BN Sabah berdepan laluan sukar di 10 kerusi Parlimen

Kota Kinabalu: After seven days of campaigning in the 13th general election, polling for which is on May 5, the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is now in the driving seat for the political battle in the State.

The Sabah BN, which is facing a seemingly disunited Opposition, looks set to retain power in the state, thus enabling it to live up to the tag of being "the fixed deposit" of the BN.

Despite the opposition pact's onslaught for the parliamentary battle, Sabah BN is likely to win most of the seats won in the 2008 general election. However, the BN expects tough fights for the Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Beaufort, Tuaran, Penampang, Sepanggar, Pensiangan, Kota Belud and Kota Marudu parliamentary seats.

This is the analysis of some political observers in Sabah, based on the local political scenario, whereby it is probably the most crowded in the State's electoral history.

Situasi di Sabah, saya sudah boleh tidur lena, kata Najib

RANAU: Datuk Seri Naijib Tun Razak said he can now sleep well knowing that the people in Sabah are still firmly behind Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I am proud to see in these two days that Sabah is very convincing. Tonight I can sleep well,” he said in his speech here yesterday where he concluded a two-day whirlwind campaign swing through interior Sabah for the May 5 general election.

Indeed, BN appeared to be the choice of the voters here if the positive response to the Prime Minister’s visit was anything to go by in gauging the support for the coalition.

Najib, who on Tuesday visited Kuala Penyu, Bongawan and Kota Kinabalu before proceeding yesterday to Tenom, Keningau and here, said the display of solid support from the local communities who showed up in huge numbers at every place he visited had ultimately disproved claims by the opposition parties that they had the stronger support of the voters.

“The opposition said they will capture Sabah. I know that in elections everyone will try to show that they can win but if it’s true Sabah may fall to the opposition, there must be some signs,” he said.

“Maybe not many will show up when I come to visit, not many will be interested to shake hands with me, and if we shout our slogan Tatap BN the people will not shout it with us.

“But on the contrary, people have been showing up in great numbers since I came, people were so eager to greet and shake hands with me that some almost didn’t want to let go of my hand. When we say Tatap BN, people responded in high spirits, showing to us that BN is still strong in Sabah,” he said.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, in his welcoming remarks at the event, expressed the same confidence, saying the electorates in Sabah had continued to support BN due its people-oriented approach in planning and implementing development programmes and various schemes to help ease the burden of the people.

He stressed the BN’s manifesto and Aku Janji were inclusive and complete, covering all aspects and every group of the society, including those in Sabah and even specifically Ranau.

Musa said the people of Sabah also appreciated the sincerity, sensitivity and commitment of the BN leadership towards Sabah, in particular the Prime Minister who had always tirelessly visited the state to meet and listen to its people.

“The Prime Minister does not know the meaning of being tired; he just wants to meet as many Sabahans as he can. Even though he is busy with party duties, especially now the election is near, he never forgot the people in Sabah.

“That is why the people of Sabah is grateful to him and everywhere he goes thousands and thousands of people come to greet him,” he said.

At the event Najib also announced that a special Aku Janji will be added for Ranau, under which BN pledges to build a 82km alternative road connecting the district and Kota Kinabalu as an addition to the existing Ranau-Tamparuli road.

SWP mahu sabotaj Pakatan Rakyat

PR supporters have been reminded to be wary of the so-called message by SWP stating that the party is PR-friendly.

State KEADILAN chief Baru Bian yesterday pointed out that the party received several reports from the ground claiming that SWP was trying to portray itself as being PR-friendly at election campaigns in the six seats they are contesting.

“I wish to state here that SWP is not a part of PR. All their claims are not true,” he told a teleconferencing here.

Meanwhile, in another tele-conferencing at the same venue later, State PKR information chief Vernon Aji Kedit demanded SWP declare its stand on this ‘PR-friendly’ issue.

“The alleged modus operandi used by SWP campaigners is to inform voters in the constituencies of Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang and Selangau that SWP candidates are Pakatan-friendly and should they win these parliamentary seats, they would promise to give the DUN state seats within these parliamentary constituencies to the current parliamentary candidates fielded by KEADILAN.”

SWP, which is targeting all the six seats allocated to BN-PRS, are also facing PKR candidates in those seats during this election.

MIC Sabah tuntut jawatan Senator

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government has again been urged to consider giving a nominated state seat to Sabah Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) or appointing a senator from the party.

Sabah State MIC Youth chief Taren Sunil Manoharan, who made the call, noted that the movement had made several appeals on this matter to the State Government in the past and hoped that there will be a positive response this time.

He also asked the State Government to support the issuing of Permanent Residence or granting MyKads to Indians who have been residing in Sabah for generations and contributing significantly towards the state economy.

“Sabah MIC Youth will leave it to the experience and wisdom of our state and national leaders to consider our requests on both these matters,” he said.

With the 13th General Election just weeks away, Taren also appealed to all voters, especially the youth, to choose and vote carefully and wisely.

“I am sure voters realize that their choice of candidates will significantly affect the future of our country and future generations,” he said.

“Most of our youth today are internet savvy and constantly browse the countless internet portals for the latest developments and information on the election. However, please don’t be swayed by all the postings as many of the so-called news are unsubstantiated propaganda aimed at discrediting the authorities. Some are even downright lies meant to negate all the good work that the BN Government has been doing.

“By all means read what you want in the internet but don’t just simply believe everything in there. Don’t just follow your heart and make rash decisions or you will endure the consequences for the next five years,” he said.

“We have to really sit up and look at the facts and figures. The BN government under our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has actually made major changes and implemented a lot of programmes and schemes to help improve our country and boost the living standard of all Malaysians, especially the less fortunate,” he stressed.

Taren pointed to the numerous projects that have been implemented such as the 1Malaysia clinics and shops, BR1M, TUKAR, book and handphone vouchers, cash aid and netbooks for students and a host of other programmes geared towards uplifting the living standards of everyone.

“No matter what detractors might say, the fact is that these goodies have actually been delivered. They have definitely helped ease the hardships of many of our citizens. Janji Ditepati,” insisted the MIC Sabah Youth chief.

“Don’t vote for change just for the sake of changing. It is just a political slogan by those with an agenda of their own. Look at the facts and figures with an open mind and you can see that the policies of the BN government have produced considerable benefits to the rakyat,” he stressed.

“Furthermore, the substantial and regular contributions by the BN government to temples, churches, associations and vernacular schools prove that the BN is a government for all races,” he added.

Calon Star berdepan tindakan undang-undang

Kota Kinabalu: At least two Star Sabah candidates contesting the 13th general election are still facing charges in the courts.

Martin Tommy, who is contesting the Pensiangan parliament seat, is currently facing a cheating charge over a land matter under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, and whipping and liability of a fine on conviction.

He had on March 7, this year claimed trial to the charge at the Magistrate's Court here and is awaiting trial.

The other candidate, Phillip Among, who is contesting the Kapayan State seat, is also facing a similar charge and his defence was called recently.

His lawyer, when contacted, said he did not wish to comment on the matter.

Calon BN DUN Tanjung Aru langgar undang-undang pilihanraya, kata calon KEADILAN

KOTA KINABALU: It is illegal to employ ‘scare tactics’ to fish for votes, said Pakatan Rakyat’s candidate for the Tanjung Aru state seat, Hamid Ismail.

He alleged at a press conference yesterday that Barisan Nasional (BN) is employing scare tactics which he described as illegal under the law.

Hamid, who is also a lawyer, described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement that the country would be doomed if the people trust the opposition as a scare tactic used to incite the people’s fear and mentioned that this was a serious offence.

He said that Malaysia is a democratic country and the tactic of inciting fear in the people should not be used.

He cited Section 4a (1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 which states that anyone who, before, during or after the general elections, whether explicitly or implicitly, through himself or other parties, perform any act or make any statements with the intention or the inclination to incite malice or dissatisfaction or hostility to people who are in the same community or in different communities or in the same group or different groups of Malaysian citizens to encourage voters to vote or not vote in a general election or to gain votes are subject to imprisonment not exceeding five years or fined not exceeding RM10,000, or both.

Wilfred tubuh parti baru selepas PRU13, dakwa Ansari

KOTA KINABALU: The issue over the tussle for the Tuaran parliamentary seat continues, with Tuaran PKR division chief Ansari Abdullah indicating the possibility of the PKR candidate Datuk Seri Wilfred

Bumburing leaving PKR to set up his own party after the 13th General Election (GE13).

Ansari claimed that Bumburing, who is president of NGO Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), had failed to fulfill a promise to let him contest the seat.

Speaking at a news conference at his office, (24 april 2013) Ansari said Bumburing had promised to let him contest the seat on the grounds that he did not wish to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu as he wanted to spend more time with his mother following the death of his father and also because he had recently undergone treatment for a knee ailment.

He also questioned the position of Bumburing, who had won the Tuaran seat in the 2008 general election on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket and then joined the opposition on July 23 last year.

Ansari said the decision of his daughter, Erveana Ansari Ali, who is Tuaran PKR Youth chief, to contest the Tuaran seat as an independent candidate was to save the party.

In this general election, polling for which is on May 5, Erveana and Bumburing have company in the fight for the Tuaran seat in Datuk Madius Tangau of the BN and Samin alias Jasmin Dulin of Parti Reformasi Sabah (STAR).