Kajang by-election: Polling March 23, Nomination March 11

KUALA LUMPUR: The by-election for the Kajang state seat in Selangor will be held on March 23, while March 11 has been set for nominations, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said today.

The by-election, the third since the 2013 general election was triggered by the resignation of PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh on January 27.

Buy the election, not by-election

Dr Jeffrey is quite upset that Anwar is currently engaged in negotiations with a few Barisan Nasional leaders about the possibility of them jumping after the next general election. This would mean the opposition would have to ‘give way’ to these people and allow them to win the elections. That would be one issue. The second would be: what if after they win they change their minds and decide not to jump after all because Barisan Nasional has counter-offered a higher price?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur was the first international-class hotel to be built in Malaysia -- then called the Federation of Malaya. It was, in fact, built purposely for the Merdeka (Independence) celebrations and opened for business just three days before Merdeka of 31st August 1957. 

It was said that Low Yat, a rags-to-riches junk dealer turned millionaire, built the hotel at the request of the First Prime Minister of independent Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Stories were told about how Yow Yat used to cycle around Kuala Lumpur collecting old bottles, and thereafter made his millions from his humble beginnings. 

BN poised for double victory

By FMT Staff
FMT ALERT KUALA LUMPUR: Reports from the ground and votes tallied from polling streams indicate that Barisan Nasional is poised to win both by-elections, giving Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's administration a boost and sending the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition back to the drawing board.

Linda Tsen, the BN candidate for the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election, is said to have secured a commandable lead of nearly 3,000 votes over SAPP president Dr Yong Teck Lee and PKR's Ansari Abdullah.

Unofficial figures hand victory to Tsen with a 3,300-vote majority, just falling short of the 3,708-majority gained by her late husband in 2008.

Dr Jeffrey breaks his silence on Batu Sapi...Urging voters to vote for opposition

By Ezra Haganez
KOTA KINABALU: Outgoing PKR Vice President, Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who has taken a two-month leave, finally broke his silence on the Batu Sapi by-election by saying it is a great chance for the voters there to tell the government of the day what they want and what they don't want..

"The by-election is an opportunity for the voters to send a message to the government what they want as  something better.

It is important for the voters to send the message so the government will do more for them and for Sabah and will not repeat the same mistakes, what the people don't want...: he said in his media statement made possible via his former political secretary Kanul Gindol who is now Secretary of Common Interest Group Malaysia or CigMa, an NGO Jeffrey leads.

According to Jeffrey, the by-election is an important venue for the voters to tell the government something because this only a by-election, therefore Sabahans should use it to send important messages.

Yong gets 'rousing' welcome at kampungs

By Luke Rintod of FMT

SANDAKAN: Muslims kampungs in both Sekong and Karamunting, the two state constituencies that make up the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat here gave Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) candidate Yong Teck Lee and his entourage a grand welcome.
Yong received rousing welcome from the Suluks, Ubians, Bajaus and Bugis groups - old and young - in Kg Karamunting, Kg Lupak Meluas, and Bokara, to name a few.

His theme of 'autonomy for Sabah" and "Sabah for Sabahans" alongwith the Barisan Nasional government's failure to bring development to the two areas has resonated with the kampung folk here.

Adding to the local opposition party's fanfare was the arrival of two influential Muslim leaders into SAPP's growing multiracial fold.

Musa launches anti-Yong tirade in lieu of debate

By Queville To

SANDAKAN: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has rejected a challenge by SAPP president Yong Teck Lee to a debate about Sabah autonomy , saying the latter did nothing about the issue when he was chief minister.
“There is no need to engage in a debate,” he said as he began a long and bitter attack against Yong, who is a candidate in the Batu Sapi by-election.
“Yong was a chief minister at one time. During his tenure, he spent most of his time glorifying himself.  Not at any one time did he speak on Sabah’s autonomy or Sabah rights.

"Yong was only good at shouting Sabah Boleh and SAPP Boleh. And he flooded the state with his self-righteous billboards. What benefit this has brought to the people, I don’t know.

"But he had his window of opportunity when he was at the helm of the government. However, he failed miserably as he was busy fighting for his own selfish gains.

Strong start for Yong in Batu Sapi polls campaign

By Luke Rintod of FMT
SANDAKAN: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) appeared to be ahead of PKR in the popularity stakes as official campaigning for the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election began.
Its received a boost yesterday when former Pasok president, Cleftus Mojingol, and a nephew of the late Mustapha Harun, the founder of Usno, joined the state opposition party at a function in Kampung Karamunting here onTuesday evening.
On hand to receive  Cleftus and Razak Abdul Salam was SAPP president, Yong Teck Lee, who is the candidate for the Batu Sapi by-election.
Cleftus, without a party for sometime after helming Pasok for for several years, told FMT he joined SAPP because of the party's resolute stand to regain autonomy for Sabah.
"Tonight I officially joined SAPP to be with the leaders and its members in realising a struggle very close to my heart for so long ever since I was in Pasok," he said.
Mustapha's nephew, Razak also thanked SAPP for accepting his application to join the party.
Both men were cheered by a mostly-Muslim crowd when their names were announced as new members of SAPP.

Ansari on the stump minus PKR heavyweights

By Luke Rintod of FMT
SANDAKAN: Sabah PKR's “numero uno” leader Jeffrey Kittingan has just taken two months leave from the party and his deputy Christina Liew is no where to be seen!
Sources said Jeffrey has decided to stay away from the embarrassing free-for-all PKR campaign in the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election and Liew's whereabouts "is unknown".
Meanwhile, “embarrassing” is a mild word given the recent behaviour by Batu Sapi leaders.

PKR Batu Sapi newly-elected chief, Hassnar Ebrahim, is said to have made disparaging remarks against other PKR leaders, several times, including at state liaison meetings.

And the name calling against his own comrades has come back to haunt the Ansari Ibrahim's by-election campaign.

Many confirmed that Hassnar has been telling everybody that there are three PKR leaders whom he did not want campaigning in Sandakan.

The leaders he named are Awang Tangah Awang Amin, Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari, and Jalumin Bayogo.

He had also reportedly said that Jeffrey was also not welcome.