Month: April 2009

By-election results news coverage and commentaries from different media sources (Updated)

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Source: The Star

People’s Verdict from the 2 Bukit’s By-elections Results

Press statement

Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives
 
The unsurprising verdict from the recent by elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau is resoundingly clear – that the majority of Malaysia’s voters – rural and urban, Malays and non-Malays, rich and poor – no longer have faith in BN rule.  These are several key messages that BN leaders and their supporters have to take to heart if they want to win back the support of the electorate.

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Kadar Kemiskinan: Antara Retorik dan Realiti

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Malaysia telah mencapai kejayaan yang cemerlang dalam menangani dan mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan. Sejak tahun kemerdekaan, kadar kemiskinan telah dikurangkan daripada 50 peratus kepada 3.6 peratus pada 2007.

Tambahan pula, pencapaian yang luar biasa ini diiktirafkan oleh pertubuhan antarabangsa. Malaysia adalah sesebuah negara yang telah berjaya mengatasi penandarasan kemiskinan 8.25 peratus yang ditetapkan oleh UNDP di bawah Millennium Development Goals bagi tahun 2015.

Inilah kenyataan yang sering dikeluarkan oleh para pemimpin dan pegawai kerajaan bagi membuktikan kejayaan negara kita dalam membasmi kemiskinan.

Adakah kenyataan ini satu yang tepat dan jitu? Apakah data yang diketengahkan untuk menyokong pendirian ini?

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Ancient Mariner on Loose Ends

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http://cyusof.blogspot.com/2009/04/loose-ends.html

April 06, 2009

I think I am a reasonable man, with reasonable expectations. As an old salt, I have always been uncomfortable with loose ends*, i.e., when there is no simple closure or simple answers to simple questions, such as:

Who ordered the ‘neutralisation’ of Mongolian beauty Altan whatshername?

Where is private investigator Bala whatshisname? etc., etc.

I simply cannot accept pulling of rank by swearing to a higher authority in His house that one is innocent and had nothing to do with all these mysterious happenings and disappearances. I would if I was born yesterday.

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Malay vote split, BN has edge

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/22414-malay-vote-split-but-bn-has-edge

Published by The Malaysian Insider

TAIPING, April 6 – Huge billboards proclaiming “Daulat Tuanku???, or “Long live the King??? greet visitors entering Perak, belying the political tension that surrounds the once-peaceful state.

It was here that Barisan Nasional (BN) staged a takeover of the state government in February, prompting a constitutional crisis when the sitting government refused to step down after four of its assemblymen defected.

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Abolish ISA now!

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http://www.niknazmi.com/wordpress/?p=1216

04 Apr 2009

Yesterday’s announcement by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that 13 ISA detainees would be released, the ISA would be reviewed and that the suspension on Suara Keadilan and Harakah would be lifted is a welcoming turn of events.

Clearly, the government decided to act following the consistent demands of the rakyat. This is another victory for ‘Makkal Sakti’ – people’s power.

But I would like ask a few questions:

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Let’s Get Real

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Critical Visions and Sustainable Eco-urbanism

Introduction

Eco-cities is now a fashionable brand to be proudly displayed and identified with. This feedback workshop from the various cities in the region will certainly be useful to compare the experiences and effectiveness of actions taken. On the theoretical level, I wish to share with you all the challenges in the broader context towards achieving a liveable and sustainable environment in East Asian cities.

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CPI Wishlist for the newly installed Prime Minister

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Malaysians woke up last Friday to a new dawn and the promise of a new era as newly installed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak delivered several promises anchored on “One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now??? in his maiden speech to the nation.

In his initial acts — hopefully to preface a more open and democratic government? The Chief Executive of State ordered the release of 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees and the restoration of the printing licenses of the recently banned PAS newsletter Harakah and PKR’s organ Suara Keadilan.

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Welcoming CPI’s new columnist: Introduction

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We welcome Mr William S W Lim on board as CPI columnist, starting with an inaugural titled “Let’s Get Real” on the subject of Eco-urbanism tomorrow. Presently mainly engaged as a visiting lecturer on the Asian circuit, Lim brings along a wealth of expertise and experience, especially in his field of specialisaton, i.e. architecture, and and related disciplines and subjects including urbanism and culture in Asia as well as on current issues relating to the postmodern, glocality and social justice.

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Enter Najib, with baggage

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/22178-enter-najib-with-baggage–the-economist

Published by The Malaysian Insider

APRIL 3 — One could certainly say that Datuk Seri Najib Razak was born to be prime minister. He is the son of Tun Abdul Razak, the second man to hold that job following independence from Britain, and the nephew of his successor, Tun Hussein Onn. Elected to Parliament aged 23, on his father’s death, he rose to become deputy to the outgoing prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, Najib, who became the country’s sixth post-independence leader today, enters under a cloud of allegations, including ones linking him to a murder case, all of which he categorically denies. But some Malaysians will be wondering if he is a fit person to lead them.

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