Utusan Malaysia (30 March 2009)
Sementara itu, kira-kira 10,000 penyokong termasuk pemimpin BN dan Pas berkumpul sejak pukul 6.30 pagi lagi bagi memberi sokongan moral kepada calon masing-masing.
The Brunei Times (Menggunakan sumber AFP - 30 March 2009)
Borneo Bulletin (30 March 2009)
Thousands turn out to launch key M'sian vote
Supporters of the religious Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) gather in front of an election office in support of their candidate in Taiping, some 300 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur on March 29. Thousands of government and opposition supporters converged on the sleepy district in Malaysia's north, for an electoral clash that will test the new leadership of Najib Razak. AFP
TAIPING, Malaysia (AFP) - Thousands of government and opposition supporters converged Sunday on a sleepy district in Malaysia's north, for an electoral clash that will test the new leadership of Najib Razak.The semi-rural electorate of Bukit Gantang in Perak state is the headline contest in a series of three by-elections to be held on April 7, just days after Najib is likely to be sworn in as prime minister.
The political temperature is already running high in Perak, where the royal ruler in January ordered the opposition to cede control of the state assembly to the coalition, after defections upset the delicate balance of power.
Some 15,000 opposition supporters and 5,000 from the ruling coalition turned out Sunday at the nearby town of Taiping to nominate their candidates, putting on a rowdy display as they beat on drums, yelled chants and waved party banners.
I estimated that about 30,000 were out there with Nizar this morning.
The number of BN supporters?
I put it at about 3,000 - 5,000. Many in the team thought I had overstated their numbers.
The Sun, 30th March 2009
About 2,000 BN supporters marched their way to the nomination centre with Ismail while Nizar was accompanied by about 10,000.
Jakarta Globe, 29th March 2009
New Malaysian Premier Faces Early By-Elections Test
Taiping, Malaysia. Najib Razak, Malaysia’s incoming prime minister, faced the first test of his leadership on Sunday, as campaigns were launched for three by-elections that were seen as a barometer of his support.
Najib was declared leader of the ruling party UMNO on Thursday, promising to introduce radical reforms after disastrous polls a year ago that jeopardized the UMNO-led coalition’s half-century grip on power.
But he faces a difficult task as the economy slides toward recession, and he is burdened by political baggage, including low public support and attempts to link him to corruption and a sensational murder.
The by-elections on April 7 will provide a snapshot of the public mood, and show whether UMNO has been able to claw back support with its plans to tackle corruption and infighting.
Najib’s new deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, kicked off the campaign for the hot-spot electorate of Bukit Gantang in the nearby town of Taiping in northern Perak state, where parties registered candidates for the seat in national parliament that is up for grabs.
Some 15,000 opposition supporters outnumbered 5,000 government supporters who turned out for nomination day for the semi-rural district, putting on a rowdy display.
