10 reasons why we must vote in GE 13

We are into the final lap of what must be the most hotly contested general elections in our nation’s 56-year history and one that many would consider to be a pivotal one.

To many, the contest is between the incumbent ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat (PR). To some the choice is between Najib and Anwar whilst to others it is between maintaining the status quo or change.

But I want to put it to you that this election is not about BN or PR. Why? For usually in any contest, the winner is the one with the better skills, strategy, funds and luck even. But in an election, the winner or loser is decided not by the contending parties but by the audience or in this case the voters.

SA Senator Nick Xenophon in custody in Malaysia over meetings with pro-democracy MPs

EXCLUSIVE: Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is being detained under police guard and awaiting deportation from Malaysia as an "enemy of the state", over a series of planned meetings with pro-democracy MPs in Kuala Lumpur. 

Senator Xenophon landed in KL this morning but has been under armed guard for the past two hours. He is being held in an interrogation room at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which has a series of adjoining cells holding female prisoners.

He has been told he is not allowed to make telephone calls and is not even allowed to go to the bathroom without a police guard.

Can Najib guarantee Sabah’s security?

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Stop Dr M before he burns M’sia, says Bishop

The vocal Bishop Paul Tan wants the government
to act against the former premier and all those
who stoke racial and religious tension.

KUALA LUMPUR: Once the object of love and veneration but now hate and denigration, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s constant outbursts have made him one of the most criticised individuals in this nation.

And even on Valentine’s Day, it is brickbats and not bouquets for the former premier.

Ironically, Mahathir who threw scores of people behind bars without trial on the basis of national security is now considered to be a threat himself.

And his unrestrained remarks on sensitive issues had earned him the wrath of a vocal senior clergyman as well.

‘Tentera Diraja Kesultanan Sulu’ Sebalik Pencerobohan Bersenjata Di Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR : Satu kumpulan yang mendakwa mahu mengembalikan semula tuntutan Filipina ke atas Sabah dipercayai menjadi dalang di sebalik pencerobohan kira-kira 100 warga asing bersenjata ke Lahad Datu, Sabah, seorang pegawai Moro dipetik sebagai berkata.

“Laporan belum disahkan dari sumber-sumber kami berkata bahawa satu kumpulan yang menggelar diri mereka Tentera Diraja Kesultanan Sulu adalah di sebalik kehadiran kumpulan bersenjata yang tidak dibenarkan itu,” kata satu sumber yang enggan mendedahkan identiti kepada akhbar Gulf News.

Menurut laporan, kumpulan lelaki bersenjata terbabit yang menaiki beberapa bot kecil telah mendarat di Lahad Datu, Selasa lalu dan kini sedang berdepan secara ketenteraan dengan pasukan keselamatan negara.

Pasukan keselamatan tahan penceroboh di Lahad Datu

Pasukan keselamatan menahan sekumpulan warga asing menyamar sebagai anggota tentera cuba menceroboh perairan negara di Lahad Datu, Sabah semalam.
   
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata beliau mengarahkan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) bekerjasama dengan pasukan polis mengambil tindakan segera berhubung perkara itu.
   
"Kita tidak mahu sebarang unsur pendedahan mengenai pertahanan negara berlaku di mana-mana kawasan di negara ini termasuk di Lahad Datu," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis penyerahan memorandum sokongan kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) daripda 28 badan bukan kerajaan di kawasan Bagan Serai hari ini.
   

Most of new voters in seven states

PUTRAJAYA: The 13th general election promises to be especially lively in seven politically “hot” states that have recorded the highest number of new voters.

The electorate in Selangor, Johor, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Kedah each grew by at least 150,000 voters, all of whom signed up after the 2008 polls.

Of the seven, Selangor recorded the biggest jump with the number of new voters rising 29.06% – from 1,565,494 in 2008 to 2,020,500 in the third quarter of last year.

When sweeteners are not an election offence

There is no legal provision to prosecute political parties or organisations for giving out money or gifts during an election campaign, according to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Deputy chief commissioner (III) Sutinah Sutan said, however, that candidates, agents and supporters can be charged with corruption for similar activities if this is done in the candidate's interests.

RCI: Lebih baik lambat daripada tiada

Oleh Newmond Tibin

Ketua Menteri, NGO dan individu di Sabah
menyambut baik penubuhan suruhanjaya ini.

KOTA KINABALU: Walaupun kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) pimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mempunyai kedudukan selesa kepentingan seluruh rakyat negeri ini berhubung masalah pendatang asing tanpa izin (Pati) yang berlarutan sejak sekian lama, dengan penuh ikhlas, ia menubuhkan sebuah Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) untuk menangani perkara itu.

Kebanyakan pemimpin negeri, termasuk Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan individu di Sabah menyambut baik penubuhan suruhanjaya ini, walaupun ada yang berpendapat kerajaan persekutuan sepatutnya berbuat demikian sejak lama dulu.

Mengundi untuk masa hadapan

Oleh Tommy Thomas

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat,

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures.”            

 - William Shakespeare (“Julius Ceasar”, Act IV iii 215)

Bayangkan Britain ditadbir oleh parti politik yang sama, contohnya, Parti Buruh, selama 55 tahun berturut-turut dari tahun 1957. Ataupun Amerika Syarikat ditadbir oleh Parti Republikan untuk tempoh sama yang berterusan, tanpa henti.

Itulah takdir Malaysia semenjak Merdeka. Pilihan raya umum ke-13, yang mesti diadakan sebelum 28 Jun tahun ini, memberi rakyat Malaysia satu peluang untuk bebas dari monopoli kuasa politik yang dipelopori UMNO, pada asalnya, berlindung di sebalik Perikatan dan setelah itu, sebagai Barisan Nasional.