has a margin of error of less than 4%.
“Economic issues were considered important to Malaysians,” said the IIUM Dean of the Communications Department Prof Datuk Dr Syed Arabi Idid, who headed the survey.
“People are concerned over the rising prices of basic necessities and the high cost of living, especially with the looming global oil prices.
“Crime is also a worry to them,” he said yesterday.
However, Dr Syed Arabi said the Government did respond to these concerns.
He cited the National Price Council as one of the measures taken to tackle the rising prices of consumer items and cost of living. Under the price council, the Government announced recently that a national stockpile of essential goods like rice and cooking oil would be created to ensure that prices and supply remained stable at all times.
The price council, headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, will monitor, advise and oversee the government's price policy, competitive market structures and the efficiency of subsidy schemes.
The price council is also aimed at preventing unfair and collusive trade practices affecting supply and prices of essential goods and services, and eventually softening the impact of rising prices on the cost of living.
“The prime minister himself has gone to the ground to initiate measures to beef up security, such as rehiring capable retired police officers,” said Dr Syed Arabi.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, announced recently that there would be a police station at every corner, and more than 3,000 more patrol cars and 4,000 motorcycles would be deployed to combat crime.
He also said that 60,000 police personnel would be recruited, while the police department would rent shoplots to set up the police stations.
A total of 1,756 respondents were aged between 21 and 35, 1,181 respondents polled were in the 36-50 age group, and 719 respondents were those above 51 years old.
The third main concern of the respondents was the influx of foreigners into the country, with 40% regarding it as a problem.
This was followed by other concerns on politics, unity, the environment, internal and external threats, road traffic problems and leadership.
Prof Dr Syed Arabi said 2% of respondents expressed concern over internal and external threats and considered the rising number of vehicles as a bane, while only 1% said leaders must be proven to be capable.
Dissolution of parliament: Opposition not caught off-guard - PAS Youth chief
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (ES) - Despite Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi's coy move to announce dissolution of parliament today after denying such a possibility yesterday, the opposition fraternity however was not caught off-guard.
Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) youth chief Salahudin Ayub said the leadership of the opposition party and its ally People’s Justice Party (KeADILan) had been preparing for the eventuality since a year ago.
"We were not shocked by the announcement," Salahudin told a press conference at PAS headquarters here today after a meeting with KeADILan youth wing headed by its chief Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin.
The meeting among others was to put on the final touches to the "Malaysian Youth Document" agreed upon by the youth wing of both parties to be used as an election material. The document will be unveiled on Feb 18.
The meeting was also held to consolidate a joint position taken by the youth wing of both parties not to boycott the election despite the many irregularities expected to be perpetrated because both wings, "do not want the people to take the law into their own hands".
At the same time, voices of displeasure to the prospect of irregular practices expected in the next general, would likely be renewed this Friday following the decision of PAS and a coalition campaigning for a free and fair election, Bersih to send two memoranda of protest to Yang diPertuan Agong the King, at 3pm this Friday.
Salahudin said protestors would be having their weekly Friday prayers at the National Mosque before submitting the memoranda on the perceived failure of the Election Commission to implement Bersih's demands as well as to the irregular increase of postal voters that number some 1,000 at a constituency in Kedah.
Bersih had made unwavering calls for the used of indelible ink, for the voter registration roll to be cleaned up from "phantom voters", for postal votes to be abolished and for fair access to the media for all parties as its short term demands.
Salahudin also said that some fifty percent of PAS candidates to be fielded in the next general election would be aged 40 and below, both from the professionals as well as the "young ulama'" from the religious education background.
He also speculated that the nomination day would be held on Feb 21, with polling day on March 1, in accordance to the widely published Abdullah’s obsession with the number “13”.
When quizzed after the press conference, Salahudin however was tightlipped on the constituency where he would be fielded.
"Let's wait for the nomination day," he said.
KeADILan youth chief to contest in Jasin
In contrast, KeADILan youth chief Shamsul Iskandar expressed his intention to contest for the parliamentary seat of Jasin in Malacca, where the current parliamentary member Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf from the ruling party was entangled in a string of controversies that earned him the nickname of "close one-eye MP".
Asked on the prospect of winning the constituency, the lawyer who will be contesting for the second time around said visits by figures such as Abdullah and former deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the constituency indicated the dire situation of the ruling party there.
The constituency has some 70 percent Malay voters, 20 percent Chinese voters and some 10 percent Indian voters.
Shamsul Iskandar also said that the party had prepared a list of some 35 names under the age of 30 to be candidates for the party in the next general election.
Abdullah announced the dissolution of parliament in a specially arranged press conference which was held at his office in Putrajaya today.
Abdullah who denied that parliament would be dissolved today when asked on it yesterday said he had not yet received the approval from the Yang diPertuan Agong, the King, then.
Sources said the Election Commission would be meeting tomorrow to set the date for nomination and polling days.
The election is expected to be held within 60 days of the dissolution. The announcement paved the way for a snap poll where the ruling coalition is expected to return to power in a contest widely expected to feature a one-to-one fight with the opposition.-Saadon Aksah/ES
PREPARATION: Election Commission officers were busy preparing for the next 12th General Election at Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR), Penang, yesterday. (BERITA HARIAN/13.02.2008)
Prime Minister was announcing the dissolution of the Parliament in a press conference held at Putrajaya, today (UTUSAN MALAYSIA/13.02.2008)
Last edited by north_malaysian; 02-13-2008 at 03:56 PM.
Who has the biggest chances to win? How many votes can get the religious parties?
The only religious party, PAS holds 1 of the 13 states. They used to hold two but they lost one to the National Front, BN in the last election which holds the rest of the states. BN consists of many sub-parties and it makes them very strong. It consists of the largest Muslim Malay Parti, UMNO; Minority Chinese party, MCA(Malaysian Chinese Association); and Minority Indian party, MIC(Malaysian Indian Congress), etc.
Yet the current protests and scandals involving the current BN party, the current election would be very interesting. Yet, I doubt PAS would gain any more states.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
lol... i guess the 'hot' things will come to islamicboard eventually...
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
Who has the biggest chances to win? How many votes can get the religios parties?
Of course the current government would win the election... thanks to the mass media that they controlled...
If there are no cheating elements involved, PAS (the Islamic party) would win more seats in northern states like Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu.
The pic of the Prime Minister holding Michele Yeoh's bared shoulder is making the traditionalists and conservatives upset.
But still, most of opposition votes would come from non-Muslims especially Hindus. I've met lots of Hindus who rather vote for PAS...
Say No! To BN. Every vote brings more pain and suffering.
I've joined an anti-BN group in facebook which has 5,500+ members (the largest Malaysian political group in Facebook), 90% of the members are non-Malays/Muslims...
The most amazing thing is that Chinese and Indians would vote for PAS...
There might be a posibility, Penang would go to the opposition (unless BN cheated...as usual)..
I've changed my constituencies last year... PKR might be contesting for Parliament and PAS for state...
EC Chairman appeals to media to give equal coverage to all political parties
By V.P.SUJATA
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians will go to the polls on March 8.
The Election Commission announced that nomination day for the 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats would be Feb 24.
A total of 10,922,139 registered voters on the 2007 master electoral roll gazetted on Feb 5 would be eligible to vote. Of this, 221,085 are postal voters.
Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the number of days for campaigning would be 13 days, inclusive of nomination day.
The campaigning period is longer this time compared with the eight days in the 2004 election, he said, adding that it should be adequate for all parties to conduct their activities.
He added that the commission also took into account internal security and public order when making the decision.
“Thirteen days are more than sufficient. We have been fair; don’t ask for more,” he told a packed press conference after chairing an hour-long meeting with commission members here yesterday.
The dissolution of Parliament took place 15 months before the expiry of its five-year term to pave the way for the 12th general election.
He said the election writs to state election officers would be issued today to inform them to proceed with the conduct of the elections while notices to returning officers in each polling area would be issued tomorrow.
Abdul Rashid said 30 political parties registered with the commission would be contesting.
Stating that March 8 would be the start of a one-week school holiday, Abdul Rashid advised all registered voters to exercise their fundamental rights to cast their votes between 8am and 5pm.
“Don’t sleep on voting day. Come out and vote and be part of the political life of the country. All have full freedom to exercise their rights,” he said, admitting that people were more eager to vote this time.
He also hoped that the usual 75% voter turnout would be bettered or at least maintained this year.
He said the EC would be spending about RM200mil on the elections. There will 149,000 official appointees, mostly schoolteachers, and 50,000 casual workers.
Abdul Rashid said the commission had no power to endorse observers but that it was supportive of efforts by election watchdog group Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) to continue monitoring the conduct of the general election.
He appealed to the media to give equal airtime and press coverage to all political parties.
On presentation of gifts and offers of treats during the campaign period, Abdul Rashid said based on case law such offers by candidates were an offence but only the police and Anti-Corruption Agency could act against this.
When asked about the party in power allocating funds for development projects during the campaign period, Abdul Rashid said that by convention this had been done over the years and advised those in doubt to “go to the courts”.
On whether candidates’ agents would be allowed to witness counting of postal votes, Abdul Rashid said EC officers would be monitoring and that no decision was made on the matter.
He also assured Malaysians that the polls would be conducted fairly and there should be no fear of vote-rigging and phantom voters.
Transparent plastic ballot boxes, indelible ink and ballot papers without serial numbers would be used in this election, he added
March 8 polling day denies Anwar opportunity to contest
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (ES) - The next general election which is called more than a year early, with the dissolution of parliament in the middle of Chinese New Year celebration has prevented former deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from contesting.
"Denying me the opportunity to contest demonstrates that the four-year track record of the Abdullah administration has been so banal, disappointing and characterized by failure that it can ill-afford to take any chances by allowing for a truly democratic electoral process," Anwar said.
In a statement e-mailed to the English Section on Feb 13, Anwar however said the announcement of the dissolution of parliament yesterday, came as "no surprise" since approval ratings for Abdullah and his government had dropped for all-times lows.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman today announced over televised press conference that nomination day would be held on Feb 24 and polling day held on March 8.
There are some 11 million registered voters including some 221,085 postal voters.
Anwar said Malaysians were hard hit by rising prices, rampant crime, endemic corruption and heightened ethnic tensions.
"The longer that Barisan Nasional waits, the more seats it stands to lose in the General Election," he said. Abdullah himself acknowledged that his coalition stand to loose the landslide ninth-tenth majority secured in the last general election amidst allegations of election irregularities.
Rampant fraud - Anwar Anwar also anticipated that the "spectre of rampant voter fraud" still looms large as adequate measures have yet to be implemented to prevent phantom voters and monitor other election day irregularities, including in particular the manipulation of postal votes.
"The mainstream media is strictly controlled by the government and used as an instrument to spread propaganda and mistruths about the opposition. Law enforcement officials are instructed to disrupt and harass public gatherings organized by opposition parties and civil society," he said.
Anwar who is also People's Justice Party (KeADILan) de facto leader said his party is "fully prepared" to overcome the barriers that have been imposed on the opposition by the ruling party.
"Our candidates have worked tirelessly to expose the failings of the government convey our vision of hope for a better Malaysia," he said.
"We have been ready for these elections for months. Along with our allies in the Opposition, we are ready to put Malaysia back on track, and to give Malaysians the government they rightly deserve," he said.
His party was tipped to field the most candidates from the opposition bloc, in excess of 100 parliamentary seats in comparison to ally Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) which is going to be featured in more than 60 parliamentary constituencies.
The rest of the seats are expected to go to the other major opposition party the Democratic Action Parties as well as regional parties in the eastern part of Malaysia, in a contest widely expected to be a one-to-one contest with the ruling coalition. There are 222 parliamentary seats up for grab this time around. -ES
BERSIH received an email on 31 January 2007 from yet another Malaysian who has been registered without her knowledge…
This is her story:
This past Monday I went to register as a voter in my home state of Penang and was told I was aready registered. I was then told to check with the voter registration office in Komtar if there were any problems. When I went to investigate further, I was again told I am a registered voter and my registration information was printed out for me with my voting station. All the information seemed correct and when I asked when I registered to vote, I was told and even shown the computer screen that I registered on January 17, 1971. That would mean I registered to vote when I was 15 months old! The officer was very polite and helpful but didn’t seem surprised when I told her I was not even 2 years old then. This makes me wonder how “I” have been voting all these years.
* If you are a victim of fraudulent registration, please contact us as soon as possible. Email us at [email protected] or call us at (03) 79806571, (019) 2232002 or (012) 2192010.
SEREMBAN: Check your voting status at Barisan Nasional operations rooms in the state.
This is Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan's advice to voters unsure of whether they can vote in the general election. "Operations rooms will be open until midnight daily for voters to check their status." He also said the Seremban division had submitted its candidates list after the dissolution of parliament.
PKR to use 3G technology
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat is going high-tech for the general election. The party plans to use 3G technology to stream its ceramah videos to the public. 3G technology enables cell phone users to access television channels and the Internet on their phones.
A code is needed for 3G users to access the PKR channel. It will be printed on all its banners and campaign material, said PKR information chief Tian Chua yesterday. The 3G videos to be streamed are sound bytes and highlights of party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's speeches.
Pas to field woman rep
SEREMBAN: For the first time in the state, Pas will be fielding a woman candidate to contest the Jempol parliamentary seat.
Pas Jempol committee member Siti Mariam Naam, who is from Kampung Keru in Ulu Jempol, is 65 and has been a party member since 1980. "I was asked to contest and I agreed. I will do my best and leave the rest to God," she said. Siti is married to former armed forces personnel Hamzah Sulaiman, 69. They have three children.
A political coalition of several political parties. Has been ruling Malaysia since independence.
Ideology: Nationalism
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 198 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): 4,420,452 (63.9%)
Component Political Parties under BN
United Malay National Organisation (UMNO)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Malay Special Rights
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 109 out of 219
% of votes: 2,483,249 (35.9%)
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Ethnic Chinese
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 31 out of 219
% of votes: 1,074,230 (15.5%)
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Ethnic Indian
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 9 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): 221,546 (3.2%)
Malaysian People's Movement Party (Gerakan)
Ideology: Nationalism, Liberal, Multiracial
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 10 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): 257,763 (3.7%)
United Traditional Bumiputera Party (PBB)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Indigenous People of Sarawak (Malay, Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu)
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 11 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): 383,664 (5.5%)
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Ethnic Chinese of Sarawak
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 6 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SAPP)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Indigenous People of Sarawak (Dayak)
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 4 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
United Sabah Party (PBS)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Indigenous People of Sabah
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 4 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Org (UPKO)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Indigenous People of Sabah (Kadazan, Dusun, Murut)
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 4 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Ethnic Chinese of Sabah
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 2 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
United Sabah's People Party (PBRS)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Indigenous People of Sabah
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 1 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
People's Progressive Party (PPP)
Ideology: Nationalism, Multiracial
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 1 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Ideology: Nationalism, Pro-Ethnic Chinese of Sabah, Liberal Democratic
Seats obtained (2004 Election): 0 out of 219
% of votes (2004 Election): NA
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Dr Syed Arabi: 'Certainly the Government is not passive about these issues'
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