BAD MATH! DAP, PAS, PKR individually lost popular vote to BN

Incredibly, some people are, 26 days on, still mystified by May 5′s aftermath but here goes: Barisan Nasional triumphed handsomely to indisputably re-constitute the government after securing 133 parliamentary seats, well above the required first-past-the-post 112 but short of the magic 148 to win by a super majority.

However, opposition disinformation is pestering the electorate to presume that the BN somehow lost on two counts — unproven fraud and the so-called “popular” vote designed to coerce the BN to capitulate and surrender Putrajaya.

The DAP, in seizing a Chinese tsunami-inspired 38 seats, is still no closer to their leaders’ lifetime fantasy of co-ruling while Pas lost Kedah (and Perak, if you need to be picky) and PKR their overall 2008 gains although Kelantan and Selangor were fortified as strangleholds.

Pas and PKR were stumped by an Umno rejuvenated by Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s earnestness in picking up the post-2008 shattered pieces while Sarawak and Sabah BN stoutly stood their ground despite the massive ground assault.

BN’s blot? The MIC outperformed expectations but for the near-deaths of MCA and Gerakan, scrambling now for salvation through a speculatively inventive single multiracial party.

Putrajaya was a tantalising mirage when the polls results knocked the wind out of the defacto PKR leader’s premiership fixation. But it did not crush his dangerously fading agenda of incessantly fibbing about a “fraudulent” election — a “monstrous” lie as Dr Chandra Muzaffar indelicately put it, or as we’d like to put it, the sorest loser.

The loathsome soiree between Anwar and the dynastic duo of Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng needed to save face and appease a frustrated Chinese protectorate gifting them the record 89 seats by concocting the ridiculous disinformation campaign that the opposition, morally, won by edging the BN on the “popular” vote.

Nice try but wearied people have disavowed the disinformation. Unruffled, the opposition is determined not to lose its perception war by resorting to massive rallies, idiotic 100,000 police reports and clumsy sedition — overthrowing the government within a year on the noisy clamouring of a vicious street mob and its contempt of established court practices to hear election complaints.

The loose cannons spewing the allegedly seditious “overthrow the government” utterances have been deservedly arrested and charged, Malaysia’s rule of law decisively at work despite the predictably lame protests of political meddling, the ultimate argument of people who have lost the plot.

Strangely, the ragtag opposition is schizophrenic on the escalation of mob marauding: Pas emphatically dismissed it, key senior DAP and PKR leaders have disassociated themselves from it but the Lims are still two-faced about it, enjoying their reign in Penang but buttressing anyway Anwar’s nihilism.

Still, one cannot get over the engineering to overthrow this democratically-elected government that was fuelled by these humdingers — the logistically impossible deployment of immigrant workers to vote surreptitiously and the hindrance of legitimate voters by certain oppositionists’ fascist thuggery of racial-profiling, scapegoating and bodily harm.

Debunking the “popular vote” fairy tale will be difficult: the gullibly belligerent presuming that total votes counted (proper description for the so-called “popular” vote) split three ways, the highest to the PKR, followed by DAP and Pas, can amount to a singular but “mythical” united force. The myth is cynically perpetuated on the deceitful sloganeering of racism, corruption and rigged polling, consistently rubbished as fabrication but still eagerly consumed.

Eventually, the “popular” vote battle cry was bound to sink on its hysteria: losing BN Shah Alam candidate Zulkifli Noordin, formerly of Anwar’s legal team to fight his sodomy charges, crunched intriguing numbers that deflated the “popular” vote moralising.

Here’s how Zulkifli clarified total votes counted, starting from the biggest gainers:

Barisan: 5,237,699 or 46.53 per cent (133 seats); PKR: 2,254,328 or 20.03 per cent (30 seats); DAP: 1,736,267 or 15.42 per cent (38 seats); Pas: 1,633,389 or 14.51 per cent (21 seats); and, others: 192,904 or 1.71 per cent (no seats).

Zulkifli argued that Anwar’s claim that his troika won the “popular” vote is “twisted logic” on these aspects:

DAP-PKR-Pas axis contested on separate symbols of rocket, eye and moon without a unifying symbol like the BN’s “dacing” and further aggravated by its unregistered status; and, the “incentuous” battles where Pas and PKR fought each other but yet added the sum total as part of Pakatan’s “popular” vote.

The conclusions from these numbers are clear: Anwar’s troika plus scattered opposition votes were expediently counted as a unified entity when the reality is that the three conflicting parties merely put up a good show, no matter how dubious.

Seen from this discrete prism, PKR, DAP and Pas lost the so-called “popular” vote but are maladroitly re-inventing the rules to salvage their lost cause.

What is it then? A juvenile attempt at power grabbing by sheer determination and double-dealing. However, Anwar and the Lims are too vengeful to spot the hypocrisy and irony.

Najib: BN govt will embark on a national reconciliation process

KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional government will embark on a national reconciliation process as part of a move to heal the racial and political divisions that have sparked in the wake of the 13th general election.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak said as the results continued to pour in, there was a need to address the rise in extremist sentiment that has affected the country’s unity.
“We (BN) are still trying to absorb the results, but we will be looking forward to reject political and racial extremism, and work towards a more moderate and accommodating environment,” he said after the Election Commission confirmed BN’s victory tonight.
At press time, the BN had secured a slim majority of 112 seats out of the 222 contested.
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact won 58 seats.

Najib renewed Malaysia's commitment to empower women

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak today renewed Malaysia's commitments to empower women following his re-election as prime minister.
Delivering the keynote address at the Women Deliver Global Conference 2013, Najib said every girl and woman, regardless of her religion, political affiliation, social status or location, deserved a safe, healthy and prosperous life.
"Our national, regional and global stability depend on it.
"When our girls and women are educated, healthy and independent, the benefits extend beyond individual freedom to prosperity and achievement," he said at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this morning.

Investing In well-being of girls, women a smart move - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said investing in girls' and women's education, health, safety, rights and financial independence not only pays but is also a smart investment.He said there were undeniable values in such investments as when girls and women were empowered, the benefits would extend beyond the individuals.

"Freed from the unnatural constraints of inequality, women can realise their potential as active participants in the community and in the world," he said.Addressing the 3rd Global Conference on Women Deliver 2013 here today, Najib spoke about the government's commitment to ensure that the health and well-being of girls and women in this country were viewed as priorities, not mere afterthoughts.

Najib noted that with the government's re-election came new and increased commitment to empower women and girls in an effort to drive the nation's development forward."Every girl and woman in Malaysia, regardless of her religion, political affiliation, social status or location, deserves a safe, healthy and prosperous life. Our national, regional and global stability depends on it," Najib said.

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also patron of the conference, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim and Women Deliver president Jill Sheffield.

More than 3,000 delegates, including policymakers, advocates and international leaders representing over 150 countries, are attending the three-day conference beginning Tuesday.Malaysia is the first Asian country to be given the honour to host the global conference previously held in London and Washington D.C.

The event is touted as the largest global conference of the decade to focus on the health and well-being of girls and women. It is organised by Women Deliver which is headquartered in New York.

Najib said as Malaysia strove to become a developed nation by the end of the decade, the challenge was to ensure that the country's economic growth was truly inclusive with opportunities created and open to all citizens, and women were afforded the same rights, respect and opportunities as men.

"That will not happen from the top-down, change must come in the workplace, in the villages, in the mind of all Malaysians," he said.He noted that health advocates and experts must be ready to engage in dialogue with faith leaders to dispel negative perceptions on matters pertaining to girls' and women's health.

Women and girls, he said, must be empowered to make informed choices and take personal responsibility for their health within a social fabric that encouraged it.The prime minister said problems like teenage pregnancies, abandoned babies, early marriage and sexually transmitted infections must be addressed without stigma or discrimination.

"This will sometimes require a change in mindset, a willingness to look again at our approach, to ask ourselves whether we're doing all we can to put girls' and women's health first," he said.He stressed the importance of educating girls on their health and well-being which he believed would further lower maternal mortality and morbidity rates, help halt the spread of diseases including HIV and AIDS as well as improve child health and nutrition.

Investing in universal education without gender discrimination had yielded results beyond expectations, but the challenge for Malaysia, as for many other countries, was to ensure that success in the classroom carried over into life outside it, he added.

Najib: Malaysia’s investment in education without gender discrimination has yielded results

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's investment in education, without gender discrimination, has yielded results beyond the Government's expectation, said the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.Speaking at the 3rd Global Conference on Women Deliver 2013, Najib said 65 percent of students in institutions of tertiary educations here are women.

"A girl at school in Malaysia today is more likely to go to University than her male classmates."Although we have the same number of girls and boys enrolled in school, higher education rates are greater for women," he said on Tuesday.

However, he agreed that enrolment was only the first step."For Malaysia, as for many countries, the challenge is to ensure that success in the classroom carries over into life outside it, that the world of opportunity for girls and women does not narrow upon graduation, but opens up," he said, adding that women were not equally represented in the country's workforce, currently standing at 47 percent.

"More jobs aligned to women's needs should be offered to encourage their participation in the workforce, such as through home-based, part-time or flexible working hours," he said in his speech.Citing several Malaysian women he described as superstar players including Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Najib said their successes showed the country in its best light.

"I know that a few superstar players do not mean that the field is level."We have taken clear steps towards a more equitable nation in education, healthcare and in wage equality but there is still much more to be done," he said.

Speaking about the country's successes in the development of and empowerment of women, Najib pointed out that Malaysia had made great progress in of maternal healthcare."Thanks to strategic, focused and targeted interventions, thousands of women and children in Malaysia are able to survive and enjoy a good quality of life," he said, adding that Malaysia was prepared to provide technical support to countries with persistently high maternal mortality.He also called on health advocates and experts to engage with faith leaders to dispel negative perceptions, which stand in the way of women empowerment.

Malaysia vote: PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional wins

Malaysia's ruling coalition has won a simple majority in the country's election, extending its 56-year rule.

The Election Commission said Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN; National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 in parliamentary seats - its worst-ever election performance.

The opposition won 89 seats, up from 82, in Sunday's election.Defeated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim accused the ruling coalition of widespread fraud.

Voters - some 80% of whom cast ballots - had been faced with returning the ruling coalition or choosing Mr Anwar's untested three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat.Malaysian shares reacted positively to news that the BN had won.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index jumped 6.8% to a lifetime high of 1,808.90 in early trade on Monday. The local currency, the ringgit, hit a 10-month high.

'Polarisation'

In the 2008 polls, the BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time - something it failed to regain in these elections.

As the result was confirmed, Mr Najib, 59, urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory but acknowledged there was work ahead.

"One of the programmes we will undertake is national reconciliation... I think we realise that there are a lot of things we have to do as a party," he said.He noted that ethnic Chinese voters had turned to the opposition, which has pledged to reform the government's affirmative action policies that benefit ethnic Malays, in what he called "a Chinese tsunami".

Anwar said irregularities cost him seats

"The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country," Mr Najib said.Unconfirmed reports suggested that the coalition did not receive a majority of the popular vote.

Tallies by independent online media gave the BN coalition 49% of the vote, which would make Mr Najib the first leader to win with a minority of the popular vote, AFP news agency reported.Mr Anwar, meanwhile, accused the authorities of widespread abuses which he said had distorted the result of the election."It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed," he told a news conference after midnight on Monday.

Election was considered Malaysia's most keenly contested poll since independence

PM Najib Razak leads the long-dominant coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front)

Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat Key poll issues included corruption, race-based policies that favour ethnic Malays, and the economy

Turnout was estimated at a record 80%, election officials said

"We see these irregularities have cost us many seats, particularly those with narrow margins," he said.

Allegations of election fraud had surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance told BBC News that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.Independent pollster Merdeka Center cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

There were also reports of attacks against independent media. Most traditional media in Malaysia are linked to the ruling parties.This result is a bitter blow to the opposition coalition, after a spirited campaign that tapped into a hunger for change among many younger Malaysians, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Kuala Lumpur reports.

They had believed a surge of support, especially in urban areas, would be enough to unseat a ruling coalition that has been in government for more than half a century, our correspondent adds.Thousands of opposition supporters swapped their Facebook profile photos for black boxes to show their dismay when they learned that the ruling coalition had retained power, AP news agency reported.

Malaysians need to calm down and unite

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept remains relevant despite efforts to interpret the outcome of the 13th general election in a racial context, say analysts.

Political analyst Dr Ibrahim Ghafar said the main consideration is that the Barisan Nasional (BN) managed to win 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.

“We have to bear in mind that the 1Malaysia concept has nothing to do with political preferences or ideologies.“Furthermore, its effectiveness thus far has been demonstrated by the majority of the people voting for moderation, which is represented by the BN,” he said.

Ibrahim said it cannot be denied that at first glance, 1Malaysia appears to be drowned by political ideologies and, in particular, by what the media keeps referring to as the ‘Chinese tsunami’ which garnered a big win for the opposition DAP.He stressed that this polarization was all the more reason for the 1Malaysia concept to be instilled and strengthened among the multiracial communities.

The DAP won 38 parliamentary seats on May 5 on the wave of solid Chinese support in the urban areas despite Chinese candidates from the BN contesting in the same seats.

“I believe, however, that there are still many Chinese who support the BN. There are many Chinese in the constituencies which the BN won.“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has made it clear that his priority now is national reconciliation, and for the people to unite towards nation-building despite their political differences.

“And this is where the 1Malaysia concept should be promoted as a medium for racial unity,” he said.

‘Shed hardcore political beliefs’

Dr Noor Sulastry Yurni Ahmad, a senior lecturer at the Anthropology and Sociology Department, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, is of the opinion that national integration will not be achieved if people refuse to shed their hardcore political beliefs.

“The prime minister introduced the 1Malaysia concept to bring the communities closer, to appreciate and implement all aspects of national unity regardless of political beliefs.“In fact, the concept also treats racial diversity as a basis to strengthen unity.

“What’s important now is that after the majority have given BN the mandate, the party must be given the chance and support to rectify weaknesses and deliver their promises in the next five years. As a peace-loving nation people should also continue supporting 1Malaysia,” she said.

A similar opinion was shared by Malaysian Indian Welfare Association president A Prakash who felt that 1Malaysia was a more suitable concept to unite the multiracial community, which could not be achieved through a political avenue.“We must be grateful for the peace we have and for the freedom to practice our religions and cultures,” he said.

Malaysian Youth Movement president Tan Pei Leong said the outcome of the general election should be accepted by everyone with an open heart.“We must close this chapter. Malaysians need to calm down and unite, and not provoke each other. We must give the government a chance to prove itself over the next five years,” he said.

Boycott ‘madness’ festivals, accept defeat

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians must boycott the “pesta kegilaan” (festival of madness) by the opposition over claims of electoral fraud and accept that Barisan Nasional won the 13th general election.

Newly minted Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said this when asked to comment on Home Minister Zahid Hamidi’s statement that Malaysians unhappy with the electoral system should emigrate.

“I have to see the context of Zahid’s statement, what was reported [before I can comment]… but I agree…that there are ‘madness festivals’ being run by sore losers,” said Ahmad Shabery at a press conference today.

“I feel this must be stopped. Most importantly, the rakyat must stop them, must boycott them and leave them because these festivals are about rejecting the decision made by the rakyat through our electorate system,” he added.

Ahmad Zahid wrote in a column published last Wednesday in Utusan Malaysia that the opposition was deliberately confusing “Chinese youths and politically blind followers” into protesting the election results.

This was in response to the series of mega rallies Pakatan Rakyat organised, claiming that electoral fraud and an incompetent Election Commission had robbed them of their victory.

But Ahmad Shabery today mocked the opposition and their supporters for “behaving like children” and “shrieking here and there” and suggested that their actions contravened the country’s democratic and constitutional system.

“We have to see what laws applies against these sore losers who act outside the limits of our democratic and constitutional system,” said Ahmad Shabery.

“Are they seen as going against our constistution and democratic system?” he asked.

He also dismissed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s argument that Pakatan was the rightful victor by virtue of winning the popular vote, insisting instead that the opposition pact only won big in urban areas.

“Even if they won the popular votes, it was in the urban areas. But our country’s democratic system takes into account not only the urban votes but the rural.

“They can’t dismiss the voters in Kapit, in Machang and Kinabatangan as unimportant. If the people there have said they want the existing party to continue ruling Malaysia, they must accept this,” he added.

He pointed out that despite claims of electoral fraud and gerrymandering, Pakatan had no qualms about accepting their victories in Selangor and Penang.

“If they didn’t agree with the system, they wouldn’t have accepted the swearing in ceremony of the Selangor Menteri Besar [PKR's Khalid Ibrahim] and Penang Chief Minister [DAP’s Lim Guan Eng]. But they did,” said Ahmad Shabery.

Malaysia to work hard for UN Security Council seat

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will go all out to secure a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2015-2016 term so that the country can play a part in international security issues.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Tuesday that although he was confident that Asean member states would support Malaysia, considering it was the only Asean state contesting, the votes of other countries were equally important.

"We must not take it for granted. We have to work very hard and we have to engage and meet leaders from various countries to secure the seat, but I am quite confident that Malaysia has a very good name globally," he told reporters here.

Anifah said the seat in UNSC would send a strong message of peace and the right to co-exist.

On another matter, he said it was also important for the ministry to clear Malaysia's name abroad, since there were some people who tarnished and smeared the country's good image through relentless allegations and negative tactics, especially on the recently-concluded general election.

On the 21 Malaysians detained in Singapore for staging a protest over the general election results, he said the law of the country should be respected but it was the duty of the ministry to assist if it was needed.

On the visit of United States President Barack Obama in October, Anifah said, while there were indications he was coming, it had to be re-confirmed since his schedule might be changed due to internal problems.

He said Malaysia was looking forward to enhance the country's relations with its neighbours, including Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

I love BN

VOTE FOR  BARISAN NASIONAL

VOTE FOR BN

Thumbs up for BN's manifesto

REALISTIC: It doesn't promise the moon and the stars, only things which are deliverable, say leaders
KOTA KINABALU: THE Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has received the thumbs up from leaders nationwide.

In Sabah, the coalition members welcomed the election manifesto which promises hope and confidence for the people.Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the manifesto would continue to put Malaysia on the fast track of development.

"It has concrete pledges that take into account the needs of all Malaysians, regardless of race and background."It also outlines specific programmes geared towards the development of women and youth and even the welfare of the disabled," he said, adding that the prime minister was right when he referred to the document as "a promise of hope" and not just a mere manifesto.

Musa said what was contained within the BN manifesto was realistic, achievable and trustworthy, unlike the opposition's which promised the moon and stars just as bait to get the people to vote for them.United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the manifesto was a continuation of what had been outlined by BN in the last four years since Najib took over the helm of the country.

Dompok also expressed that the BN-led government should be returned to look into the infrastructure and development in the state.Sabah Gerakan chief Datuk Gordon Leong said the manifesto asserted the coalition's "Promise of Hope" if re-elected into government."BN has track record of achievements and we need a government that has track record, workable plans and proposals.

"Therefore, it is crucial for the people to evaluate the 'Promise of Hope' of BN versus manifesto of PR objectively."Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Shirlin said the manifesto was a proof that BN was a government that reached out to the people.

"The manifesto serves the needs of the people, not only in the peninsula but also Sabah and Sarawak."
In Gopeng, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek described BN's manifesto as holistic, realistic and pragmatic.

"It will ensure Malaysia's economy continues to prosper and its people to have high income by 2020," he said, adding that the manifesto was the result of three discussions Najib had with BN component party chiefs.Speaking to reporters after visiting the Lawan Kuda New Village, Dr Chua said the manifesto placed priority on the people and the country's development.

"We also welcome the assurance that Chinese education will be supported by the government and assistance to these schools will be continued."The party was also glad that the manifesto took into consideration MCA's proposal that civil service and government-linked companies to be multiracial."It's a warranty that is in line with the 1Malaysia concept which practices inclusive policy."In Seremban, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said there was a striking difference between 0BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) manifestos.

He said the opposition's manifesto tabled earlier offers sweet promises to entice voters which if implemented could destroy the country."BN's manifesto is a promise. It is a continuation of our work and our commitment to further improve the people's lives without jeapordising the future of our country."

Mohamad said BN's manifesto also clearly listed the methods and means to achieve the coalition's target.
"It shows the PM's commitment in the next five years to double the government's effort to help the people."

Negri Sembilan MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu described the BN manifesto as inclusive and fair to all Malaysian regardless of their races.Former PKR leader Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim also lauded the BN initiatives for low-income groups.

"Those who criticise the policy are usually the ones who do not even pay tax, but they are among the first to line up to receive it."It is taxpayers' money but it is how the government manages the money that counts. Now that BR1M will be given annually, this will definitely alleviate the people's burden. It is definitely a smart move by BN."

In Malacca, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the BN manifesto was practical as it was based on what the government was capable of achieving."BN's promises are reasonable as they take into consideration the country's income, economic growth and ability to repay, while ensuring that the people's needs are met.

"We mean to fulfil these promises, unlike the opposition, which make claims that they will provide all sorts of things for free without taking into account the country's capacity to support such promises."He added that BN's pledges were balanced, touching on crucial economic and social aspects, including a solid plan to take Malaysia to greater heights on the global stage.

"Not only will the people's income be increased, but basic amenities such as public infrastructure and transport systems, including the West Coast Expressway and the Pan Borneo Highway, will be improved for the betterment of the nation."All sectors involved will be empowered to enhance national economic growth, driving us closer to becoming a developed, high-income nation by 2020."

Ali added that he was confident that the people would make the right choice in the upcoming general election."What have Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim achieved compared with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has overseen the country's transformation these past few years?

"Can they legitimately say that they have done more for the country than BN leaders who have fulfilled their promises to the people?"I think the people can judge for themselves who are the more credible leaders compared with those who have failed to fulfil their promises after being given the chance to rule a few states for the past five years."

Reasons To Vote For BN This Election

It seems more and more likely that a general election will be called soon.. Why should we vote for

Barisan Nasional this time?

• BN will defend the Constitution. In BN, everyone is united behind the Constitution — no questioning the rights of this or that community which are enshrined in the Constitution
• BN will not treat the country like their personal fiefdom. Unlike some opposition parties which think Malaysia belongs to Allah/Anwar/Altantuya, BN firmly believes that the country belongs to the People
• Haven't you realised how much BN politicians sacrifice to serve the people? How on earth could they have the time and energy to develop a coterie of parasites living off the largesse of the rakyat's money through contracts for shoddy and unnecessary projects?
• BN will uplift the economically disadvantaged Bumiputra community. Many have argued that BN's pet policy to achieve this goal, the New EconomicPolicy, is not working, as it is not bearing any fruit; things are not much better for the Bumiputras despite 30 years of the NEP
•  Our brave and courageous leaders in BN are willing to forge a new path and do something no other country dares to do
• BN will continue to develop and improve our education system so it can produce thinking and creative Malaysians.
• BN shares power with all its component parties.
• BN will get tough on crime
• if you re-elect BN with a larger majority, you can be assured that the government will lock them up with its powers under the state of emergency that has been in force for 40 years to ensure they can never harm the country again.
• BN is not arrogant or self-serving. It certainly does not let power go to its head, and its leaders continue to make major sacrifices 
• if we re-elect BN, they will be able to continue serving us — unlike those arrogant egoists in the opposition who make a big fuss out of spending years in jail for criticising our wise and benevolent BN government.
• BN will ensure zero poverty in Malaysia. You might remember that the number one reason BN has been so successful in its stewardship of the country is because of how they have developed our economy
• Last but not least, BN will be fair and honest with all Malaysians. They will not discriminate against any class of Malaysians because of race or religion.

Malaysia's Najib Dissolves Parliament, Paving Way for Elections

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said he would dissolve Parliament, setting up an election that analysts say will be the closest in Malaysia's history.

The country's 13th general election pits Mr. Najib's United Malays National Organization—the core of the National Front coalition that has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957—against charismatic opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who says he is making his last bid for the premiership.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, here last month, announced Wednesday that he would dissolve Parliament, paving the way for elections within weeks.

In a live television broadcast Wednesday, Mr. Najib said the country's king has accepted his request to dissolve Parliament.

The date of the elections will be set later by the country's Election Commission, but is widely expected to come within a few weeks and will test whether UMNO's traditional political planks of race, religion and economic stewardship can overcome the opposition's pitch for a more open and transparent society in the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country.

"There is a high degree of uncertainty on the election outcome as large section of youth will be voting for the first time," said Ibrahim Suffian, director at independent pollster Merdeka Center. Voters aged below 30 make up a quarter of the country's 13 million-strong electorate.

Analysts say that though chances of an opposition victory are slim, it may extend its 2008 electoral gains when it wrested 82 of 222 seats in Parliament, leaving the ruling front short of a two-thirds majority for the first time and won five of Malaysia's 13 states. Since the 2008 ballot, the opposition has edged up to 86 seats in Parliament through a series of special elections but lost control of one state.

Ceding more seats to the opposition could limit Mr. Najib's ambitions to liberalize the country's economy and propel it onto a faster growth path. A weaker mandate might spur a leadership challenge to Mr. Najib from within UMNO, analysts say, and hinder his efforts to push through unpopular reforms such as proposals to reduce costly subsidies on food and cooking fuel.

The opposition—consisting of the Islamic fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, Anwar's moderate People's Justice Party, and the Democratic Action Party that draws most of its support from the ethnic Chinese minority—has steadily gained support in the urban areas. Its pledges to unwind a decades-old race-based affirmative action policy designed to give a leg up to the majority ethnic-Malay population and reduce corruption have a strong appeal among mostly younger voters, analysts say.

In a February survey conducted by Merdeka Center, 46% of respondents said the government must tackle corruption. In the past, ministers have come under graft charges. The top corruption cases include continuing ones involving two former transport ministers, Chan Kong Choy and Ling Liong Sik, who were charged with cheating following cost overruns at a free-trade zone development, and Khir Toyo, the former chief minister of Selangor State. All three deny any wrongdoing.

The 64-year-old Mr. Anwar has said he would retire from politics if his opposition alliance fails to form the next government.

Since Mr. Najib came to power in 2009, he has made efforts to make governance more transparent.

Government contracts are now available online and companies that bid for projects are asked to sign integrity pacts. A Whistleblower Protection Act was passed in 2010 with cash incentives offered to civil servants for reporting corruptions that could lead to prosecution.

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolves parliament for election

Najib Razak is Malaysia's sixth prime minister

Razak asked the king to dissolve parliament

Ruling coalition has ruled for 59 years

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has dissolved parliament in readiness for a general election

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament today in preparation for general elections seen as the toughest challenge yet for the ruling coalition after 56 years in power.

"This morning I met the king and asked for his consent to dissolve the parliament,''  Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

"This dissolution will pave the way for the 13th general election.''

Najib: Malaysia committed to defend sovereignty

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to continue defending its sovereignty said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday.

He said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) had also made several achievements in its bid to combat pirates in the Malacca Straits.

"The MMEA has made several achievements in combating pirates in the Straits of Malacca.

“We are committed to defend the country's sovereignty," he said in his latest tweet.

On Thursday, MMEA Air Operations Branch director, First Admiral (Maritime) told Bernama that MMEA had gained international recognition for its competence in combating sea piracy in the Malacca Straits.

When speaking at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2013), he also said combating pirates in the Malacca Straits was the major success that had boosted MMEA's name. - Bernama.

Winning GE13 is Job No. 1, Umno men say after Dr M’s putsch warning

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 ― Winning Election 2013 takes precedence over party intrigues, several Umno leaders said today as they sought to play down veteran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s warning to Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the prime minister may lose his post if the ruling coalition cedes more seats in the next polls.

Seasoned Umno lawmakers contacted by The Malaysian Insider appeared upset that the country’s fourth and longest-serving prime minister had chosen to publicly remind Najib about what he stood to lose with the 13th general election just weeks away, but did not deny that party warlords may push for the sixth PM to be ousted should the Barisan Nasional (BN) suffer further setbacks.

“No one should not talk about things like that, [not] even Tun. Such statements will do more harm than good. I disagree with him. We should be focusing on winning now,” said Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

“What Tun raised is, of course, important, but we can wait for the results of the elections first. We can talk about that later,” the former Selangor mentri besar said.

Dr Mahathir was yesterday reported by international news agency AFP as suggesting that Najib may be unseated by unhappy Umno warlords if he fails to improve on BN’s performance during Election 2008, which had also helped unite the disparate opposition parties into a cohesive political force.

Dr Mahathir also told the news wire that he was worried about a possible regime change, suggesting there would be chaos and religious strife if the BN lost Putrajaya.

“Of course, if he (Najib) does not perform, there will be some necessity to switch horses.

“There could be a lot of disappointment and maybe a move to challenge him. That is normal,” the ex-prime minister who was in office for 22 years was quoted saying.

Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, also said Dr Mahathir should not have aired Umno’s dirty laundry with the election just weeks away.

But the son of one of Dr Mahathir’s staunchest supporters, the late Datuk Mohamed Rahmat, suggested the 87-year-old was only seeking to protect his legacy by campaigning for a BN win.

“Tun shouldn’t be talking about something negative at this point… I suppose he wants his legacy to continue by making sure BN wins.

“We can win actually (but) we need continuity to ensure BN can continue with its transformation and rejuvenation of its ministers and mentris besar,” Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.

Dr Mahathir was credited as the political force behind successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s premature retirement from office in April 2009 ― despite winning the 12th general elections albeit with the loss of its parliamentary supermajority ― and paving the way for Najib’s rise to the top.

Previously, Dr Mahathir had repeatedly warned the country’s majority Malays that a weak government like Najib’s would give rise to non-Malay dominance, alluding to the liberal policies pushed by Najib and reading them as signs of growing non-Malay encroachment into Malay rights.

But the former prime minister had also called on voters to give Najib a chance, saying restoring BN’s parliamentary supermajority would help the Umno-led federal government consolidate the Malays’ position in the country.

But for some Umno members, Dr Mahathir’s statements could undo Najib’s vigorous push to maintain the party’s Malay powerbase and court the critical young ― seen to be the new kingmakers, according to the results of several surveys conducted in the past few months in the run-up to Election 2013.

“I am not saying he is wrong. I respect him. He is my former boss. But I believe we should be focusing on winning now. I would prefer to stick with positive things for now. Let’s support Najib,” said Padang Besar MP Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, a former Umno supreme council member and an ex-minister.

Some political analysts have forecasted that BN will retain federal power at the polls that must be called by end-April when the current BN mandate expires, but have said that any win will be slim and unlikely to give it the customary two-thirds majority it enjoyed before Election 2008.

Other pundits, however, believe an opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win at the polls may be possible, ushering a new regime into power for the first time since Independence in 1957.