Malaysia Anwar fears govt plan to sabotage election

By Niluksi Koswanage

KLANG, Malaysia (Reuters) – Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday that he feared the government may resort to “massive funding and bribery” to sabotage his chances of winning a parliamentary election.

Anwar, who is battling allegations that he raped a former male aide, plans to stand for election from a constituency in northern Penang state which his wife has vacated.

“If… Barisan Nasional decide(s) to give rough with massive funding and bribery then we will have to be really prepared,” Anwar told reporters referring to the ruling coalition.

“We will have to see how many 100 million (ringgit) will be brought there (to the constituency). We are not taking it for granted,” he said. [more]

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Odds are against BN in by-election

The Star online
By WONG CHUN WAI

The Permatang Pauh by-election, a preemptive strike by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before he is charged, will be used as a referendum of sorts with the sodomy charges the main campaign issue.

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh will contest as a favourite contender when the by-election is held following the decision of his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to step down as the Member of Parliament.

His admirers believe it will be a shoo-in for him, with little need for heavy campaigning.

It is a homecoming to his old parliamentary constituency, which he first won as a Barisan Nasional candidate in 1995 with a majority of over 23,000 votes. His opponents then were two featherweights from PAS and DAP.

In 1999, Anwar’s former ally, Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad, was given the job of challenging Wan Azizah. Despite the anger over Anwar’s jail sentence, the former put up a credible fight and managed to reduce the majority to 9,077.

By 2004, with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s popularity at its height, particularly his call for reforms, Wan Azizah managed to pull through with only a 590-vote majority.

But the March 8 polls was a different story. Wan Azizah’s majority shot up to 13,398 votes while Barisan’s candidate Datuk Dr Pirdaus Ismail managed to garner 16,950 votes.

Going by past results, the Barisan has a base of 14,000 to 17,000 voters while PKR has between 20,000 and 30,000.

In the 2008 elections, Barisan must have lost the Chinese and Indian voters, who could have been depended on previously to deliver their votes.

There were losses in votes from many pro-Barisan Malays voters who favoured the PKR this time as the political tsunami swept the country. [more]

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Barisan Nasional may boycott the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election

The Star Online

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairman has defended his proposal that the Barisan Nasional boycott the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election.

Tan Sri Annuar Musa believes that the by-election is a trap laid by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Although some see the boycott proposal as odd, Annuar is generally seen by Umno as a tactician. Emphasising that the proposal was his personal opinion, Annuar urged Umno and its Barisan partners to study it.

Annuar raised three points to support his proposal:

> THAT it was a waste of public funds since PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had deliberately resigned from her post;

> THAT the timing of the by-election coincided with personal issues Anwar is facing; and

> THAT there should not be a by-election in the first place.

“Like it or not, Anwar is baiting Barisan. That is his strategy as he chose to contest when he is battling personal issues such as allegations of sexual misconduct. This makes the contest uncertain. If he is arrested prior to the run-up, his supporters would see him as a hero. [more]

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Anwar to announce seat in August

By DHARMENDER SINGH

SHAH ALAM: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that he will announce the parliamentary seat where he will contest in another week or two.

He said he would like to see how many millions the Barisan Nasional will spend to fight the by-election and ensure he does not win.

He said, however, he was confident of the people’s support as they now were aware of the failure of the Barisan government in looking after their welfare, following the fuel and goods price hike.

He was speaking at a ceramah at the Jugra Stadium in Banting on Friday.

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