Rethink aid to Chinese areas, says Perkasa

Malay rights group Perkasa wants the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to review election pledges made in Chinese areas in Hulu Selangor because of the community’s poor support for the coalition.

Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said despite BN’s success in winning the semi-rural seat from PKR, the Chinese voters had largely chosen to back the federal opposition.

“It is necessary for the government to delay any allocation and approval of projects for the Chinese community,” said Ibrahim in a statement responding to the by-election result.

Ibrahim added that the government should also ignore all the demands made by BN members, MCA and Gerakan, as the Chinese of Hulu Selangor had rejected the ruling coalition.

“They show no appreciation to BN government’s efforts, even though the BN government had to hurt the feelings of the Malays and the natives,” said Ibrahim.

“All their demands are fulfilled by the government but they do not know how to be grateful,” he added.

Ibrahim said the outcome showed that the pro-Malay affirmative action policies should be maintained.

“BN must now keep the Malay happy as they have been loyal to BN. Therefore the affirmative action policies to strengthen the Malays and the natives must be maintained and implemented thoroughly,” he said.

The BN’s victory Ibrahim added was also sign of public’s acceptance to Najib’s leadership.

“The people have begun to understand all the confusion and propaganda from Anwar and his colleagues and I am confident this is the start of the process for the people to return to the idea of upholding national stability,” he said.

He had said that he backed the MIC information chief instead of Zaid who is a Malay because Kamalanathan’s views on the Federal Constitution is consistent with Perkasa.

Election Commission - BN won Majority -1,725

Official results from Election Commission

BN - 24,997
PKR - 23,272
Majority -1,725

Pakatan Rakyat lost in Hulu Selangor

Unofficial results

BN - 24,669
PKR - 22,986
Majority - 1,683

Barisan Nasional will win the Hulu Selangor by-election

The latest political scenario showed that Brisan Nasional will surely win the Hulu Selangor by-election but with a narrow margin.

The indication were as follows :

Prime Minister Najib vowed to donate early 'angpow' RM90,000 for a Chinese cemetery in Hulu Yam Baharu and pleaded to the Chinese community in the area to vote for a bigger 'angpow'.

He gave out long overdue cash payment of RM50,000 each to 100 of the 363 Felda settlers as part of a sum owed to the settlers when they sold their land to a private developer after being persuaded to do so by the BN state government in 1994.

He vowed that BN will pour in more money to develop the area, including a RM85 million North-South Expressway interchange.

The construction of the elevated interchange is expected to boost property prices in the abandoned project area.

The additional money will only come provided that Selangor falls back into BN's hands in the next general election.

It is being seen as one of the most effective campaign strategies to win the by-election.

Dr Mahathir : vote for BN

All the voters should reject the unethical and unprincipled political frogs.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim could be likened to a frog.

"When he was in Umno, he became a minister, then he joined the opposition and now he's their candidate for the by-election.

"We should not choose and trust people who like to hop from one party to another like that.

"He (Zaid) doesn't gamble but he has horse races. I too have horses but they are not horse races. He admitted having horse races but said he didn't gamble. I don't understand this," Mahathir said.

He urged voters in Hulu Selangor, who will go to the polls this Sunday, to vote for the BN candidate.

He said BN had proven its capability to bring development and change to the area towards improving the people's living standard.

Mahathir said the country had progressed from the BN's administration and because its leaders worked hard for the country's development and not for personal interests.

Just reject Zaid without question

Hulu Selangor voters should reject Zaid without question because he was rejected by Cabinet.

PKR candidate Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was called a ‘Cabinet reject’ by Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night when the prime minister turned up to pitch for Barisan Nasional choice P. Kamalanathan in the Hulu Selangor vote.

“He was rejected by the Cabinet, then he joined the opposition. Let’s ensure he remains a reject,” Najib told BN election workers at their operations centre in Kalumpang.

The prime minister said they knew all they needed to know about Zaid, who has been under blistering attack for his drinking past and ownership of a race horse.

“There is no need to say much. Just reject him.”

Dr Halili quits PKR and join Umno

Hulu Selangor PKR division treasurer Datuk Dr Halili Rahmat, who was previously speculated to be picked as PKR’s candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, quit the party today and join Umno.

Dr Halili Rahmat’s resignation from the party comes as another big blow to PKR.

The announcement was made during a press conference at Petaling Jaya. Halili was accompanied by former PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim.

This is the latest in a string of resignations from PKR. Since February, several MPs and state assemblypersons have left the party for a variety of reasons.

PKR Youth Shah Alam branch Chief Nor’isham Manap and his deputy Muhamad Ali Mukhtar quit the party on Sunday citing a loss of confidence in the party following Zaid’s selection.

Dr Halili contested in the 1999 and 2004 General Election. In 1999 he contested for the Hulu Selangor Parliamentary but lost to MIC’s Datuk G. Palanivel. In 2004, he contested for Batang Kali state seat but lost to UMNO’s Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom.

Dr Halili is the first Malay neurosurgeon in the country. He was also the former personal doctor of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Halili's resignation is expected to deal a blow to PKR's Hulu Selangor by-election campaign because he was among those considered as a candidate.

At one point, Halili was the personal physician to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Consume alcohol Causes Zaid Ibrahim to Lose

Zaid Ibrahim consumes alcohol and alcohol is forbidden in Islam. The consequence is BN will be able to win the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election due to the immorality of Zaid Ibrahim.

Kamalanathan, BN candidate from MIC, although is seen as a lightweight who lacks Zaid's high profile, but is a man without baggage. It seems that BN is getting the game on track to setup discomfort and uneasiness to win over the voters.

Ironically, Hulu Selangor is a BN stronghold. It is semi-rural constituency and most of its Malay-Muslim voters are located in villages and Felda settlements located further in the interiors of Selangor. They have a more conservative perspective on religion and morality.

Malay voters who make the majority in the Hulu Selangor by-election at 52.74 percent or 34,020 voters, Chinese voters make up 26.3 percent 16,964 voters, Indians 19.31 percent or 12,453 voters and others 1.65 percent.

There are 64,500 registered voters in Hulu Selangor, with 63,701 regular voters and 799 postal voters.

Win Over Hulu Selangor by causing significant discomfort and uneasiness

The Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election will see a four-cornered fight, they are Barisan Nasional's P. Kamalanathan, PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Independent candidates V.S. Chandran and Johan Mohd Diah.

The four-cornered fight, with two independents V.S. Chandran and Johan Mohd Diah providing the sideshow to the main political show between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

There are 64,500 registered voters in Hulu Selangor, with 63,701 regular voters and 799 postal voters.

In a Malay-majority seat , the Malays make up the majority with 34,020 voters or 52.7%.

The next is the Chinese with 16,964 voters (26.3%) followed by the Indians at 12,453 voters or 19.3%.

Undeniably, exploring the increasing complexity of racial and ethnic politics is the strategy of the opposition. It may be the ongoing cause of many voters to vote for Zaid simply on the basis of skin color and unhappiness.

By far, the main issue appears to be more about racial sentiment of the Malays rather than the spirit of BN.

Ironically, during the last general election, almost all the Orang Asli voted for the BN, but the political landscape might change as the opposition will certainly mobilize the resources and sideline BN to get the support.

Confronted with evidence that the 721 Orang Asli electorate, it seems that they can be the deciders with the Malay and Indian votes split in half, with the Chinese still loyal to the Pakatan.

In the Political Plane Match, the race is on between both the ruling party and the opposition in this setup is causing discomfort and uneasiness to win over the voters.

The key question remains : Which party can do it better.

Four-cornered fight in Hulu Selangor, Orang Asli can be the deciders

It's four-cornered fight in Hulu Selangor, they are Barisan Nasional's P. Kamalanathan, PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Independent candidates V.S. Chandran and Johan Mohd Diah.

There are 64,500 registered voters in Hulu Selangor, with 63,701 regular voters and 799 postal voters.

In a Malay-majority seat, the Malays make up the majority with 34,020 voters or 52.7%. The next is the Chinese with 16,964 voters (26.3%) followed by the Indians at 12,453 voters or 19.3%.

Undeniably, exploring the increasing complexity of racial and ethnic politics is the strategy of the opposition. It may be the ongoing cause of many voters to vote for Zaid simply on the basis of skin color and unhappiness.

The issue appears to be more about racial sentiment of Malays than spirit of BN.

Ironically, during the last general election, almost all the Orang Asli voted for the BN, but the political landscape might change as the opposition will certainly mobilize the resources to get the support.

Confronted with evidence that the 721 Orang Asli electorate, it seems that they can be the deciders with the Malay and Indian votes split in half, with the Chinese still loyal to the Pakatan.

P. Kamalanathan was named the BN

It is the BN spirit that involves compromise and acceptance.

MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan was today named the Barisan Nasional candidate for the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election instead of the party's choice of its deputy president and four-term Hulu Selangor MP Datuk G. Palanivel.

The decision to field 44-year-old Kamalanathan was made after several rounds of intense negotiation between MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Muhyiddin.

The public relations director of a rice company lives in nearby Taman Garing in Rawang and his name was brought up more than a week ago as a possible contender together with MIC Youth deputy chief V.Mugilan.

Should G Palanivel Be Field By BN?

For most voters, candidate dominated by the party to contest the by-election no doubt play an important role but it should not pose a big problem to the parties concern.

Ironically, it is the terrifying velocity of the mood swing of the voters especially the dissatisfying members of the party.

The contesting parties need to be really careful that they are listening, especially to those independent voters the candidate to be field. And clearly, if the independent voters do not support what the party has done so far, to win the victory remain a question. We must not be seemed as impervious to reality especially when the election showed a narrowing race.

By far, to win the victory in the Hulu Selangor by-election parliamentary by-election, it is straight fight between Barisan Nasional and PKR. The race is on whom can win over independent voters and the key questions will be which party can do it and which party’s dominant ideological base will try to put a stop to efforts to broaden its party’s coalition.

BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin is scheduled to announce the candidate on April 15, but it has been reported that he is in favour for MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan as the candidate.

This has drawn widespread opposition from the MIC grassroots, with leaders from 18 out of 22 party divisions in Selangor.

MIC leaders had made their objections known and insisted Palanivel who is MIC deputy president and Hulu Selangor division chief must be fielded.

The candidacy problem although is too big and too important to be solved but ultimately the problem had to be solved by BN.

The question remains; Should G Palanivel be field by BN?

HSBC S'pore predicts M'sia's economy to expand 7.3%

Driven by strong rebound in exports and soaring commodity prices, Malaysia's economy is expected to expand by 7.3% this year, higher than Bank Negara's latest forecast of between 4.5-5.5%.

HSBC Singapore's senior Asian economist Robert Prior-Wandesforde said there were signs of V-shape vigorous recovery in the Asian trade cycle, resulting in a strong rebound in export figures.

"Malaysia is a trade dependent economy and will be one of the key beneficiaries of that recovery (export)," he told reporters on the sidelines of "Activate Asia: India in Focus".

The revised gross domestic product (GDP) figure was revised upwards from the previous 6.8% forecast last year by HSBC.

Prior-Wandesforde said, "Consumer confidence comprises 8% of private consumption growth in Malaysia. So, I think we are going to see a very broad based recovery in 2010, I would describe as a "sweet spot" for the Asian economic cycle and Malaysian economic cycle."

"What I want to stress here is that Malaysia and Asia as a whole have a momentum of their own. They reached a certain self-sustaining growth phase depending on their policies. What's important is to raise Malaysia's ability to grow on a long-term perspective.

"Ultimately, Malaysia is probably going to grow at 4.5-5.5% on a sustainable basis. It has the potential to improve and some of the reforms the government is talking about, if delivered, will certainly improve growth trend and sustainable growth rate," he said.