'Teluk Intan By-Election, Party Or Candidate?', Bernama, 30 May 2014

 

By Zuhaifizah Ahmad Zaki

TELUK INTAN, May 30 (Bernama) -- Whether party or candidate will dominate the choice of voters will be known Saturday when more than 60,000 voters go out to fulfil their obligations in the Teluk Intan by-election.

The 12-day campaign period which would end at midnight Friday saw the contesting parties going through a cooling off period on Thursday as a mark of respect for the late Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak who passed away on Wednesday, before campaigning resumed Friday, as though giving the opportunity for voters to think.

Both the candidates, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, 53, from Barisan Nasional (BN) and DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, had delivered their respective arguments and manifestos to be evaluated by 60,349 voters in making their respective choices.

Analysts see the Teluk Intan by-election as very competitive and both Mah and Dyana Sofya have the chance, based on their respective credibility and the support to their parties.

To Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, a political analyst from Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Social Sciences, candidate and party were a package and as such, if a candidate came from a party with a good structure, it would be an advantage.

Sivamurugan said there would be voters who looked at personalities in any general election, and in this group, there would be fence-sitters who might, apart from looking at the party and candidate, also looked at issues which strongly affected the voting pattern.

Touching on the Teluk Intan by-election, he said, voters must look at a candidate who could contribute to the constituency, could improve the people's well-being and welfare, and committed to developing Teluk Intan rather than just using certain issues.

Teluk Intan Indian Community Non-Governmental Organisation chairman, K. Shanmuganathan, 37, said the candidate's contribution was an important factor to decide who deserved his vote.

Market trader Lim Yit Ling, 50, said he would pick a candidate not party, regardless of whether the candidate was Malay, Chinese or Indian.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities lecturer, Assoc Prof Dr Shamsul Adabi Mamat said picking the candidate should be a priority to voters in the case of Teluk Intan because the candidate would become the voice of the residents in dealing with the government.

He did not rule out the role of the 30 per cent fence-sitters in the country who had significantly helped the less popular parties in the new political landscape.

Shamsul, who conducted a survey in Teluk Intan, saw the two contesting candidates campaigning in earnest, and their strategies would give them a 50:50 chance of winning.

--BERNAMA

Temubual bersama dengan Harian Metro, 13 Mei 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99-7SdA4CRU

'Warna Pun Boleh Berubah', Kolum Abdullah Ahmad, Sinar Harian, 25 Mei 2014

'Big Shoes To Fill As The Hard Work Now Begins For Ramkarpal', The Rakyat Post, 26 May 2014

Bukit Gelugor electorate will expect their new Member of Parliament Ramkarpal Singh Deo to carry on where his late father, Karpal Singh, had left. In fact they will expect him to perform better, if not on a par with their former MP.

COMMENT
NOW comes the hard part.

For Ramkarpal Singh Deo, getting elected as Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament is an easier feat than trying to fit into his late father’s shoes.

When Bukit Gelugor electorate decided to allow him to carry on where his late father had left, they expect him to perform better, if not on a par with their former MP.

This is not going to be easy. Karpal was a functional representative both in and outside Parliament and his years of experience in politics left only few in comparison.

His death was a great loss to Bukit Gelugor residents; now that they had given their trust to his son Ramkarpal, expectations are very high.

Karpal had been their MP since 2004, since the parliamentary constituency was created in a redelineation exercise of the electoral boundaries by the Election Commission.

In GE13, Bukit Gelugor voters were more than happy to allow Karpal to continue to be their voice in Parliament. They had put 55,839 crosses against the leader’s name on the ballot papers, enabling him to win 41,778 votes more than his challenger Teh Beng Yeam from MCA, who got 14,961 votes.

Another huge challenge for Ramkarpal is to get endorsement on his own leadership values. There is no argument that the 38-year-old lawyer rode on symphathy and sentiments for his late father.

“He has to get endorsement on his leadership values,” said Penang-based political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Some Penang DAP leaders were not in favour of the party leadership fielding Ramkarpal, more out of fear that the party would be criticised for practising nepotism.

True, Ramkarpal’s winning majority is short by a few hundreds from what Karpal had obtained in GE13, but this does not mean he does not enjoy the support of the majority.

This situation is more due to lower voter turnout — at 56% — more than anything else.

He had won with a majority of 37,659 votes over his rivals Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Huan Cheng Guan and two Independents, Mohamed Nabi Bux Mohd Nabi Abdul Sathar and Abu Backer Sidek, all of whom have lost their deposits.

The highly probable reason for the low turnout was that voters felt their votes were not much needed since Ramkarpal was a clear winner, being the indisputable front-runner since day one.

Another contributing factor was that the DAP was not facing its traditional Barisan Nasional (BN) rival candidate from MCA which has opted out from the contest.

There is a possibility that members of BN parties, including from MCA, had stayed away from voting.

It’s also a likelihood that outstation voters did not return as they were confident of DAP retaining its traditional seat.

“Its common to see low voter turnout if BN did not contest,” said Sivamurugan, citing the 2009 Penanti by-election where the turnout was 46.1% and Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate Datuk Dr Mansor Othman collected 85 per cent of votes from the 7,100 who turned out to vote.

DAP can sigh a relief that Ramkarpal has successfully made his political debut by retaining Bukit Gelugor. The party can now focus on its other political novice, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud in the Teluk Intan electoral battle at the end of this month.

Bukit Gelugor certainly gives much needed morale support to DAP in a fight where its candidate is the underdog, facing off Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who has more experience.

'Bukit Gelugor Kekal Kubu DAP', The Rakyat Post, 26 Mei 2014

 

Percubaan pertama Ramkarpal (tengah) di pentas politik membuahkan hasil, apabila dia berjaya memenangi kerusi P51 dengan majoriti 41,242 undi. Jumlah itu merosot berbanding 41,778 undi yang diperolehi mendiang Karpal pada PRU13 tahun lalu. - Foto TRP/ Daniel Chan

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Mei:

Penurunan peratusan mengundi pada Pilihan Raya Kecil P51 Bukit Gelugor tidak menjejaskan sokongan rakyat kepada DAP.

Seperti dijangka, Ramkarpal Singh berjaya mengekalkan kerusi yang disandang mendiang bapanya, Karpal Singh, sejak beberapa penggal lalu dan kawasan berkenaan kekal antara kubu kuat DAP di Pulau Mutiara.

Sekalipun dianggap sebagai kemenangan mudah, kehadiran tiga pesaing daripada calon bebas menggambarkan minat untuk mencuba nasib di kawasan Harimau Jelutong.

Seperti mana dijangka pertembungan empat penjuru antara calon DAP, Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) dan dua calon bebas dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Bukit Gelugor berakhir dengan kemenangan parti itu.

Percubaan pertama Ramkarpal di pentas politik membuahkan hasil, apabila dia berjaya memenangi kerusi P51 dengan majoriti 41,242 undi, menewaskan Datuk Huan Cheng Guan daripada PCM, yang sekadar meraih 3,583 undi.

Selain Huan, dua calon bebas, Mohamed Nabi Bux Mohd Nabi Abd Sathar dan Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan turut kehilangan wang deposit, apabila masing-masing hanya menerima 798 dan 225 undi.

Jika dibanding dengan 41,778 undi yang diperolehi mendiang bapanya pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13, ia menyaksikan sedikit kemerosotan.

Selain penyertaan calon bebas, penurunan itu turut dikaitkan dengan peratus yang keluar mengundi pada Ahad.

Bagi penganalisis politik, Profesor Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian, pertembungan kali ini kurang menyengat, berikutan keputusan Barisan Nasional (BN) tidak mempertaruh calonnya.

“Apabila calon BN tidak bertanding, kehadiran orang yang keluar mengundi sudah tentu berkurangan, kerana mereka juga mempunyai jumlah pengundi yang ramai, selain mereka yang berada di luar Pulau Pinang tidak pulang mengundi,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Rakyat Post.

Menurutnya, masyarakat Bukit Gelugor sendiri yakin dengan kemenangan DAP dan faktor berkenaan mendorong mereka untuk tidak menunaikan tanggungjawab itu.

“Berdasarkan senarai daftar pemilih, kesemua tiga kerusi DUN, iaitu Seri Delima, Paya Terubong dan Air Itam, kesemuanya didominasi calon DAP. Sudah tiga penggal DAP menguasai Parlimen itu dan ternyata pola pengundian Bukit Gelugor sedemikian rupa, kerana pengundi lebih bersifat setia,” katanya.

Sivamurugan berkata, sebelum ini, PRK Kajang juga mencatatkan peratusan keluar mengundi yang agak rendah, iaitu 72 peratus, manakala peratusan mengundi paling rendah bagi PRK pula dicatatkan di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Penanti, pada 2009, iaitu hanya 46 peratus.

“PRK Bukit Gelugor bukan gelanggang untuk calon bebas seperti Mohamed Nabi Bux dan Abu Backer Sidek, kerana kemenangan DAP seolah-olah begitu jelas sehingga memaksa MCA mengangkat bendera putih, sebelum turun ke padang. Jika mereka bertanding, sudah tentu peratus keluar mengundi lebih tinggi,” katanya.

Jumlah keseluruhan pengundi bagi kawasan P51 yang mempunyai tiga kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), iaitu Seri Delima, Paya Terubong dan Air Itam adalah seramai 82,042 orang, yang terdiri daripada 11,880 orang Melayu dengan jumlah 14.48 peratus, manakala kaum Cina berjumlah 61,112 orang atau 74.49 peratus, India seramai 8,660 orang dengan peratusan sebanyak 10.56 peratus.
PRK Bukit Gelugor mencatat peratusan keluar undi sebanyak 56.3 peratus, iaitu antara yang terendah dalam sejarah PRK negara ini.

'Artis Jadi Calon Pun Kalah Juga', Sinar Harian, 25 Mei 2014

'PRK Teluk Intan: Calon Tempatan Atau Luar?', Bernama, 23 Mei 2014

 

Fokus Berita Oleh Hafizah Kamaruddin, K.Ghandi dan Samantha Tan Chiew Ting

TELUK INTAN, (Bernama) -- Jika keputusan empat pilihan raya umum yang lepas untuk kawasan Parlimen Teluk Intan dijadikan ukuran, trend pilihan pengundi di kawasan ini ialah memihak kepada wakil rakyat dari kalangan anak tempatan.

Bagaimanapun DAP dilihat mengabaikan kehendak penduduk dengan mencalonkan bukan sahaja calon bukan anak tempatan tetapi gadis muda Melayu.

Adakah DAP yakin pengundi sanggup berubah sikap demi parti yang disokong mereka?

Kebanyakan mereka yang ditemui Bernama, sedikit ragu untuk mengiyakan anggapan itu, kerana bagi mereka pengundi di kawasan Parlimen Teluk Intan amat mengambil berat isu anak tempatan ini.

Eric Tan yang bekerja sendiri berkata pengundi lebih suka jika calon PRK ini dari kalangan anak tempatan untuk keselesaan dan kemudahan berhubung berbanding calon dari luar.

"Kami pernah mengalami kesukaran itu dahulu untuk mendapatkan bantuan wakil rakyat yang berasal dari luar, kerana mereka selalu tidak ada di sini," katanya.

Sejak PRU 1999, pengundi memilih calon anak tempatan iaitu Datuk Mah Siew Keong daripada Gerakan untuk tempoh dua penggal hingga 2008 dan mendiang Seah Leong Peng daripada DAP pada 2008 dan 2013.

Bagaimanapun Tan melihat pemilihan Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, sebagai calon DAP umpama suatu yang di luar amalan biasa tetapi cepat mengaitkannya dengan pemilihan DAP pada 1980-an yang pernah menurunkan Fadzlan Yahya untuk bertanding dalam PRU 1986.

Dalam pertandingan tiga penjuru itu antara Fadzlan, calon BN daripada Gerakan mendiang Ong Tim Kim dan calon PAS Nadzri Baharuddin, Ong menang dengan majoriti 1,443 undi.

Bagaimanapun Fadzlan menang untuk kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Pasir Bedamar yang merupakan kubu kuat DAP dengan memperoleh 10,845 undi mengalahkan calon BN Gan Loot Heng yang mendapat 7,667 undi.

Bekas naib presiden DAP itu mempertahankan kerusi DUN berkenaan untuk tiga penggal.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda MIC Bahagian Teluk Intan A. Sri Murugan berkata wakil rakyat bukan anak tempatan sememangnya sukar untuk menjaga kepentingan dan kebajikan penduduk Teluk Intan serta tidak akan memahami keperluan dan kehendak penduduk.

Katanya wakil rakyat DAP yang berada di luar kawasan selepas memenangi pilihan raya bukan sahaja gagal ditemui, malah janji yang dibuat semasa berkempen tidak ditunaikan, dan masalah rakyat tidak diselesaikan.

Beliau berkata ini berbeza dengan wakil rakyat dari kalangan penduduk tempatan seperti calon BN, Mah, "walaupun kalah tetap bantu kami, tak kira Melayu, Cina atau India. Kalau ada masalah kami boleh jumpa dia," katanya.

Penganalisis politik Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berpendapat penyokong tegar parti DAP berkemungkinan akan melakukan 'undi protes' atau tidak keluar mengundi berikutan tindakan kepimpinan parti itu mengetengahkan orang luar dan bukan Cina.

"Banyak faktor boleh menyumbang kepada protes. Ia boleh berpunca dari dalam parti yang berpuak-puak di Teluk Intan, isu seperti hudud dan sikap berpuak-puak di peringkat negeri. Dilemanya, sama ada ia akan membawa kepada undi protes," katanya.

Sivamurugan berkata jika terdapat undi protes yang besar, ia boleh membawa kepada pakatan pembangkang mengkaji semula kerjasama mereka.

Seorang penganalisis politik bebas daripada Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Datin Paduka Prof Dr Ramlah Adam juga berkata tindakan DAP itu seolah-olah mempersenda penduduk Teluk Intan dengan meletakkan seorang calon dari luar kawasan dan terlalu 'hijau'.

"Bolehkah orang tempatan harap dia sebagai wakil? Dan bercakap pula menentang pelaksanaan hudud...walaupun dia peguam, tetapi bukan syariah," katanya yang turut tidak menolak kemungkinan berlaku undi protes untuk DAP.

Pensyarah Kanan, Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pengurusan Univesiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), M Neelamehan, menasihati pengundi Teluk Intan supaya membuat keputusan bijak dalam memilih anggota Parlimen baharu yang seharusnya mampu membawa perubahan dan kebaikan kepada mereka.

PRK Parlimen Teluk Intan menyaksikan pertandingan satu lawan satu antara calon BN Mah dengan calon DAP Dyana yang diadakan berikutan wakil rakyatnya dari DAP Seah Leong Peng, 48, meninggal dunia akibat kanser di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM), 1 Mei lepas.

-- BERNAMA

'Teluk Intan By-Election: Imported Or Local Candidate?', Bernama, 23 May 2014

 

By Hafizah Kamaruddin, K. Ghandi and Samantha Tan Chiew Ting

TELUK INTAN (Bernama) -- If the results in the four previous general elections for the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency were to be an indicator, the voting trend would lean towards a homegrown representative.

DAP seems to be ignoring Teluk Intan residents' preference for a local to represent them by fielding a candidate who is not only an outsider but a young Malay woman.

Is the DAP so confident that their supporters would not mind changing their preference even for the party?

Many residents when met by Bernama, were unsure about saying yes because to them, voters in Teluk Intan had always been insistent about having a local representative.

Self-employed Eric Tan said voters would be happier with a local representative, whom they could easily meet and communicate, compared to an 'imported' representative.

"We did have that problem in the past and the representative was always not around," he said.

In the 1999 general election, voters chose local Datuk Mah Siew Keong from the Gerakan, who served for two terms until 2008 and local Seah Leong Peng from the DAP, who also served for two terms, from 2008 until his death on May 1 this year.

Tan said the DAP's choice of Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, as their candidate was outside the norm and likened it to the DAP's decision in the 80s to field Fadzlan Yahya in the 1986 general election.

In the three-corner contest among Fadzlan, BN (Gerakan) candidate Ong Tim Kim and PAS candidate Nadzri Baharuddin, Ong won by a majority of 1,443 votes.

However Fadzlan won the Pasir Bedamar state seat, a DAP stronghold with 10,845 votes, defeating BN candidate Gan Loot Heng who obtained 7,667 votes.

The DAP former vice president held the seat for three terms.

Meanwhile, Teluk Intan MIC Youth Chief Sri Murugan said an imported representative would have difficulty looking after the interest and welfare of the constituents and would not understand the needs and expectations of the residents.

He said, should the DAP candidate win, she would not only fail to fulfil the pledges made during the campaign but would not be able to resolve problems faced by the residents.

"The situation is different with BN's candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong as he is a local. Even when he lost in the election, he would still assist us, regardless of whether we were Malay, Chinese or Indian. If we had a problem, we could always meet him," he said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (Social Science Studies) political analyst, Associate prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian opined that DAP's hardcore supporters might undertake a protest vote or refrain from voting to demonstrate against the party's decision to field an outsider and non-Chinese.

"Many factors can contribute to the protest. It can be the factions from within the party in Teluk Intan, the hudud issue and factions at state level," he said.

Sivamurugan said if the protest votes were substantial it might move the parties within the opposition to review their alliance.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) independent political analyst Datin Paduka Prof Dr Ramlah Adam said DAP appeared to belittle Teluk Intan voters by fielding an outsider and political freshie.

"Can residents trust her as their representative? Can she talk about the hudud...even though she is a lawyer but not syariah," she said, adding that a protest vote campaign against DAP could possibly happen.

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Economy and Management senior lecturer M. Neelamehan advised Teluk Intan voters to vote wisely and choose a representative who could bring change and benefit to them.

The Teluk Intan by-election will see a straight fight between Mah and Dyana. The seat fell vacant when Seah, 48, succumbed to cancer at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre recently.

-- BERNAMA

'BN Needs To Increase Chinese Votes In Teluk Intan', Bernama, 22 May 2014

By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR Bernama) -- Like in the Kajang by-election, the odds once again does not favour Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Teluk Intan by-election slated on May 31.

BN has to work extra hard to woo the 60,940 voters in Teluk Intan, especially the Chinese who have shown a propensity to vote for the opposition.

Having said that, a political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said BN still has good chances in increasing the Chinese support in this by-election provided it comes up with a good strategy and counter whatever issues brought by DAP.

"BN needs to do just as what they did in the Kajang by-election in strategising their approach towards the Chinese voters, resulting in 15 percent increase in support," he said.

Therefore, BN has to move as a team rather than leaving everything to its component member Gerakan and its candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong, 53.

The Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election will see a straight fight between BN's Mah, who is also Gerakan's president, and DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27.

The by-election is called following the death of its Member of Parliament, Seah Leong Peng, 48, of cancer on May 1.

WINNING OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE CHINESE VOTES WILL HELP

BN sources calculated that if Mah could woo 30 to 35 percent Chinese, 70 percent Malay and 60 percent Indian votes, Gerakan could well add on another parliament seat.

This will be the perfect remedy that the ailing Gerakan now dsperately needs.

And as for DAP, like said by its publicity chief Tony Pua, the party has to at least maintain 70 percent Chinese, 60 Indian and 30 percent Malay votes.

"If the Chinese votes dropped by 15 percent, we will lose the seat," said Pua, who is also DAP Teluk Intan by-election campaign director.

Sivamurugan added that the lower turnout of voters during by-elections could also help improve BN's fortunes.

"In 2013 the turnout was about 80.4 percent and in 2008 it was 70 percent. For this by-election, I believe the turnout will be only between 66 and 70 percent even though the Election Commission (EC) expected a 85 percent turnout," he said.

HOW THE MATHS WORK FOR BOTH SIDES

The analysis of the 13th General Election results in each polling district centres (PDM) revealed that BN has to work hard to increase the Chinese and Indian votes if the ruling party is to improve its result like how it did in Kajang.

There are 37 PDMs in Teluk Intan with 19 of them located at the Chinese majority state constituency of Pasir Bedamar and 18 being predominately Malay PDM under the Changkat Jong constituency.

A BN insider told Bernama the Chinese still hold the trump card in deciding the winner.

"The Malay votes is already reaching its maximum in terms of support with some Malay areas like Changkat Jong already hitting 80 percent. There is limit to how far BN can push further with the Malay votes," said the party insider.

Based on GE13 result, BN won all the 10 PDM in Malay majority seat of Changkat Jong state assembly seat with average support about 70 percent while DAP recorded between 20 and 30 percent support in these PDMs.

However, DAP made up the loses in Malay areas with the majority support from the Chinese, Indian and mixed PDMs. DAP won 17 Chinese PDMs with an average of 80 percent support and three out of six Indian PDM with average 50 percent support.

Not only that, DAP also won all the five mixed PDM Jalan Laxamana, Kampong Guru, Taman Seri Setia, Taman Cecily and Kampong Banjar with average support of 60 percent.

In total, DAP won 25 PDMs as compared with only 12 for BN and this explained why DAP won the seat with a 7,313 vote majority.

NEED TO INCREASE 15 PER CENT CHINESE VOTES TO WIN

In order to capture the Teluk Intan seat, BN needs to increase at least another 10 to 15 percent of votes in addition to the previous 15 percent support it received, and this is not going to be an easy task looking at BN's low support in the Chinese areas.

Most of the Chinese PDMs are located in Pasir Bedamar constituency except PDM Batu Dua Belas Utara, the only Chinese PDM in Changkat Jong.

The GE13 result showed that BN only obtained between 18 and 30 percent support in Chinese PDM namely Sg Suli, Pasir Bedamar Barat, Pasir Bedamar Utara, Pasir Bedamar Tengah, Pasir Bedamar Selatan, Jalan Market Barat, Jalan Canal, Jalan Market Timor, Jalan Anson, Jalan Speedy, Jalan Sg Nibong and Eastern Garden.

"An increase in Indian and Malay votes is still not good enough to help BN recapture the seat and if the increase from the Chinese votes is less than 10 percent. This is a huge challenge for the BN," said a local Gerakan grassroots leader.

A WIN IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR GERAKAN

It appears that BN candidate, Mah is going for broke as Gerakan badly needs to recapture the seat in order to revive its flagging fortunes.

In the last general election, the party won one federal seat in Simpang Renggam through Liang Teck Meng.

Mah may have taken a bold but a very risky decision to contest in the by-election as his defeat will probably affect his presidency and spell doom for his political career.

-- BERNAMA  

'Good Looks Is One Thing, Making Good Another', Malay Mail, 20 May 2014

 

DAP and PAS supporters are seen armed with party flags on nomination day for the Teluk Intan by-election, May 19, 2014. — Picture by Marcus PheongPETALING JAYA, May 20 — Much has been said about the looks of DAP’s Teluk Intan candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, but politicians and analysts say this is irrelevant when it comes to entering Parliament.

They say despite her youth and attention she’s been receiving on the Internet, Dyana Sofya could genuinely be a shot in the arm for Malaysian politics.
Former Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga called her “a breath of fresh air”.
“I think she’s tremendous. She’s got guts for being prepared to enter politics at such a young age. It’s also good to see more women entering the scene,” she said.
“She speaks plainly and speaks her mind. All the sexism levelled at her so far says more about the accusers than herself. She has responded well, and carried herself with dignity.”
Ambiga said she was glad to see that Dyana Sofya had not stooped to the level of the people making statements against her.

“I’m horrified by the comments made about her and hope it has not put her off. She shows great promise against veteran leaders. It’s also good for Malaysia in terms of overcoming gender and age barriers,” she said.
Howard Lee, Dyana Sofya’s election agent for the by-election, said there had been “attacks of all sorts, ranging from her looks to speculation that she is being exploited”.
“Neither she nor the party are going to respond in detail to these non-productive issues. We will stick to more important  issues relevant to the by-election,” he said.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil claimed Dyana Sofya was being manipulated by DAP, and that Umno deserved the credit for shaping her life.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in turn, told Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to stop making personal attacks against Dyana Sofya and focus on issues such as people’s livelihood instead.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s political analyst, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, said the 27-year-old candidate showed a lot of promise for DAP.
“She’s one of the rare Malay candidates in the party and she does appear to be well-groomed,” he said.
“However, it may all depend to what extent is she willing stay on in DAP, regardless of the results.”
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said that over the decades, it had not been unusual for candidates to enter politics while they were in their 20s.
“For example, (DAP leader) Lim Kit Siang entered politics around age 27, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at around 24,” she said.
“I have also met foreign senators, for example from Australia, who entered politics in their mid-20s.”
Kok said there were many MPs nowadays, especially from the Opposition, who started out young.
“We shouldn’t focus on her age but more on her views and principles, which she has expressed so far in interviews and (written) articles,” she said.
Papar MP Datuk Rosnah Shirlin said Malaysian politics would genuinely benefit from young people entering the fray.
“However, experience is also important and can only be gained after many years. What’s also important is her objectives,” she said.
“Is she there to serve or merely be used by certain quarters to achieve a certain political agenda? We can see there is a mixed reaction to her so far. She should also think of the implications of being involved in politics. It would be sad to see a girl with potential being used to fulfill other people’s agendas.”

By Faizal Nor Izham

 

'Liga Hambar PRK Bukit Gelugor', The Rakyat Post, 18 Mei 2014

 

Perang poster tidak kelihatan kerana lawan kuat, MCA, tidak bertanding di PRK Parlimen Bukit Gelugor pada 25 Mei ini. - Foto TRP/ Mokhsin Zamani

GEORGE TOWN, 18 Mei:

Pengaruh DAP sangat kuat dalam kancah politik Pulau Pinang dan tanpa kehadiran MCA selaku pencabar utamanya, saingan Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) bagi Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, P51, bagaikan kurang meriah, menurut kebanyakan pengundi yang tinggal di kawasan itu.

Umpama liga bola sepak, DAP ibarat memenangi beberapa ‘trofi’ sebelum ini, sudahpun dinilai sebagai juara, apatah lagi sebagai pasukan naib juara dalam Pakatan Rakyat (PR), pencabar underdog yang mewakili bebas bukanlah saingan parti itu untuk mengekalkan kejuaraan dalam PRK ini.

DAP dan PR ibarat pasukan Liverpool, walaupun pasukan itu banyak menjaringkan gol dalam tempoh satu musim, tetapi ia tidak mampu merebut tangga teratas, manakala Barisan Nasional (BN) pula ibarat Manchester City yang mudah merampas tangga teratas liga.

Itulah pandangan ramai dalam tinjauan yang dilakukan The Rakyat Post mengenai parti bertanding pada PRK Parlimen Bukit Gelugor.

Buat julung kalinya sejak 2004, MCA tidak menghantar calon mereka menyertai PRK.

Ketiadaan MCA menjadikan PRK kali ini agak hambar, bagaikan berada di Anfield tanpa penonton, kerana ia adalah parti yang mewarnai sejarah pilihan raya di Parlimen Bukit Gelugor selama ini.

Hakikatnya, ramai yang berharap anak ketiga mendiang Karpal Singh, Ramkarpal Singh Deo diberi kemenangan percuma pada PRK ini, berdasarkan faktor lebih 40,000 majoriti undi yang diperolehi Karpal pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13), antara jumlah terbesar dalam sejarah PRU.

Karpal yang juga bekas Pengerusi DAP meraih majoriti 42,706 undi, ketiga tertinggi selepas Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok daripada parti sama yang memperoleh 51,552 majoriti undi dan Ahli Parlimen Bukit Mertajam, Sim Chee Keong yang mendapat 43,063 majoriti undi.

Menurut Timbalan Dekan Fakulti Sains Sosial, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Profesor Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian, masyarakat Cina khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan Parlimen Bukit Gelugor bakal mengundi DAP, berdasarkan sentimen politik di Pulau Mutiara yang memihak kepada DAP.

“Dalam sejarah Bukit Gelugor, DAP mempunyai pengaruh kuat. Pengundi akan memberikan undi kepada DAP kerana faktor simpati dan mengenang budi Karpal,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Rakyat Post.

Berdasarkan senarai daftar pemilih, 74.33 peratus atau 61,267 daripada 82,431 pengundi berdaftar terdiri daripada kaum Cina, Melayu (14.46 peratus), India (10.73 peratus) dan kaum lain (0.49 peratus).

Sivamurugan berkata, sudah tiga penggal DAP menguasai kerusi Parlimen itu dan ternyata mendiang Karpal berjaya meningkatkan undian hampir 100 peratus sejak 2004.

Jelasnya, DAP tidak mengambil masa terlalu lama untuk memilih calon yang dirasakan layak untuk bertanding bagi memastikan legasi Harimau Jelutong tidak lenyap begitu sahaja.

“Sesiapapun yang diturunkan tidak menjadi masalah, kerana Bukit Gelugor adalah kubu kuat DAP. Saya percaya DAP tidak berdepan laluan sukar pada PRK kali ini, kerana hanya calon Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), Datuk Huan Chen Guan dilihat mampu menjadi pencabar DAP,” katanya.

Jelasnya, tindakan DAP yang dilihat mengamalkan nepotisme dengan menurunkan calon anak bekas penyandangnya itu tidak akan menjejaskan undi kaum Cina di kawasan berkenaan.

“Amalan nepotisme merupakan lumrah politik di negara ini, kerana ia berlaku dalam UMNO, PAS, PKR, MCA dan MIC sendiri.

“Apa yang dilihat pengundi bukanlah amalan ini, tetapi kewibawaan dalam memikul tanggungjawab sebagai ahli parlimen selepas ini,” katanya.

Mengenai ramalan awal PRK Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Sivamurugan menjelaskan, pengundi Cina sudah pasti akan mempengaruhi keputusan itu, selain faktor kesetiaan kepada parti berkenaan yang mempunyai majoriti ahli terdiri daripada kaum Cina.

“Di Bukit Gelugor, pola pengundian akan teruji sedemikian rupa kerana pengundi lebih bersifat setia dan akan pengaruhi keputusan.

“Selain itu, penduduk setempat juga mengiktiraf Karpal yang telah mewakili rakyat Bukit Gelugor dan tidak hairan jika undi simpati diberikan berdasarkan sumbangan bapa kepada anaknya, Ramkarpal,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut, Parlimen Bukit Gelugor bukan medan untuk menguji penerimaan masyarakat Cina terhadap sesebuah parti sebaliknya masyarakat setempat sendiri bijak untuk menilai bentuk sokongan yang diberikan.

“Bukit Gelugor memang kubu kuat DAP memandangkan keputusan lalu dari 2004 hingga 2013 naik sebanyak 100 peratus. Melihat keputusan ini sahaja sudah tentu kemenangan sudahpun boleh dijangka.

“Dari pemerhatian, kaum Melayu dan India akan mengundi calon lawan dari parti bebas jika mereka bukan penyokong setia DAP atau sekadar beri undi rosak manakala pengundi BN pula tidak akan keluar mengundi dan di sini majoriti undian akan berkurangan,” katanya.

Ujar beliau, jika hal ini berlaku cabaran itu bakal memberi peluang kepada masyarakat untuk melihat sejauh mana kemampuan anak harimau Jelutong, Ramkarpal sama ada dia mampu menandingi majoriti bapanya atau tidak.

“Inilah cabaran untuk Ramkarpal. Adakah dia mampu tandingi majoriti bapanya jika kadar keluar mengundi lebih rendah dan bakal mempengaruhi majoriti undian. Untuk PRK kali ini, DAP perlu bekerja lebih kuat untuk menarik sokongan dan mempertahankan majoriti undian sedia ada pada masa yang sama.

“Di sini kita dapat lihat sama ada Ramkarpal mampu keluar dari bayang bapanya dan dilihat memiliki kewibawaan dan kebolehan yang tersendiri atau tidak,” katanya.

Calon bebas yang bertanding tanpa tiket parti dikatakan sekadar mewarnai PRK untuk memecah undian tetapi jentera mereka tidak dapat bergerak secara licin dan hal ini akan menganggu proses PRK.

“PRK Bukit Gelugor bukan gelanggang untuk calon bebas, Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan dan Mohamed Nabi Bux Abdul Sathar kerana kemenangan DAP seolah-olah  begitu jelas sehingga memaksa MCA mengangkat bendera putih sebelum turun ke padang.

“Kemungkinan besar atas sebab ini, PRK Bukit Gelugor kurang meriah tanpa kehadiran pencabar kuat dari calon BN. Jika mereka bertanding pastinya lebih meriah kerana bila pencabar lemah pertandingan ini kurang mendapat perhatian,” katanya.

Tambahnya, setiap calon yang berkempen perlulah tampil profesional tanpa sebarang hasutan.

“Berkempen secara menghasut kurang sihat terutamanya buat negara yang terdapat masyarakat pelbagai etnik. Oleh itu, mana-mana calon perlulah bermoral serta mengelak dari mencetuskan provokasi dan hasutan.

“Berilah fakta yang tepat baik dari segi penjenamaan yang bersesuaian di setiap lokasi yang mempunyai demografi berbeza,” katanya.

'Gengster Sifat Semula Jadi PKR, Bukti Kelemahan Pimpinan Anwar', Utusan Malaysia, 20 Mei 2014

'Beri Peluang Calon Muda', Sinar Harian, 20 Mei 2014

'Saya Tidak Dibayangi Mendiang Bapa', Sinar Harian, 16 Mei 2014

'Pride And Marriage - An Immature Terengganu Drama, Say Analysts', Malay Mail, 15 May 2014

'Ramkarpal Yakin Tterajui P51', The Rakyat Post, 15 Mei 2014

 

GEORGE TOWN, 15 Mei:

Calon DAP bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Bukit Gelugor Ramkarpal Singh Deo berkata, dia mempunyai kredibiliti dan keupayaan tersendiri untuk membuktikan dirinya mampu menerajui kawasan itu tanpa dibayangi mendiang bapanya, Karpal Singh.

Menurutnya, adalah sangat tidak adil bagi sesetengah pihak untuk menilainya hanya sekadar anak kepada Karpal Singh tanpa melihat kewibawaannya untuk mengekalkan majoriti di Parlimen Bukit Gelugor.

“Saya bukan hanya setakat anak Karpal Singh sahaja. Ada juga keupayaan saya yang lain yang saya boleh buat. Adalah tidak adil untuk menilai sedemikian,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan di Pasar Basah Farlim.

Turut hadir Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang, Pengerusi DAP Negeri Chow Kon Yeow dan Ahli Parlimen Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo yang juga abang kepada Ramkarpal.

Ramkarpal berkata demikian mengulas mengenai kenyataan Timbalan Dekan Fakulti Pengajian Sains Sosial Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof. Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian yang mengatakan undi simpati mungkin diberi kepada calon DAP, Ramkarpal.

Dalam pada itu, Sivamurugan berkata, Ramkarpal mesti membuktikan pencalonannya bukan berdasarkan nepotisme, sebaliknya bersandarkan kepada kewibawaan dan keupayaannya sendiri untuk mengekalkan majoriti.

Sementara itu, Lim Kit Siang berkata DAP akan mengumumkan calon bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil Parlimen Teluk Intan pada Sabtu ini.

PRK Bukit Gelugor menyaksikan saingan antara Ramkarpal, Naib Presiden PCM, Datuk Huan Cheng Guan dan dua calon bebas Mohd. Nabi Bux Mohd. Abdul Sathar serta Abu Backer Sidek Mohammad Zan.

PRK itu dijadualkan berlangsung pada 25 Mei ini berikutan kematian penyandangnya, Karpal Singh daripada DAP akibat kemalangan jalan raya di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan dekat Gua Tempurung di Kampar, Perak, pada 17 April lalu.

Mendiang Karpal Singh yang juga bekas Pengerusi DAP, memenangi kerusi itu dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 2013 dengan majoriti 42,706 undi, mengalahkan calon Barisan Nasional, Teh Beng Yeam yang meraih 13,597 undi.

'Kempen Membosankan Selepas PRU13', Sinar Harian, 15 Mei 2014

'FOur Ways State Impasse May End', New Straits Times, 14 May 2014

'Pelantikan Sah Selagi Parti Terima Sokongan', Berita Harian, 14 Mei 2014

'Is The Circus In Terengganu Over', Malaysian Digest, 14 May 2014

 

Datuk Seri Ahmad Said (PIC: The Malay Mail)PERSUADING approach is taken by Barisan Nasional to bring back Datuk Seri Ahmad Said to UMNO.

This is due to the former Terengganu MB’s announcing his UMNO’s return and him informing to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak through a telephone call, earlier today.

Political analyst, Prof. Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian comments, Ahmad Said’s decision to leave UMNO after his resignation as the MB is highly driven by emotion.

“His return proves the party is his priority and I believe his silly step yesterday was highly driven by emotion.

“His act shows his bitterness for there’s interest that cannot be fulfilled which lead to the decision made influenced by emotion,” he said.

Siva added his return to UMNO indirectly helps BN to be in a better position and UMNO will continue to reign without any changes.

However according to Siva, Terengganu’s political crisis is not completely settled and the new MB, Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman job is create a drastic plan in order to carry out the responsibility to restore the state’s political condition.

“This challenge should be carried out with intelligence in order to gain back the people’s trust towards the party.

“The next six months will be an important transition to restore the crisis in Terengganu and to ensure it’s fully recovered,” he tells Malaysian Digest.

'Dia Memang Tahu', Harian Metro, 14 Mei 2014

'Pendekatan Memujuk Kembalikan Ahmad Said', Malaysian Digest, 14 Mei 2014

 

Ahmad Said kembali menyertai UMNO selepas umum keluar semalamPENDEKATAN 'memujuk' disifatkan langkah yang telah diambil oleh parti Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam mengembalikan bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said ke dalam UMNO.

Ini ekoran tindakan Ahmad Said dalam mengumumkan kembali menyertai UMNO yang dimaklumkan beliau kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak melalui panggilan telefon sebentar tadi.

Mengulas mengenai perkara tersebut, Penganalisis Politik, Prof. Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian berkata, tindakan Ahmad Said membuat keputusan untuk keluar daripada UMNO selepas perletakan jawatan sebagai menteri besar Terengganu digambarkan sebagai tindakan menurut emosi.

“Sekembalinya beliau ke dalam parti membuktikan bahawa parti telah diberi keutamaan berbanding dengan hak peribadi dan saya percaya langkah beliau semalam adalah berdasarkan emosi.

“Tindakan beliau boleh dianggap merajuk kerana ada kepentingan yang tidak dapat dipenuhi yang menyebabkan keputusan keluar parti diambil,” katanya.

Tambah Siva, keputusan untuk kembali kepada UMNO juga secara tidak langsung menjadikan kedudukan BN di Terengganu kembali pulih dan BN akan terus menerajui negeri tersebut tanpa  sebarang perubahan yang bakal berlaku.SIVAMURUGAN:Sekembalinya beliau ke dalam parti membuktikan bahawa parti telah diberi keutamaan berbanding dengan hak peribadi dan saya percaya langkah beliau semalam adalah berdasarkan emosi./Pic;Antarapos

Walaubagaimanapun menurut Siva lagi, krisis politik di Terengganu masih belum dianggap selesai sepenuhnya dan menyifatkan tugas Menteri besar Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman untuk mengalas dan merangka langkah drastik bagi memikul tanggungjwab segera dalam memulihkan keadaan politik di negeri tersebut.

“Cabaran itu perlu digalas dengan berhemah dan bijak untuk menyatupadukan kembali dalam meraih kepercayaan rakyat Terengganu kepada parti tersebut.

“Dalam tempoh enam bulan akan datang, ia menjadi peralihan penting untuk memperbaiki kerosakan dan memastikan krisis di Terenganu benar-benar pulih,” katanya kepada Malaysian Digest.

'Tugas Berat Menteri Besar Baharu', The Rakyat Post, 14 Mei 2014

 

Penganalisis politik Prof. Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian berkata, imej yang tercalar dengan tindakan bersifat emosi Dato Seri Ahmad Said masih ada peluang untuk dibaiki.

KUALA TERENGGANU, 14 Mei:

Menteri Besar Terengganu Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman perlu merangka langkah segera bagi merapatkan perbezaan pendapat dan sentimen di kalangan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Barisan  Nasional (BN), pemimpin UMNO dan anggota akar umbi parti itu.

Cabaran itu perlu digalas dengan berhemah selepas bekas Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said bertindak keluar daripada BN dan mengisytihar diri sebagai calon bebas.

Menurut penganalisis politik Prof. Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian, imej yang tercalar dengan tindakan bersifat emosi itu masih ada peluang untuk dibaiki.

“Hendak bina moral satu lagi proses, Menteri Besar baharu perlu rapatkan barisan. Beliau jangan mengetepikan mana-mana puak supaya UMNO kembali pulih walaupun imej tercalar,” kata Dr. Siva.

Jelasnya apa yang berlaku bukan setakat memberi imej yang buruk kepada parti tetapi kesan jangka panjang termasuk kewibawaan pucuk pimpinan UMNO negeri.

Bagi Dr. Siva, untuk tempoh enam bulan akan datang, ia menjadi peralihan penting untuk memperbaiki kerosakan dan seterusnya membina semula moral ahli yang kemungkinan bersimpati dan terpengaruh dengan tindakan Ahmad keluar parti selepas meletak jawatan.

Dalam situasi yang tidak menentu, pucuk pimpinan UMNO pusat perlu mencari beberapa mekanisma termasuk menilai semula kedudukan Pengerusi Badan Perhubunan UMNO Negeri yang  sebelum ini dipegang Menteri Besar.

“Parti di peringkat pusat perlu mencari mekanisme untuk negeri yang bermasalah, seperti formula yang digunakan oleh Naib Presiden UMNO mengambil alih Badan Perhubungan UMNO negeri yang bermasalah pada 2008,” syornya.

Mengulas mengenai kedudukan Ahmad selepas membuat keputusan drastik itu, Dr. Siva berpandangan, ADUN Kijal itu akan keseorangan kerana telah bertindak mengikut emosi sehingga mengetepikan kepentingan parti.

“Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim dan Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik antara mereka yang perlu dijadikan contoh di mana tidak melawan ketika diminta melepaskan jawatan yang disandang bagi memastikan keharmonian dalam parti pimpinan UMNO itu sendiri,” jelas Dr. Siva ketika dihubungi The Rakyat Post.

Berdasarkan tindak tanduk Ahmad, rakyat Terengganu akan membuat penilaian dan mempunyai persepi sendiri terhadap keputusannya yang dilihat lebih bersifat melulu dan kurang bijak.

Pada Selasa, tiga ADUN Barisan Nasional (BN) bertindak keluar daripada UMNO untuk menjadi wakil rakyat bebas dan Ahmad Razif dilantik menggantikan Ahmad Said sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu yang baharu.

ADUN Bukit Besi, Roslee Daud kembali semula kepada parti manakala Ahmad dan ADUN Ajil, Ghazali Taib nekad meninggalkan UMNO dengan menjadi calon bebas.

'A Dull Bukit Gelugor By-election Since 13th GE', Bernama, 14 May 2014

 

By Samantha Tan

GEORGE TOWN, May 14 (Bernama) -- The Bukit Gelugor by- election was possibly the most boring election campaign after the 13th general election due to Barisan Nasional (BN)'s absence from the four-cornered fight.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Social Science Studies Centre deputy dean, Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said there was less excitement for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election.

"This (Bukit Gelugor by-election) could be a boring election since the last general election as we don't see any contest between two major political parties.

"Without BN as a well-known party, we will not see an intense campaign in terms of machinery and manpower compared with independent candidates," he told Bernama here today.

Dr Sivamurugan said the scenario of the Bukit Gelugor by-election was almost similar with the by-election for the Penanti state seat in Penang on May 31, 2009 when BN was not contesting.

The Bukit Gelugor by-election will be held on May 25 following the death of its incumbent, Karpal Singh (DAP) in a road accident on the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung in Kampar, Perak, on April 17.

The late Karpal, who was a former DAP chairman, won the seat in the 2013 general election with a majority of 42,706 votes, defeating BN candidate Teh Beng Yeam, who polled 13,597 votes.

On whether DAP would seek sympathy votes, Dr Sivamurugan said there could be sympathy votes for the DAP candidate, Ramkarpal Singh, who was also the late Karpal's third son.

"Definitely there could be sympathy votes as a mark of respect to the late Karpal's contributions. Therefore, the candidate must prove his candidacy was not based on nepotism but his own credibility and capability to maintain the majority," he said.

Dr Sivamurugan said on paper, DAP would easily win the parlimentary seat because it was mostly based on party sentiment rather than issues as Bukit Gelugor was an urban area.

"The by-election will not focus so much on development issues at Bukit Gelugor as it is already developed with a high to middle class population. The voters could seek for continuity in development, which was done by the previous state government," he said, adding that the BN government was the one that developed the state and now the DAP-led state government maintained it.

-- BERNAMA

'Bubar DUN Atau Bentuk Kerajaan Campuran Di Terengganu - Pemerhati Politik', Bernama, 13 Mei 2014

 

Oleh Sh Nur Shahrizad Sy Mohamed Sharer

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Mei (Bernama) -- Ada dua pilihan yang boleh dilakukan berikutan perkembangan terbaru dalam politik di Terengganu, demikian saranan pemerhati politik.

Ia boleh dilakukan sama ada dengan membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) atau meneroka kemungkinan membentuk kerajaan campuran dengan PAS bagi menangani perkembangan terbaru politik di negeri itu sekarang.

Menyifatkan perkembangan politik yang mendepani kerajaan negeri itu lebih kepada krisis 'peribadi' berbanding parti, mereka berpandangan, perkembangan itu perlu ditangani segera.

Timbalan Dekan di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Dr S.K Sivamurugan Pandian berpendapat langkah membubarkan DUN wajar diambil sekiranya pendekatan memujuk tiga wakil rakyat daripada Umno yang mengisytiharkan diri mereka sebagai wakil Bebas, gagal.

"Jalan segera untuk menyelesaikan isu ini ialah untuk memujuk tiga wakil rakyat itu untuk kembali menyokong Barisan Nasional (BN), tetapi jika gagal, BN tidak ada pilihan melainkan membubarkan dewan undangan negeri," katanya kepada Bernama.

Terengganu menjadi tumpuan sejak semalam selepas Datuk Seri Ahmad Said yang juga ADUN Kijal, meletak jawatan sebagai Menteri Besar disusuli majlis angkat sumpah ADUN Seberang Takir Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman sebagai menteri besar yang baharu malam tadi.

Susulan perkembangan itu, Ahmad, ADUN Ajil Ghazali Taib dan ADUN Bukit Besi Roslee Daud mengisytiharkan keluar Umno dan menjadi wakil Bebas.

Ini menjurus kepada komposisi BN di DUN yang mempunyai 32 kerusi kini berkurangan daripada 17 kepada 14 manakala pembangkang mempunyai 15 anggota serta Bebas tiga.

Bagaimanapun, menurut Penasihat Undang-undang negeri Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, BN kekal memerintah negeri itu kerana kerusi Speaker juga dikira sebagai satu kerusi, menjadikan BN 15 kerusi.

Menurutnya, ini membolehkan BN kekal menerajui kerajaan negeri bersandarkan kepada parti mana yang memerintah selepas pilihan raya umum ke-13.

Mengulas lanjut Dr Sivamurugan berkata BN mengambil risiko besar apabila melaksanakan pertukaran menteri besar dalam keadaan tidak mempunyai majoriti besar dalam DUN, sekali gus menjurus kepada tanda tanya besar situasi politik negeri itu sekarang.

"Kita tidak tahu apa sebenarnya perjanjian antara pucuk pimpinan dengan Ahmad Said tetapi jika dilihat keadaan sekarang, jelas telah berlaku perpecahan dalam Umno negeri," katanya.

Bagaimanapun dalam keadaan sekarang, terpulang kepada pihak-pihak yang berpecah ini sama ada untuk memainkan peranan besar memastikan perpaduan parti itu lebih penting berbanding perkara lain atau sebaliknya, katanya.

Ketua Kluster Sejarah Warisan dan Sosiobudaya Majlis Profesor Negara Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling pula berpandangan BN yang kini dalam situasi seperti 'itik tempang', wajar meneroka kemungkinan membentuk kerajaan campuran dengan PAS.

"Tidak perlu bubar DUN dalam keadaan BN masih ada peluang untuk kekalkan kerajaan.

"Tetapi kerajaan Terengganu mungkin patut meneroka kemungkinan untuk membawa orang PAS dalam kerajaan, itu mungkin akan lebih menguatkan kerajaan selain mendekatkan jurang perpecahan di kalangan orang Melayu dan Islam selain akan memberi Terengganu suatu kelebihan," sarannya.

Jika kerajaan campuran bukan menjadi pilihan, pembubaran dewan juga tidak wajar dilakukan kerana ia hanya akan mendedahkan BN kepada risiko yang lebih besar, katanya.

"Kekalkan keadaan sekarang lebih baik walaupun BN akan berdiri sebagai kerajaan minoriti. Jika bubar DUN, Terengganu berdepan risiko diambil alih oleh pihak pembangkang," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

'Impasse: Terengganu BN Can Dissolve Assembly Or Form Coalition With PAS', Bernama, 13 May 2014

 

By Sh Nur Shahrizad Sy Mohamed Sharer

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- There are two options to the current crisis in the Terengganu Government, note political analysts.

Either the State Legislative Assembly can be dissolved or the Barisan Nasional (BN) should form a coalition government with PAS.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Social Science Study Centre deputy dean Dr S. K. Sivamurugan Pandian said the impasse could be resolved by dissolving the state assembly if the BN failed to persuade the three former Umno assemblymen who quit the party, to return to the fold.

Terengganu was thrown into a political quagmire after Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who resigned as menteri besar, quit Umno after his successor, Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who is also Seberang Takir assemblyman, was sworn in last night.

Ahmad Said's decision prompted two more Umno assemblymen, namely Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi), to follow suit. The trio have since declared themselves Independents.

This reduced the BN representation in the state legislative assembly from 17 to 14. PAS has 14 representatives in the assembly and PKR, one.

However, Terengganu legal adviser Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the BN was still the legitimate government as it commanded 15 seats in the House, with the inclusion of the Speaker which was counted as one seat.

He said the BN held the legitimacy since it held the reins after the 13th General Election (GE13).

Sivamurugan said the BN took a big gamble by replacing the menteri besar at this juncture as it did not enjoy a two-thirds majority in Terengganu, thus throwing the state's political arena into disarray.

"We do not know what the actual agreement was, between the top BN leadership and Ahmad Said, but gauging the situation, it has led to a break-up in Umno," he noted.

However, it was up to the parties concerned whether they want to patch up to reunite the party or otherwise, he said.

National Council of Professors' Heritage and Socio-cultural History Cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling said Terengganu BN should consider exploring the possibility of forming a coalition government with PAS.

"No need to dissolve the state assembly as BN still has the legitimacy to hold the reins, but it should explore the possibility of bringing PAS into the government.

"This might be for the better as it can help strengthen the government, as well as bring unity among the Malays and Muslims, apart from becoming an advantage to Terengganu.

"If a coalition government is not an option, the dissolution of the state assembly is also not a sensible thing to do as it will expose BN to a bigger risk, even losing the state.

"So, it is better to hold on to the reins as a minority government," he added.

-- BERNAMA

'Mampu Beri Nafas Baharu', Sinar Harian, 13 May 2014

'Analysts Predict Lower Turnout', New Straits Times, 12 May 2014

'Elak Undi Protes Di PRK Bukit Gelugor, Teluk Intan', Berita Harian, 12 Mei 2014

'UMNO Lemah Kerana Dikhianati', The Rakyat Post, 11 Mei 2014

 

 

Oleh Zalikha Ameera

Kuala Lumpur, 11 Mei

Faktor dalaman dan sikap ahli  menjadi faktor utama yang  menyumbang kepada kelemahan orang Melayu di negara ini.

Sama ada sedar atau tidak, sedikit demi sedikit mereka semakin kehilangan hak istimewa dan tidak mustahil apa yang dikecapi hari ini akan hilang suatu hari nanti.

Terdapat segelintir pihak yang cuba mengaitkan perkembangan yang berlaku itu dengan kepimpinan  dalam UMNO wal hal sejak 68 tahun lalu parti berkenaan menjadi wadah perjuangan yang membela dan mempertahan hak orang Melayu.

Menurut pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Ekonomi, Kewangan dan Perbankan, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Prof Datuk Dr. Amir Hussin Baharuddin, adalah tidak adil meletakkan kelemahan itu kepada UMNO secara mutlak.

Sebaliknya sikap mereka yang kecewa dalam parti menjadi faktor yang mengugat kredibalitinya.

“Masyarakat Melayu tidak boleh menuding jari kepada UMNO, sedangkan selama ini parti itu yang pertahankan segala hak keistimewaan orang Melayu sehingga orang Melayu sendiri yang mula berpaling tadah kepada pembangkang.

” Sebelum merdeka lagi, orang Melayu suka berpaling tadah. Tidak berpuas hati dengan UMNO, mereka keluar parti dan menubuhkan parti PAS, Parti Melayu Semangat 46 dan sekarang wujud pula PKR. Sedangkan mereka mula merangkap dan mempelajari selok-belok politik melalui UMNO,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Rakyat Post.

Menurutnya, kewujudan parti yang mengkhianati perjuangan  UMNO menjadi punca sebenar kedudukan orang Melayu diperlekeh.

“Sebelum tubuhnya PKR, kita dapat lihat tiada pihak yang berani mempersoalkan kedudukan Melayu serta Islam sebagai agama rasmi Malaysia. PKR serta rakan sekutunya yang meminta untuk melupuskan hak keistimewaan Melayu dan membenarkan perkahwinan sejenis di Malaysia, jelas bercanggah dengan agama Islam.

Jelasnya, di sebalik ancaman yang berlaku, parti itu sentiasa melakukan penambahbaikan bagi memastikan ia relevan dengan keadaan semasa.

Sementara itu, Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prof Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian menyangkal dakwaan sesetengah pihak  UMNO sudah lemah dan tidak mendapat sokongan orang Melayu.

Menurut Prof Madya Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian jika PRU13 dijadikan sebagai penanda aras, UMNO masih mendapat sokongan orang Melayu walaupun ia merosot.

Katanya, jika Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU-13) dijadikan sebagai penanda aras parti itu, ia masih kekal menjadi pilihan utama pengundi Melayu.

“Mereka memenangi paling banyak kerusi parlimen yang membolehkan Barisan Nasional (BN) kekal menjadi pentadbir negara ini,” tegasnya

Temubual bersama Astro Awani 501, 14 Mei 2014

http://www.astroawani.com/videos/show/awani-7-45/penganalisis-suara-majoriti-pimpin-politik-terengganu-31609

Temubual bersama Astro Awani 501, 13 Mei 2014

http://www.astroawani.com/videos/show/buletin-awani/krisis-terengganu-reaksi-penganalisis-politik-usm-31530

Interview with Astro Awani 501, 5 May 2014

http://www.astroawani.com/videos/show/buletin-awani/penganalisis-urus-tadbir-negara-selepas-pru-13-31030#.U2eRIVQn-Kc.email

'PR Split Over hudud Would Be Disastrous, Say Analysts', The Malay Mail, 6 May 2014

'Setahun Pasca 505 PRU Ke-13', Pena Dr.Siva, Utusan Malaysia, 5 Mei 2014

'Much Ado In Pakatan', New Sunday Times, 5 May 2014

'Safety At Rallies Not Guaranteed', New Straits Times, 3 May 2014

'Tough Decision For MCA Over Bukit Gelugor By-Election', New Straits Times, 2 May 2014

'Khalid Better Leave Now Or Risk Rift', The Rakyat Post, 30 April 2014

 

By Yiswaree P. and Sean Augustin

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30:

PAS today chided Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over what it says was an “immature” announcement which can create a rift within the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

PAS leaders said this after Abdul Khalid’s statement today that he would relinquish his position as the state’s Menteri Besar once his term ended.

PAS Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad said that if Abdul Khalid had made up his mind to leave, it had to be soon and not in time for the 14th General Election.

“It is not wise for hiim to have announced it that way, as firstly it is not up to him to decide. He was not self-appointed, but by Pakatan.

“Secondly, if you had made such an announcement, come the next general election, the people will again start questioning as to who can be the next Menteri Besar, leading to an internal rift in PR,” he told The Rakyat Post today.

Khalid Samad said that PR intended to face the next general election with the electorate feeling confident that the coalition had resolved the “MB crisis”.

“In my opinion, if there needs to be a change, it better be done now, with Abdul Khalid vacating his seat immediately.”

Khalid Samad said that this would then give his successor enough time to showcase his credentials come the next general election.

“He (Abdul Khalid) better leave now if he has decided to retire.

“In fact, there is no issue finding his replacement as in PR there are many potential candidates.”

Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago felt that Abdul Khalid’s move had a connection with the state’s water woes.

“As the Menteri Besar, he was being pressured over the state’s water woes. This was one way for him to try to get the people to go easy on him as he is on his way out.”

The activist-turned-politician also hinted that Abdul Khalid was possibly trying to gain sympathy votes and using the issue now as he was contesting for the deputy president’s post in the on-going Parti Keadilan Rakyat party elections.

“If he loses, the clamour for him to get out would get more intense. I think he is just posturing,” the DAP lawmaker said when contacted.

Political analysts, meanwhile, said that Abdul Khalid’s announcement was a trivial matter.

Monash University’s political analyst Professor James Chin said it was in fact “no big deal”.
“It’s part of Pakatan Rakyat’s internal policy,” Chin said.

Chin also said that many were aware that Abdul Khalid intended to serve until the end.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian also shared Chin’s sentiments.

However, he said Abdul Khalid still had unsettled business in the state, particularly where religious issues were concerned.

“Even if he (Abdul Khalid) loses in his party polls, but is retained as the Menteri Besar, the party’s internal politics, on the other hand, will hit him hard.”

Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Politics and Government expert Professor Dr Jayum Jawan took a more cynical stand, saying that Abdul Khalid was “talking rubbish”.

“Next term means five years later… perhaps he (Abdul Khalid) foresees that PR will fall in the next general election by then? And, of course, he goes, too, if that happens.”

Abdul Khalid was appointed Menteri Besar on March 13, 2008 following the opposition coalition’s win in Selangor in the 12th general election.

He was reappointed for the second term after the 13th General Election in May last year.

'Kelantan Tidak Perlu Referendum', Sinar Harian, 28 April 2014