The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- GE13: MCA, DAP supporters face off in debate
- GE13: Chinese business community in Kedah paying price for choosing PAS
- GE13: Kita to field 11 candidates in Kedah
| GE13: MCA, DAP supporters face off in debate Posted: 12 Apr 2013 08:48 AM PDT KLANG: Hundreds of youths here were treated to a preview of the general election as two young supporters of the MCA and DAP faced off in a debate on various national issues. Both in their 20s, Shen Yee Aun and Chong Zhemin, supporting MCA and DAP respectively, captured the attention of a rapturous crowd at the Klang Hokkien Association Hall in the debate entitled: "Barisan Nasional vs Pakatan Rakyat: Which is the better choice?" Some of the topics debated include political stability, vernacular education, racism and national unity, economy and corruption. Both Shen and Chong were a bit nervous at the start but quickly warmed up as the debate progressed. Shen argued that Barisan was more stable politically, as in 55 years, the coalition of 14 parties never suffered a broken marriage. "Nobody said 'over my dead body' if the 1Malaysia (concept) was implemented," he said, in reference to DAP's reaction to PAS' intention to set up an Islamic state. He said Opposition parties had split and made up many times, from being called Barisan Alternatif to Pakatan. "Why after five years, Pakatan still cannot come up with a single ideology?" he said. Chong responded by saying the Pakatan ideology was to set up a welfare state. On economy, Shen also said Barisan was better than Pakatan, citing Malaysia's recent performance such as the GDP, foreign direct investment and competitiveness index. "Penang's GDP is -1.8%, but Malaysia's DAP is 5.6%. "Under Barisan, Kedah's debt was RM1bil but in five years under Pakatan, the debt is now RM3bil," he said. Chong said Penang's investments had doubled between 2008 and 2013 under the leadership of DAP's Lim Guan Eng, compared with the previous five year period under Barisan's Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon. "In Selangor, there was a budget deficit for six consecutive years under Mentri Besar Dr Khir Toyo, but now we have RM2.6bil," he said. On corruption, Shen accused Pakatan of being "the fastest in getting corrupted". "Barisan was punished in 2008 and we have transformed. After March 2008, there is not much corruption in Barisan, but DAP and Pakatan is the fastest to get corrupted," he alleged. Shen cited the case of a former Perak state exco member from DAP who gave his wife's company a tailoring contract after 55 days in power. Chong rebutted by saying that the court had cleared the individual of any wrongdoing. For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site |
| GE13: Chinese business community in Kedah paying price for choosing PAS Posted: 12 Apr 2013 07:56 AM PDT ALOR SETAR: The Chinese business community in Kedah is getting weary of the PAS-led state government's inefficiency. A local businessman said the lack of economic development was the price people in Kedah had to pay for voting in PAS in the last general election. "Since the state government had few means to generate revenue, deforestation activities were actively carried out near Kuala Nerang, causing the rivers there to be polluted," said the businessman, who did not want to be named, on Friday. He added that the business community in Kedah was also largely unhappy with several policies implemented by the state government. "The lack of efficiency of the local government offices was apparent since PAS took over, problems like this will no doubt impede our business dealings," he said. Also, local housing developers were said to be in a bind over many unsold units due to the 50% housing quota allocated for Bumiputera buyers, he added. He urged the electorate to vote for the candidates rather than party in GE13 on May 5. Another Chinese voter said PAS should not be given free rein to continue its incompetent governance just because the people wanted to punish Barisan Nasional. Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall chairman Cheng Lai Hock said he believed that the Chinese community in the state would be able to make wise decisions in GE13. "Whichever party that is governing, we hope that the interests and welfare of the Chinese community will be looked after," said Cheng. The Alor Setar parliamentary seat, with a 34% majority Chinese voters, is set to be a major battleground between Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat. MCA vice president Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung narrowly won the seat in the last general election by 184 votes against PKR candidate Gooi Hsiao Leung. Chinese voters also have huge power to sway votes in the Derga state seat constituting 40% of the electorate while Padang Serai is an ethnically mixed seat with 56% Malays, 22% Indian and 21% Chinese. For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site |
| GE13: Kita to field 11 candidates in Kedah Posted: 12 Apr 2013 07:48 AM PDT SUNGAI PETANI: Independent party Kita has introduced its first line of candidates that will stand in Kedah state and parliamentary constituencies in the 13th general election on May 5. They will comprise 11 candidates who will contest in a total of nine state assembly and three parliamentary seats. The parliamentary seats are Sungai Petani (Suhaimi Hashim), Pendang (Sanan Maniratana Eplatand) and Padang Serai (N. Periasamy). The state seats are Gurun (Azhar Ahmad), Bukit Selambau (Kamal Nasser Thow Beek), Lunas (N. Prebakaran), Sidam (Vincent Uh), Bakar Arang (Suhaimi Hashim), Kuala Ketil (Datuk Dr G Krishnan), Sg Tiang (Chearean Isan), Pedu (Samransak Kram) and Merbau Pulas (Arun Appadorai). Three of the candidates are of Siamese descent, which the party reckons is a first in Malaysian history. Kedah Kita chairman Kamal Nasser Thow Beek said they hoped to present Kita as the political "Third Force". "We are a neutral party, we don't support Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat," he told reporters here Friday. He asked Kedahans to support Kita by voting them in the GE13, claiming "strong" grassroots support. Kamal added that Kita intended to announce another five more state assembly and three more parliamentary candidates. Many of those listed by Kita tonight appear to be either businessmen, non-governmental organisation leaders and in one case, a former national football player (Samransak). For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site |
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