'Semenyih Candidates Running Neck And Neck', The Sun Daily, 25 February 2019

Ian McIntyre /

25 Feb 2019 / 00:14 H.

Picture for representational purpose only.

SEMENYIH: In the 14th general elections Pakatan Harapan’s Bakhtiar Mohd Nor romped home with 23,428 votes, beating his closest rival, Umno’s Johan Abd Aziz, by a comfortable 8,964 votes to win the Semenyih seat.
But less than a year later, it looks like the odds have become more even.
Bakhtiar of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) died in January, forcing a by-election that now sees his son-in-law Muhammad Aiman Zainali squaring off with three others for the Malay-majority seat, including Umno’s Zakaria Hanafi.
There are about 54,000 voters in the constituency, with Malays accounting for 67% of them, making their support essential to win the seat.
If support is to be measured by the number of people attending each candidate’s ceramahs or rallies, then Aiman has his work cut out for him.
A recent rally by Banting assemblyman Lau Weng San of the DAP drew more journalists than voters.
Even his suggestion – perhaps in jest – that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak should be regarded as “pencuriku” or thief rather than “Bossku” failed to work up the crowd.
On the other hand, there was good turnout at Najib’s rallies.
He focuses on the promises Pakatan had made in the run-up to GE14 and his conclusion that they have yet to make good on those pledges.
His “Bossku” campaign also seems to have resonated with the crowd – both in cyberspace and on the streets.
However, political scientist Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian warned against making quick assumptions, pointing out that the “bossku” campaign has not proven that it can get Umno the votes.
At the end of the day, it could be just bread and butter issues that will decide the outcome.

'Personality Outweighs Manifesto', New Straits Times, 22 February 2019

'PAS Refutes DrM's Claim', The Sun, 19 February 2019

'BN, PH Vying For Malay Votes', New Straits Times, 17 February 2019

'Siapa layak ganti Zahid sebagai ketua pembangkang?', FMT, 17 Februari 2019

Saya mencadangkan dua pemimpin: YB KJ dan YB Azalina Othman berdasarkan kepada pemerhatian di bawah:-
1/ kewibawaan untuk berdepan dengan kepimpinan hari ini
2/ berartikulasi dengan rasional dan fakta serta kematangan pemikiran ke hadapan
3/ kedua-duanya juga dihormati oleh PH kerana boleh membuat keputusan melangkaui perbezaan ideologi politik
4/ kedua-duanya juga berada dalam beberapa JKuasa badan membuat keputusan sebelum ini
5/ Walaupun YB KJ tewas dalam pemilihan parti, parti boleh keluar dari amalan konvensional sebelum ini; yang penting adalah seorang yang mampu memain dan memastikan BN menjadi semak dan imbang kepada kerajaan
6/ YB Azalina pula kerana pernah menjadi Ketua Whip sebelum diambil-alih oleh YB Ismail Sabri, dan kini menjadi Ketua Biro Undang-Undang


Hanya beberapa pandangan digunakan sehingga ada yang menyoal kenapa YB KJ tidak ada dalam perbincangan saya ke atas isu tersebut.

Siapa layak ganti Zahid sebagai ketua pembangkang?

By

Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh

-

February 17, 2019 7:52 AM

 

Zahid Hamidi kini ‘bercuti’ daripada menjalankan tugas presiden Umno sehingga selesai kesnya di mahkamah. (Gambar Bernama)

PETALING JAYA: Selepas Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi “bercuti” dan menyerahkan tugasnya kepada Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan selaku timbalannya, Umno masih tercari-cari penggantinya sebagai ketua pembangkang di Parlimen.
Menurut 2 penganalisis politik, senioriti dalam parti dan keupayaan menyuarakan pandangan bernas adalah faktor untuk menimbangkan calon ketua pembangkang.
Senioriti bermaksud individu yang memegang jawatan kanan dalam parti.
Bekas pengarah Institut Kajian Politik Malaysia (Mapan) Universiti Utara Malaysia Kamarul Zaman Yusoff berkata, mengikut senioriti individu yang sesuai menjadi ketua pembangkang ialah Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

 

Katanya, Ismail Sabri mungkin naib presiden, tetapi beliau bukan sahaja “senior”, malah seorang yang diketahui mempunyai idea dan boleh berhujah dengan baik.
Ismail, 59, menyertai Umno sekitar 1986. Pada 1987, beliau dilantik menjadi ahli jawatankuasa Umno bahagian Temerloh. Kemudian, pada 1988, beliau dilantik sebagai ketua penerangan Umno bahagian Temerloh. Pada 1993, beliau dipiih pula sebagai ketua pergerakan Pemuda bahagian, timbalan ketua bahagian dan menjadi ketua Umno bahagian Temerloh pada 2004.
Kamarul menambah, jika dilihat dari faktor senioriti dalam Parlimen, Tengku Razaleigh adalah sosok yang paling sesuai. Bagaimanapun, katanya, ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu tidak mempunyai sebarang jawatan dalam parti itu setakat ini.
“Kerana beliau yang paling lama dalam Parlimen.

 

“Jika nak lantik Mohamad tak boleh kerana beliau tiada dalam Parlimen,” katanya ketika dihubungi FMT.
Kamarul Zaman berkata, kalau diambil kira tahap aktif ahli BN yang sering bersuara dan memberi pandangan yang rasional, calon yang sesuai ialah bekas calon Presiden Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin atau bekas presiden parti, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Tapi Najib tidak akan dapat berfungsi dengan baik sebab dia berhadapan dengan banyak kes mahkamah. Khairy pula kalah dalam pemilihan, jadi mungkin dianggap tak mewakili arus perdana selain (dia) muda,” katanya.
Tambah Kamarul Zaman, calon kompromi atau calon yang sentiasa bersependapat ialah setiausaha agung parti, Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Bagaimanapun, ketika ditanya, siapa calon yang layak dipilih tanpa mengambil kira faktor tersebut, tanpa ragu, Kamarul memberitahu Khairy lebih layak.
“Dia berpelajaran tinggi dan sangat matang,” katanya.
Tetapi, katanya, terdapat masalah jika Khairy dipilih sebagai ketua pembangkang.
“Beliau tidak begitu senada dengan suara arus perdana dalam parti terutamanya melibatkan kerjasama PAS dan Umno.”
Zahid kini “bercuti” daripada menjalankan tugas presiden sehingga selesai kes di mahkamah yang dihadapinya. Beliau berdepan 45 pertuduhan pecah amanah, menerima rasuah dan pengubahan wang haram.
Sebelum ini, media melaporkan BN akan mengadakan satu perjumpaan khas bagi membincangkan nama baru menggantikan Zahid sebagai ketua pembangkang.
Mohamad yang menjalankan tugas presiden parti dilaporkan berkata, kerusi ketua pembangkang masih kosong kerana Zahid masih dalam fasa ‘bercuti’.
Sementera itu, Prof P Sivamurugan dari Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) berkata, bekas menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, layak menggantikan tempat itu.
Hal ini katanya, Azalina mempunyai kewibawaan untuk berdepan dengan kepimpinan hari ini dan beratikulasi dengan rasional.
“Azalina juga mempunyai pengalaman sebagai ahli Parlimen dan menjadi ketua whip kerajaan sebelum diambil alih Ismail Sabri. Kini, menjadi ketua biro undang-undang Umno,” katanya.

'Siapa King Maker Di Semenyih', Pena DrSiva, Utusan Malaysia, 14 Februari 2019

'Crossover by Umno MPs will boost PPBM’s position in PH, say analysts', Free Malaysia Today, 13 february 2019

 

By

Predeep Nambiar

-

February 13, 2019 8:00 AM

 

GEORGE TOWN: A political analyst sees PPBM’s move to accept seven former Umno MPs as a bid to consolidate its position in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, where it has long been seen as weak, holding the least number of seats.

With only 13 seats earlier, PPBM had had to catch up with the likes of PKR and Umno which had 47 and 37 seats respectively in Parliament. Following the crossover of the seven, Umno’s share has been reduced to just 30.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said in accepting the MPs into the party, PPBM was doing what any political entity would: boosting its prospects and power by adding more numbers to the ruling coalition.

He told FMT that the numbers game was significant for PPBM as the prime minister, along with 12 ministers and deputy ministers, are from the party

 

“Today, Umno can ask MCA to get out of Barisan Nasional because it has the strength to do so, but PPBM cannot say the same to PKR and DAP.

“PPBM’s heart must have been in its mouth because it knew it was the weakest party in the ruling coalition,” he said, adding that “it has to strengthen itself”.

Amri also said more Umno members and leaders could be expected to leave the party soon, especially following rumours that all 191 divisions are being investigated for receiving illegal funds from state investment fund 1MDB.

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Sivamurugan Pandian said PPBM must work to prevent an internal crisis in PH due to the entry of new MPs.
While it was acceptable to admit members into the party, he said, PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad had often assured other PH components of an internal assessment of such MPs before they are allowed to enter the fold.
“PH as a whole had said that a collective decision must be made in order to admit ex-Umno members.
“Perhaps PPBM feels that new members can play a role in repositioning the party within PH, and possibly even outside the coalition,” he said.

Yesterday, seven former Umno MPs joined PPBM. They are former domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister Hamzah Zainuddin, former deputy tourism minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and former deputy health minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
The four other MPs were Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu) and Shahbudin Yahya (Tasik Gelugor).

'A two-thirds majority will allow Pakatan govt to amend Federal Constitution', The Star, 13 February 2019

 

---

PETALING JAYA: A two-thirds majority will allow the Pakatan Harapan government to make amendments to the Federal Constitution and push through wide scale reforms.
Political analysts said that if a two-thirds majority were achieved, it would mean that the government could bring about reforms to the electoral process including re-delineation and minimising gerrymandering.

"It will strengthen the current government and let them make policy changes more easily.
"They can re-draw the borders of the constituencies or create new parliamentary seast," said political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman.

He said that a two-third majority, while common in Malaysian politics until 2008, was rare in other democracies of the world.
"But that is not necessarily a bad thing as it is permissible within our democracy.
"It brings about stability unlike some democracies like Japan where the razor thin majority brought about a government change every six months," he said.

Another political analyst, Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia, pointed out to the pros and cons of having a two- third majority.
"On one hand, you need a strong opposition to keep the current government in check, while on the other, a bigger mandate would allow the government bring about major reforms more easily," he said.
However, he said that a two-third majority was not the only way to table constitutional amendments for legislative and institutional reforms.
"Policy makers from both sides of the divide can come together to pass reforms that is good for the country but that requires a certain level of maturity in our politicians," he said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/12/a-two-thirds-majority-will-allow-pakatan-govt-to-make-amendments-to-federal-constitution/#feigPFeeZF3w6KpI.99

'Kejujuran Lebih Penting', Sinar Harian, 12 Februari 2019

'Sijil Palsu Mainan Politik Sejak Zaman BN Lagi', Sinar Harian, 12 Februari 2019

Baca  versi printed dalam post berikutnya ...

'Sijil palsu mainan politik sejak zaman BN lagi'

SITI FATIHAH AWANG | 11 Feb 2019

 

KOTA BHARU – Kejujuran seseorang pemimpin itu dengan rakyat lebih penting dari nilai sekeping sijil akademik yang boleh dipalsukan, kata Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

Menurutnya, isu sijil akademik yang palsu ini bukanlah agenda baru dalam mainan politik di Malaysia, malah sebelum ini pun ramai pemimpin di zaman pemerintahan BN sendiri berdepan dengan isu seperti ini.
Bagaimanapun, jalan penyelesaian hanya satu, iaitu jujur dengan seluruh rakyat, tidak perlu berdolak dalih dengan apa yang sebenarnya tidak berlaku sehingga akhirnya rakyat sendiri boleh membongkar semua perkara.

“Orang yang layak jadi pemimpin, jadi ketua, bukan perlu sijil pun. Tapi kena ingat satu sahaja, kejujuran itu lebih penting. Lebih baik kita mengaku yang kita tiada sijil, berbanding kita tipu orang kata kita graduan, tapi sebaliknya benda lain berlaku.
“Rakyat boleh menilai sendiri sejauh mana kekuatan seseorang pemimpin itu apabila tidak mempunyai apa-apa sijil tetapi diberikan kepercayaan untuk menjadi negara dengan jawatan-jawatan yang besar.
“Itu bermaknanya mereka layak, mampu menggalas tanggungjawab tersebut tanpa memerlukan satu pengiktirafan yang tinggi. Lebih baik mengaku daripada membiarkan rakyat membuat kita lebih malu,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian di sini.
Menurutnya, pemimpin yang mempunyai kejujuran adalah pemimpin yang betul-betul berintegriti dan boleh menjadi contoh kepada pemimpin-pemimpin lain yang sentiasa berlumba untuk menawan hati rakyat.
Beliau berkata, kemungkinan besar apa yang berlaku ini memberi kesan kepada kepercayaan rakyat kepada pemimpin Malaysia Baharu, namun sejauh mana kejujuran pemimpin itu sendiri yang mampu mengembalikan pandangan positif rakyat kepada mereka.
“Jika kita tidak ada sijil, jangan malu untuk mengaku. Ini zaman canggih, semuanya di hujung jari. Tapi kepercayaan tidak boleh dijual beli. Rakyat lebih bijak menilai sejauh mana pemimpin itu layak digelar pemimpin jika pun mereka mempunyai dua kotak sijil sekalipun,” katanya.

'Integrity Is At Stake', Say Experts', The Star, 8 February 2019

'Fake News Used To Incite Rivalry In Political Bloc', New Straits Times, 7 February 2019

'Fake news used to incite rivalry in political bloc'

Share this story

Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

(File pix) Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian. NSTP/KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN.

By Nst Team - February 7, 2019 @ 7:12am

KUALA LUMPUR: Fake news is used as a tool by agent provocateurs to incite rivalries in a political bloc, said political analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.
He said psychological warfarewas often used against an alliance that appeared to be in a state of disarray.

He said a party’s focus on safeguarding power and position instead of verifying or curbing the spread of fake news would throw its members into disarray.
“Psychological warfare is employed when a coalition is in a disorder.
“This can lead to internal conflicts because priority is usually given to safeguarding power and position, instead of looking into the veracity of news or information that caused rifts in the party,” he told the New Straits Times.
Sivamurugan warned against the use of political ideologies to govern the veracity of news.
“Ideological differences should not be used to dictate what is right or wrong.”
Sivamurugan said it was important for the public to be responsible when handling information.
“If rumours are to be given credence, the burden of proof falls on society. Sometimes, it is too late to prove the credibility of information, although we already know that it is false.
“As people are fond of gossip or juicy news, we need to be alert so that rumours do not easily pass as truths.”

'Calon 'underdog' mampu beri saingan tapi...', Sinar Harian, 7 Februari 2019

 

ASYRAF MUHAMMAD | 06 Feb 2019

Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian & Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi

 

SHAH ALAM - Calon kurang dikenali atau 'underdog' dijangka mampu memberi saingan kepada parti-parti lain yang bertanding dalam PRK Dun Semenyih pada 2 Mac depan.

Penganalisis politik dari Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berkata, namun begitu calon berkenaan perlu berdepan dengan beberapa kekangan seperti aspek tenaga, jentera, dana dan beberapa perkara lain dalam usaha meraih sokongan rakyat terhadap mereka menjelang hari pengundian nanti.
Beliau berkata, perkara ini berbeza dengan calon yang mewakili parti politik memandangkan pihak berkenaan sememangnya sudah mempunyai kemampuan yang cukup khususnya dalam aspek logistik.

"Calon 'underdog' ini mampu untuk meraih sokongan dan bersaing dengan calon lain namun disebabkan kekangan tertentu, ia akan beri sedikit kekurangan kepada mereka.
"Walaupun dalam PRU kita pernah lihat calon Bebas menang namun dalam konteks Semenyih dan berdasarkan perkembangan politik semasa, saya pasti PH dan BN akan memastikan kemenangan mereka di kerusi tersebut," katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

PRK Dun Semenyih bakal berlangsung pada 2 Mac ini setelah wakil rakyatnya, Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, 57, meninggal dunia akibat serangan jantung pada 11 Januari lalu.
Susulan itu, difahamkan Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) bakal mengetengahkan calon muda mereka iaitu Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul untuk bertanding di kerusi berkenaan.
Malah, aktivis masyarkat, Kuan Chee Heng atau lebih dikenali sebagai Uncle Kentang turut menyatakan hasrat untuk bertanding bagi kepentingan masyarakat di Dun tersebut.
Mengulas lanjut, Sivamurugan berkata, calon 'underdog' mampu meraih sokongan pada PRK Dun Semenyih namun perkara itu juga turut bergantung kepada kadar peratusan yang akan keluar mengundi pada kali ini.
"Saya lihat pertarungan sebenar di Semenyih adalah antara PH dan BN namun calon PSM dan Uncle Kentang mampu beri persaingan berdasarkan kepada sumbangan mereka kepada masyarakat," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, penganalisis politik Universiti Malaya, Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi berkata, populariti yang dimiliki oleh calon 'underdog' seperti Chee Heng tidak menjamin sokongan pengundi di Dun berkenaan terhadap beliau.
Menurut Awang Azman, Chee Heng mungkin lebih dikenali di media sosial namun perkhidmatan beliau di Dun berkenaan mungkin masih belum diketahui oleh sebilangan pengundi setempat.
"Kalau dia memiliki populariti di media sosial, namun di kawasan setempat pengundi tak kenal, tak boleh juga.
"Jadi populariti di media sosial tak mencerminkan populariti di kawasan pengundi sebenar," katanya.
Tambah beliau, setiap pihak boleh bertanding dalam PRK Dun Semenyih berdasarkan kemampuan dan ideologi masing-masing bagi menyuburkan amalan demokrasi di negara ini.
"Kita kena beri rakyat kepelbagaian dalam membuat pilihan.
"Walaupun ada calon 'underdog' namun kita semua kena raikan demi menyuburkan demokrasi di negara ini," katanya.

PH Perlu Bangkit Dari Bulan Madu, Sinar Harian, 31 Januari 2019

PH perlu bangkit dari 'bulan madu'

HASNIZA HUSSAIN | 31 Jan 2019

 

SHAH ALAM - Tempoh 'bulan madu' PH sudah berakhir selepas tewas dengan BN pada PRK Cameron Highlands baru-baru ini.

Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan Universiti Sains Malaysia, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian berkata, PH kini tidak boleh lagi bersenang-lenang sebaliknya perlu berhati-hati khususnya dalam aspek pemilihan calon bagi PRK Semenyih yang akan berlangsung 2 Mac depan.
Beliau berkata, PH perlu melihat secara menyeluruh serta meneliti semula agenda besar mereka yang merupakan salah satu faktor dominan di Semenyih.

Selain itu katanya, PH juga bakal berdepan pelbagai isu, bukan sahaja di peringkat negeri malah nasional yang pasti akan dibangkitkan BN pada PRK tersebut termasuk cabaran untuk mengimbangi kedua-duanya.
Katanya, jika di Selangor khususnya Semenyih terdapat beberapa isu yang akan dilihat penting seperti industri kecil, pekerja asing, lesen niaga dan mungkin juga akan dibandingkan dengan program pernah dijanjikan sebelum ini.
Menurutnya, bagi mengimbangi semua perkara itu, PH dijangka akan menggunakan beberapa isu termasuk pemberian air percuma kepada golongan B40.
"Malah jika dilihat memang banyak inisiatif peduli rakyat (IPR) dilaksanakan PH antaranya program Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor (Kiss), Peduli Sihat, rumah mampu milik serta bas Smart Selangor.
"Semua ini akan memberikan kelebihan di peringkat negeri, tetapi sejauh manakah itu mampu mengimbangi isu nasional seperti kos sara hidup serta janji-janji manifesto yang masih belum ditunaikan PH?
"Isu janji-janji yang tak dipenuhi pentadbiran PH sudah pasti akan menjadi bahan utama BN terutamanya pada tempoh berkempen nanti," katanya kepada Sinar Harian.
Sivamurugan berkata, beliau turut menjangkakan isu sentimen agama juga akan dikaitkan pada PRK itu nanti seperti isu Penghapusan Segala bentuk Diskriminasi (ICERD), rusuhan Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman serta kematian Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim ekoran dalam konteks Semenyih, pengundi Melayu terdiri daripada 67.7 peratus, Cina (16.7 peratus) dan India (13.2 peratus).
Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, PRK Semenyih juga bakal memperlihatkan pertembungan sengit antara PH dan BN.
Menurutnya, pada 2013, Pas menang di kawasan Parlimen Hulu Langat dan Dun Dusun Tua serta ditambah pula kolaborasi parti Islam itu dengan BN juga ketara selepas kemenangan di PRK Cameron Highlands.
"Sekiranya kolaborasi antara Pas serta BN berpanjangan, kita jangkakan peratusan keluar mengundi juga akan meningkat kerana Pas itu sendiri dilihat sebagai 'team maker' atau penentu.
"Jika hubungan kerjasama antara kedua-dua parti itu terus kukuh di Semenyih pasti akan memberi impak besar kepada PH," katanya.

'It'll Be About Race And Religion Once Again', The Edge, 28 January 2019

'BN's Candidate Choice Pays Off', New Straits Times, 27 January 2019

'Pakatan And Barisan In Close Race', The Star, 26 January 2019

'Analysts: Yes, Najib a social media hit, but public perception unchanged', The Star, 20 January 2019

Analysts: Yes, Najib a social media hit, but public perception unchanged

---

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has become a sensation with his artful trolling of people on the Internet, but social media and political analysts say his efforts will not change the public's perception of him.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said he did not think Najib was able to change people's perception.

However, he warned that if the government failed to address issues close to the public's heart, then there's a chance people could look at Najib's arguments or his points as an alternative.
"But to say that following whatever he addresses on his Facebook page is an endorsement of his leadership, I don't see that," he told The Star on Saturday (Jan 19).

Dr Sivamurugan said Najib's posts were now interesting as he could attract those he previously failed to attract.
"Certainly, he feels that by being labelled the King of Trolls that somehow people do read and observe what is going on," he said.
Dr Sivamurugan added that Facebook and Instagram might be the best platforms for Najib to express whatever he wanted as it was widely used by certain quarters of society.
Universiti Utara Malaysia political lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani also doubted Najib would be able to change the public's perception of him despite all the engagements on his Facebook page.
He said Najib was trying to change the perception that he had nothing to do with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, and that he was just a product of the system.
"He is trying to convince the people to not believe that assumption, so he is trying his best to use social media to change that perception. Whether he is successful... I doubt it, but maybe some people will be persuaded by him,"  he said.
Dr Azizuddin said the fact of the matter was that Najib had "nothing to lose", as the former premier was only waiting for his trial to commence. As such, he would use whatever medium he could, such as Facebook, to garner support.
He added that nobody would instruct Najib to stop his postings even if Umno and Barisan Nasional were uncomfortable with, for example, his presence in the Cameron Highlands by-election as he was still their former leader and a member of the party.
He said it was possible that Najib was currently running his own Facebook account based on the language used.
However, social media expert Danny Gnaniah disagreed with this assessment.
Gnaniah said the person running Najib's Facebook page was someone who was trying to engage with younger audiences.
He said Najib's posts were very calculated, with memes poking fun at certain issues with an aim to deliver a message. However, while he may be provoking a good laugh now and again, it remained to be seen if Najib could sway public opinion.
"I doubt it very much," said Ghaniah, who is also CEO of digital advertising and multimedia firm 4 Thirteen Group.
He said he would not use the social media engagement Najib got on his social media pages as a metric to see if public opinion had swayed towards him.
"Definitely not. He might win some sympathy, yes; he might also have some people grudgingly say that is a good point; but that does not mean public opinion has swung back to him," he said.
However, Gnaniah acknowleged that Najib was very smart in using social media as a means to reach out to the public and trying to be relevant again.
Najib has been popular on social media lately, with his latest jab at Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad being a hit. He also caused a stir on social media when he uploaded a picture of him posing on a Yamaha motorcycle with the phrase "Malu apa, bossku".

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/19/analysts-yes-najib-a-social-media-hit-but-public-perception-unchanged/#vsaclbGPbIHIYkIY.99

Wacana Sinar Harian, 18 Januari 2019

Wacana Sinar Harian, 17 Januari 2019