News Stories

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by RRW

can someone tell me without making it complicated. what the deal of malaysia election?

A number of things were at stake. I'll try to list as many as I can recall:

(1)
This was the first general election with Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister. Mr Najib took over from his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Badawi, in 2009. Mr Abdullah was forced to step down a year after the ruling coalition's poor showing in 2008. So, this election is seen as a vital report card for Mr Najib. For him to deliver even poorer results than Mr Abdullah five years ago, despite a relatively healthy economy and some $2.6 billion of handouts is a strong indication of just how unpopular the ruling coalition has become.

(2)
A lot was also at stake for the de facto opposition leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He's already 65 years old, so this was very possibly the last election he would be able to contest. He would be 70 by the next general election, so his health may prevent him from running again. Mr Anwar had long since been seen as the most likely successor to Malaysia's longest-ruling prime minister, Tun Mahathir Mohamad. But Mr Anwar was struck from power in 1998 in a series of sordid criminal charges of homosexuality, which almost every Malaysian believed to be a massive government conspiracy to bring down Dr Mahathir's biggest power rival. Mr Anwar has always been an outspoken speaker on democratic rights, so that was a likely reason he was toppled by the hidden powers that be. (That said, a number of Malaysian Chinese and Indians don't trust him either, because Mr Anwar is known to be a Malay nationalist, perhaps even more chauvinistic than Dr Mahathir, depending on who you ask.)

(3)
As mentioned, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition suffered a drubbing back in the 2008 polls. Since then, the momentum has been building for the opposition to make further gains, or even to topple BN in these elections. As it turned out, the BN suffered its worst results this time, but still not enough to lose power. In particular, Chinese voters have turned massively against BN, which includes the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the de facto political party that is supposed to represent all Malaysian Chinese. The Chinese make up roughly 22 per cent of Malaysia's population, versus the Malays, who make up around 60 per cent. Politics and economics in Malaysia, unfortunately, are race-based. Affirmative action was introduced back in the 1970s, ostensibly to help Malays catch up with the wealthier Chinese. Such policies have since become very corrupt; in effect, only the cronies of the government received much of the largesse meant to benefit all Malays. That has angered a lot of people, especially the Chinese. These elections represented the hopes of many to "clean up" the government once and for all.

(4)
Those are the major reasons as I can recall, with a lot of details glossed over. On a micro scale, there were also specific contests in which a lot was at stake, like the election for the seat of Gelang Patah in the southern Johor state. Johor is one of the largest and richest states in Malaysia and it has always been a staunch supporter of BN. Gelang Patah, in particular, was the seat of Datuk Haji Abdul Ghani Othman, the chief minister of Johor and a BN politician. He has been defeated, however, by Mr Lim Kit Siang, a veteran leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP). The DAP, which is part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, is seen as the direct opponent of BN's MCA party. Also, ever since the DAP took over control of the northern state of Penang, it had implemented a number of popular reforms (many apparently inspired by Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party) that had considerably improved its economy. So, the DAP victory against a perceived crony of the state will be widely cheered in Malaysia.

[SaintessHeart]

Supposedly voter fraud is easy. If my relatives are to be believed, one can take their birth cert, flash it and claim loss of identity card and demand a voting card, it can go through.

Also, it seems that the incumbent flew in 40,000 people to vote in a certain state claiming that they are those that return home to vote.

Sound rather ridiculous on both cases to me.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Supposedly voter fraud is easy. If my relatives are to be believed, one can take their birth cert, flash it and claim loss of identity card and demand a voting card, it can go through.

Also, it seems that the incumbent flew in 40,000 people to vote in a certain state claiming that they are those that return home to vote.

Sound rather ridiculous on both cases to me.

The claims of voter fraud will have to be investigated, but you're right. My gut instinct tells me that it's being overplayed by the opposition. As it were, Anwar is urging this supporters to wear black even as he refuses to concede defeat. These were likely to be his last general elections, so you can imagine why he is going to fight tooth and nail to win power. However, he's not likely to be able to push this agenda very far, because he'd risk turning mainstream opinion against his Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Mainstream Malaysians are not going to favour deliberate attempts to destabilise an already tense scenario in Malaysian politics.

At the same, I get the feeling that Prime Minister Najib is going to regret his reference to the "Chinese tsunami" that voted against his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. The simple fact is that the Chinese make up only 22 per cent of Malaysia's population, so it would have taken more than just Chinese votes to swing the pendulum against BN. That is, there are probably many Malays who are fed up with BN and are ready to see it go.

EDIT:
Analysts are pointing out that the general elections have shown more clearly than before an urban-rural divide in Malaysia, with urban voters overwhelmingly in favour of the opposition. So, by playing the race card, politicians on both sides are confusing the issue. Socio-economic changes in Malaysia require a major relook at its social contract. As long as politicians don't address this problem, there will not be real change in Malaysia.

EDIT2:
Lack of Chinese support disappoints MCA president

Kuala Lumpur (May 6, Mon): Dr Chua Soi Lek, president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, said he felt disappointed with the Chinese who assumed that the community alone could change the government.

Describing the result as "very disappointing", Dr Chua said it showed a lack of Chinese support for the ruling Barisan Nasional.

He said: "The Chinese really believed that Chinese support can change the government. It will give rise to a situation where the government will be formed by all the races, except the Chinese.

"This is a classic example where Umno* strengthened itself by having more MPs. They won big. And DAP, of course, won big. The two-party system in this country has become a two-race system where all the Chinese are in the opposition," he said at the Umno headquarters.

"The Chinese cannot change the government without the support of the Malays and the Indians. This result is very obvious that they have been misled by the DAP."

He said in any case MCA respected the voters' decision.

THE STRAITS TIMES

* Umno stands for United Malays National Organisation, the largest member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. As its name suggests, it represents mainly Malay voters and their interests. In practice, though, its support increasingly rests on rural Malays.

[SaintessHeart]

One question : Are hafus (half/quarter-Malays) considered Malays or of another race?

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

One question : Are hafus (half/quarter-Malays) considered Malays or of another race?

Not enough data. Can't compute.

I don't how Malaysia treats "half-Malays". By definition, all Malays in Malaysia are Muslims governed by national and Syariah laws. This is written into the Malaysian Constitution. By Syariah law, anyone who marries a Muslim must adopt Islam. So, I suppose that means a Chinese who marries a Malay has to become "Malay", in religious identity, at least, if not ethnic. Conversely, any Malay who marries a non-Muslim who refuses to convert may run the risk of being branded an apostate, which is punishable under Syariah law (the interpretation and execution of the law will vary from state to state; the Sultan of each state will be the final arbiter, and he would presumably act with advice from his Chief Minister).

It would be better for a Malaysian Malay to clarify.

[Shyni]

From what I can tell, if they're a Muslim, biological half-Malays are legally Malay. There was a half-Chinese guy that I'm pretty sure was legally Malay, but I haven't seen him since like, forever.

[TinyRedLeaf]

India and China pull back troops from disputed border

Delhi (May 6, Mon): India and China have pulled back troops from disputed territory near the two countries' de facto border in the Himalayas, Indian media reports say.

Soldiers were said to have set up camps facing each other on the ill-defined frontier in Ladakh region last month. The two sides held a series of talks to resolve the row and the troops were withdrawn yesterday, the reports added.

The two countries dispute several Himalayan border areas and fought a brief war in 1962. Tensions flare up from time to time. They have held numerous rounds of border talks, but all have been unsuccessful so far.

BBC NEWS

[ganbaru]

China services growth slows sharply, adds to recovery risk
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...94501020130506

Could immigration bill set off another backlash?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...05-06-03-49-47

[RRW]

FORTUNE -- Warren Buffett has a piece of advice for Ben Bernanke: It's easier to buy than it is to sell.
Buffett, speaking on Saturday at Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKA) annual meeting in Omaha, said he is worried about what will happen when the Federal Reserve tries to wind down its recent efforts to stimulate the economy. Via a program nicknamed QE, short for quantitative easing, the Fed in recent years has bought up over $2 trillion in bonds in order to lower interest rates and promote borrowing and investment.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/...ent/?hpt=hp_t3

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by RRW

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/...ent/?hpt=hp_t3

He isn't the first person to point this out.

[Sumeragi]

Interesting:

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Sumeragi

Interesting:

If he really apply what he say, then just by that he would be a better Prime Minister ( or president ) than most than I know.

[willx]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

If he really apply what he say, then just by that he would be a better Prime Minister ( or president ) than most than I know.

Except for the seldom mentioned fact that the constitution (any constitution) is: 1) open to interpretation and 2) is not a finite document but a living breathing reflection of changing social views -- i.e. it changes. Doesn't make his stance any less admirable but not the easiest position to try to take.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by willx

Except for the seldom mentioned fact that the constitution (any constitution) is: 1) open to interpretation and 2) is not a finite document but a living breathing reflection of changing social views -- i.e. it changes. Doesn't make his stance any less admirable but not the easiest position to try to take.

That's exactly why a constitution is a better book to follow than some dogmatic book written centuries ago. The will of the people is absolute and the constitution is it's book. It changes like it should change with the evolution of human society.

[willx]

Originally Posted by Dextro

That's exactly why a constitution is a better book to follow than some dogmatic book written centuries ago. The will of the people is absolute and the constitution is it's book. It changes like it should change with the evolution of human society.

Except a constitution is also drafted to be very hard to change to prevent a "tyranny of the masses" .. it's a tough dichotomy. In the reverse case, if said "tyranny" were to occur .. Remember, if your population goes hardcore fundamentalist and changes your constitution the "other way" the above can also remain valid.

[ChainLegacy]

I hadn't heard that he had excommunication threats. If so, that's just ridiculous. The Catholic Church thinks they can control Ireland because of their history there? Clearly they aren't accepting the fact that they abused their power and there are consequences, not even taking into account that Ireland was slowly becoming less religious anyways.

[Sumeragi]

For starters:

1. It's the Irish Catholic Church, meaning the Vatican isn't directly related to the issue so far. There is, however, the case of Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, the former archbishop of St. Louis and the head of the Vatican court, who urged priests to withdraw communion from politicians who supported abortion legislation in Ireland.

2. Seems like the Irish Catholic Church is against the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013 (the specific legislation in question) for possibly imposing a duty on Catholic hospitals to provide abortions. Basically, there is the potential for the undermining of respect for the legitimate autonomy and religious ethos of faith-based institutions.

3. So far there doesn't seem to have been a direct threat of excommunication, although my sources are limited.

[ganbaru]

China rejects Pentagon charges of military espionage
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...94511720130507
As if someone expected them to recognize the fact...

[demonix]

Three women missing for years rescued in Ohio

I just hope that those responsible are allowed to rot in jail for the rest of their lives.

And in other news, Jimmy Tarbuck is the latest to be arrested for child abuse.

[ganbaru]

Bank of China closes account of key North Korean bank
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9460CX20130507

Ammonium nitrate was trigger for Texas blast, state agency says
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9460GP20130507