'Rift Shows They Lack Maturity, Credibility', New Straits Times, 20 February 2013

 

 

'It's Proof Najib Cares For People', New Straits Times, 18 February 2013

'Strategi BN Mudah Diterima Pengundi', Sinar Harian, 14 Februari 2013

Makkal Osai, 14 Februari 2013

'More Penang Voters Sitting On The Fence', Free Malaysia Today, 13 February 2013

More Penang voters sitting on the fence
Free Malaysia Today freemalaysiatoday.com


GEORGE TOWN: The number of fence-sitters (undecided voters) in Penang has grown in the past few months with the general election around the corner, says an academician.
Universiti Science Malaysia’s political scientist Sivamurugan Pandian said this is largely because of developments in Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
He said that on the BN side, the ruling coalition has been dangling many “carrots” such as handing out RM500 to those who qualify under the BR1M aid scheme.
It has also been making promises to solve socio-economic problems such as resolving housing woes and traffic congestion.
Other “carrots” dangled include building a monorail (public transport), reviving the free port status for the under-performing Penang Port and new incentives to boost healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.
On the Pakatan side, the opposition has been hit by a series of controversies such as the Allah issue, and the nomination of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to be the prime minister if Pakatan wins.
On the Allah row, PAS took a different stand from PKR and DAP when its Syura Council ruled that Christians cannot use the word Allah in the Malay-language Bibles.
Then came reports that PAS was not in favour of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim becoming the next prime minister, which Hadi has since denied.
Do all these developments mean that BN has an edge over Pakatan? Or that Pakatan is crumbling?
Sivamurugan said nobody can predict for now, but the fact remains that more people are now undecided over who deserves to lead the country.

Act of desperation


In one corner is BN led by the “1Malaysia” campaign founder and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and in the other, is his nemises, Anwar, who continues to “sell” the storyline that the country is on the wrong track because of corruption, nepotism and cronism.
BN is trying hard to endear itself to the people with some initiatives that it hopes will translate into favourable “ratings” for its popularity.
For example, Sivamurugan said BN brought over South Korean online rap superstar, Psy (Park Jae-sang), here to usher in the Chinese New Year.
It was part of the state BN’s Lunar New Year open-house celebration.
It was reported that a crowd of some 100,000 jammed the Han Chiang Private College ground here to watch Psy perform his “Gangnam” style song and dance.
This will no doubt have an impact on the fence-sitters here, said Sivamurugan.
He believes that both BN and Pakatan have their respective share of traditional supporters and voters.
Meanwhile, state PKR committee member S Raveentharan believes that Pakatan enjoys the support of the bulk of the non-Muslims.
The Batu Uban assemblyman said the Chinese and Indian voters are largely with Pakatan and now, it is the Malays who must decide.
He said BN’s move to “enlist” Psy is an act of desperation to win over voters, especially the fence-sitters in Penang.
He said the money spent on Psy could be better used for helping the disabled.
He also dismissed claims of a split in Pakatan, saying that the visit by PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s home during the Thaipusam celebration, showed the opposition was united. It also sent the right message to the fence-sitters.

'Pecutan Akhir PM Sebelum PRU13', Sinar Harian, 13 Februari 2013

'Bebas Sentuh Isu Sensitif Galak Polarisasi Kaum', Berita Harian, 13 Februari 2013

'Menjejaki Perpaduan Malaysia Sehingga Ke Saat Ini', Pena Dr.Siva, Utusan Malaysia, 12 Februari 2013

'Toleransi Perlu Kekal Demi Keamanan Negara', Utusan Malaysia, 11 Februari 2013

Puthiya Uthayam, Makalah KPKWM

'Guan Eng Mahu Malukan PM, Gesa Pakai Warna Tema Pembangkang'-Penganalisis Politik, Bernama, 6 Februari 2013

Thaipusam 26-27 January 2013, Penang Hilltop Waterfall Temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Bubar DUN Awal Tidak Bawa Perubahan', Sinar Harian, 1 Februari 2013

Hakim Debat JPNIN 2012

Jimmy Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now

Ben E King - Stand By Me

 

Ben E King - Stand By Me

 

 

USM Thanneerpanthal, Hilltop Waterfall Temple, Penang, 26 January 2013

Thiapusam Hilltop Waterfall Temple, Penang 26-27 January 2013

'Risiko Jika Calon Gagal Tapisan SPRM', Sinar Harian, 26 Januari 2013

'Penang Malays Take Offence Over Banner', New Straits Times, 25 January 2013

'Milik Siapakah Mandat 2013', Pena Dr.Siva, Utusan Malaysia, 24 Januari 2013

'DAP Mahu Jadi Tunjang Di Pusat', Berita Harian, 24 Januari 2013

Seminar PRU Ke-13, Siapa Jadi Pilihan?, 17 Januari 2013

Seminar PRU Ke-13, Siapa Jadi Pilihan?; anjuran Majlis Profesor Negara, UUM dan Berita Harian, Hotel Seri Pacific, Kuala Lumpur, 17 Januari 2013

 

 

BCC ..... Drum

'Penganalisis Politik Menjangkakan PRU13 Pada Mac', Sinar Harian, 22 Januari 2013

'Bukan Pendekatan Paling Stabil', Utusan Malaysia, 11 Januari 2013

'Mampu Menang', Berita Harian, 18 Januari 2013

'PAS Fears Losing Support', New Straits Times, 17 January 2013

'Kegagalan Pakatan Buka Peluang BN Rampas Selangor', Utusan Malaysia, 15 Januari 2013

'No Basis To Issue Threats', New Straits Times, 14 January 2013

'Himpunan KL112 Catat Sejarah', Sinar Harian, 14 Januari 2013

'Najib Has The Edge Over Anwar', Free Malaysia Today, 11 January 2013

‘Najib has the edge over Anwar’ Athi Shankar | January 11, 2013

 

Academician Sivamurugan Pandian believes the Najib factor will prevail and pull BN over the finishing line in the next general election. GEORGE TOWN: For the first time in Malaysian political history, Barisan Nasional will face the most serious challenge to its 55-year-old political supremacy. But political analyst Sivamurugan Pandian believes the Najib factor would eventually prevail and pull BN over the finishing line in the next general election. He, however, was unsure if the Najib factor can help BN regain its two-thirds parliamentary majority. Since taking over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009 as the prime minister, he said Najib Tun Razak had managed to come out from the Umno’s racial political sphere to become a Malaysian leader for all. He pointed out that Najib had enhanced his reputation via his walkabouts to reach out to various communities and young voters on his own. He said Najib was now perceived to be addressing problems faced by various communities on his own, rather than depending on third party, or BN coalition partners. He said Najib’s direct approach and personal touch had convinced the grassroots, including young Malaysians, that the prime minister has come of age. “He has managed to erase initial scepticism on his leadership capabilities. “It’s not an overstatement to say Najib has transformed himself from being seen as a Malay leader to a Malaysian leader,” said Sivamurugan, a lecturer at the School of Social Sciences in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Anwar’s political strength He also complimented Najib’s political rival and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for elevating himself to be a Malaysian, rather than a Malay, leader. He said one cannot deny that Anwar’s political strength was instrumental in the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as an alternate government-in-waiting in the national political landscape. “Anwar, apart from Hindraf, was a major factor behind the unprecedented results in the 2008 general election. “He is a major factor keeping Pakatan together,” said the academician. Sivamurugan has no doubt that the Najib versus Anwar factor would be decisive in the forthcoming election. Although both have good oratory skills and strong support, he believes that the prime minister has an edge in the race, and this is not just because he was helming the BN federal government. “Comparatively, Najib had delivered better than Anwar,” claimed the academician. He said Najib had enthusiastically driven through his transformation plans and managed to unite and enhance cooperation among BN component parties. He said Najib had managed to standardise the administrative operations of all BN-led state governments and delivered successive people-oriented budgets to allay public fear on bread and butter issues. “Malaysians wake up each morning without having to worry about their daily meals and shelter,” said the lecturer. Najib’s reforms Najib, he said, was also perceived promoting moderate and tolerant religious policies. He pointed out that the premier had abolished draconian laws such the Internal Security Act, Emergency Ordinance and emergency declarations. He said Najib had also relaxed the law on students’ political activism and freedom of peaceful assembly. He praised the premier for initiating an unprecedented bold step of heeding public demands on liberalism even though many in Umno opposed his reform policies. “Najib will be remembered in history as the prime minister who repealed ISA and other draconian laws. “Whether you like him or not, Najib has delivered,” said Sivamurugan. In contrast, he said Anwar failed to deliver on his Sept 16, 2008 promise to take over the federal government and failed to implement Pakatan’s common policy framework – Buku Jingga – in any of the coalition-led state governments. He said one can notice the vast differences in Pakatan state governments’ operations and policies in Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor. He also chided Anwar for playing a “populist game” on the Islamic state issue propagated by PAS but opposed vehemently by the DAP. Until today, he said Anwar had failed to resolve the contentious issue amicably. “Apart from their Putrajaya agenda, Pakatan allies have nothing much in common. This gives an edge to Najib and BN,” noted Sivamurugan.

'Tense Fight For Lembah Pantai', New Straits Times, 11 January 2013

'PAS Credibility At Stake Over Hadi's Amanat Denial', New Straits Times, 7 January 2013

'Penjadualan Semula Untuk Raih Sokongan Melayu', Berita Harian, 5 Januari 2013

Berita Harian, 5 Januari 2013

'FPS not enough to win Penang', Free Malaysia Today, 4 January 2013

FPS not enough to win Penang

Athi Shankar

| January 4, 2013

Restoring the free port status may go down well with the business community but it will have no impact on the lower and middle income groups.

GEORGE TOWN: Restoring Penang’s free port status (FPS) will be a strategic move by Barisan Nasional to win more votes in the coming general election, said an academician here today.
But it might not be enough to recapture the state because it would not be a vote-catcher among the state’s lower-middle income group, according to Assoc Prof Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
The academician said BN could woo votes from the dominant Chinese business community if the federal government restored Penang’s FPS, which was revoked in 1969.
However, he noted that since FPS would benefit only certain segments of society, it might fall short of capturing the imagination of the lower and middle wage earners, who made up a large portion of the state’s voters.
“These wage earners’ demands and needs are different than that of the business community,” he told FMT.
Although restoring FPS would be a smart move, he suggested that BN had to implement different strategies to woo the wage earning voters, especially Malays and Indians.
Among the lower-middle income group issues that BN should address, he said, were affordable housing, public transportation, employment, especially in the civil service, and small business opportunities.
He said BN could win over lower-middle income Penangites if the coalition could assure establishing a legal mechanism to control inflating land and housing prices in the state.
Since 2008, he said land and housing prices in Penang had rocketed beyond the reach of ordinary local residents.
“Only the rich, including foreigners, can afford to buy land and houses in Penang, especially on the island. It’s a serious violation of the natural birth rights of the locals.
“But the Pakatan Rakyat state government has failed to address this issue,” he added.
Sivamurugan said BN should unveil its strategies to increase foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the manufacturing sector, the state’s number one revenue earner.
He said BN should also reveal the steps it would take to boost the tourism industry if it regained Penang.
If BN could focus on all these issues in its state election manifesto, Sivamurugan said the coalition had a good chance of winning over wage-earning voters.
He said neither BN nor Pakatan could ignore the importance of these lower-middle income voters as they proved to be crucial in the last general election.
“They played a pivotal role in swinging the tide from BN to Pakatan in Penang in 2008,” he added.