Media Monitor

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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Najib is PM, despite some drama

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Much like the 12 months before, the last 24 hours of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tenure as prime minister was marked with the royalty flexing its muscles, some intrigue and with the rumour factory in Kuala Lumpur in overdrive.
The day began with the palace exerting some control over the handover of power between Abdullah and his successor, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
After watching politicians and civil servants muddle up the protocol and procedures over the past few days, Istana Negara set everyone straight, much to the embarrassment of senior civil servants and the Prime Minister’s Department.
The core of the problem was the public statements that Abdullah was going to seek an audience with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to tender his resignation and recommend a successor with Najib accompanying him.

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Three Singapore banks listed among “World’s 50 Safest Banks 2009”

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Original report by GLOBAL FINANCE magazine

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31, 2009: None of Malaysian banks made it to a list of “World’s 50 Safest Banks 2009” rankings published recently by “Global Finance” while neighbouring republic Singapore could boast of three placements.
 
Singapore’s DBS Bank garnered spot 20, United Overseas Bank at 37 and OCBC at 38, according to the rankings — led at the top three by KfW (Germany), Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC) (France), and Bank Nederlands Gemeenten (BNG) (Netherlands) — released by the internationally well-regarded US magazine, in a Company statement in New York on February 25, 2009.

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A Consolidated Post on UMNO new Chief and his Team

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http://asia.news.yahoo.com/090326/3/3y6z5.html

“Unknown” Najib ready to be Malaysian PM

by Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is set to be Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, has been in Parliament for over 30 years, yet outside of a close coterie of friends and family he is an enigma. Yesterday, the 55-year-old, who is the son of Malaysia’s second premier, was endorsed as the leader of Umno, the main party in the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled the country for 51 years.

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Consolidated post on … Ominous Developments Affecting Media

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A foretaste of a more repressive regime appearing soon after present Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi leaves the UMNO stage as President is amply seen in the way how the UMNO-led government treats the Opposition and new media.

Just around the bend in one week’s time, DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak takes over as head of BN Government from Abdullah Badawi, and two major developments are clear signs that Malaysia will soon beget a more repressive regime. Deja Vu for Mahathir fans and rivals alike? The current UMNO General Assembly has posted a “NO ENTRY” sign to visitors, especially of media personnel trying to practise responsible and independent journalism, who are deemed as “the enemy” if they don’t promote UMNO’s viewpoints and cause. UMNO’s actions do not care for the nation’s interests as their top officials wield the big stick, especially via the UMNO ministers in charge of Information, to browbeat journalists and rival party organs. CPI collates below several takes on the ominous developments that will impact on freedom of information and media practice post-Pak Lah. — YL Chong, Editor, CPI

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Speak up against attempts to silence opposing voices, urges Zaid

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/21152-speak-up-against-attempts-to-silence-opposing-voices-urges-zaid

Published by the Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 – Outspoken political observer and former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has hit out at the suspension of two opposition party publications and said that Malaysians should denounce attempts to silence opposing voices.

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Mahathir: Call not to appoint Najib PM illogical

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/20811-mahathir-call-not-to-appoint-najib-pm-illogical

Published by The Malaysian Insider

19 March 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today it is illogical to call on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong not to appoint Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the prime minister.

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Mini Budget causes major problem for SMEs

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/20397-mini-budget-causes-major-problem-for-smes

Published by The Malaysian Insider

15 March 2009

PETALING JAYA, March 15 – The RM60 billion mini Budget might provide guarantees for local businessmen but it has also brought on a  huge problem, crippling double levies for both new and existing foreign workers that keep Malaysian exports competitive.

The government imposed the levies in the mini Budget to encourage Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to employ locals but factory managers and even restaurateurs say Malaysians ask for too much but produce too little, forcing them to rely on foreign workers.

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Sin Chew via Malaysia-today on A Dubious Political Issue

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http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/19123/84/

Published by MT

The issue of teaching science and mathematics in English has become a dubious political issue that those involved are reluctant to give up.

Of course the unsettled issue is troublesome and it could trigger a more serious problem in the long term. For example, it has led to a demonstration that embarrassed UMNO and made things difficult for Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

UMNO is the so-called defender of the Malays while the Education Minister is the guardian of Bahasa Malaysia. Today, Malay racists held a massive rally to oppose UMNO’s language policy and critics government’s for belittling the status of Bahasa Malaysia. How should Hishammuddin respond to it?

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In the grip of poverty

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http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=48426

Published by Borneo Post

Extreme poverty means living in an environment without food security, clean water, sanitation, basic health service, literacy and basic income

THERE are some in the interior born with silver spoons in their mouths but many also enter the world without even wooden ladles.

Despite ongoing efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, the hard reality is that there is no quick fix for this social scourge and a number of households, especially in the rural areas, are still living from hand to mouth as a result.

Two such impoverished families can be found in Kampung Sadir, one of the Bidayuh villages in the interior of Jalan Puncak Borneo, about 58km from Kuching.

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