

Thousands turn out to launch key M'sian vote
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
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.
After a long night of making love, he notices a photo of another man on her nightstand by the bed.
He begins to worry. “Is this your husband?” he nervously asks.
“No, silly,” she replies, snuggling up to him.
“Your boyfriend, then?” he continues.
“No, not at all,” she says, nibbling away at his ear.
“Is it your dad or your brother?” he inquires, hoping to be reassured.
“No, no, no! You are so hot when you’re jealous!” she answers.
“Well, who the hell is he, then?” he demands.
“That’s me before the surgery,” she replied.
…
HORRROR..
Party-hoppers, be warned
Don’t give in to temptation!
The following quotes are from Dr M Bakri Musa:
"...The reputation and salvation of (Perak Sultan) Raja Azlan specifically, and that of the institution of Sultans generally, would require of him to look beyond the law for a solution.
Contrary to the assertions of constitutional scholars and legal practitioners, this is not a legal issue.Its solution does not lie with the court system. Nor does it require of us to return to the old feudal ways of blind loyalty to the sultan, as some traditionalist would wish.
The continued RELEVANCE and indeed SURVIVAL of our Sultans depend on their ability to read the rakyats’ mood CORRECTLY , NOT on some cultural traditions, court precedents, or political expedience.
What surprised me is that this power grab is being led by a Sultan who is generally acknowledged as the most enlightened of the lot, having served as the nation’s chief justice, and who has, as his Crown Prince, an intellect schooled in the finest universities of the West.That they chose to revert to their feudal past given the slightest chance was a great disappointment.
With a deeply polarized citizenry, the days of a supra majority government are gone. It is for this reason we must have an institution like the sultan that can act as an honest broker so as to maintain political neutrality and stability. Now that too is gone.That is what disappoints me most with this latest political crisis in Perak. If a sultan as enlightened as Raja Azlan could not disentangle himself from this political morass, we have LITTLE hope that the OTHER sultans would be any better.
There is a silver lining to all this. Thanks to Nizar’s Jebat-like stance of “Patek menyembah mohon derhaka!” Malaysia will never degenerate into an absolute monarchy.In times like this, we have to savor such blessings!
- Dr. M. Bakri Musa
KUALA TERENGGANU: Pas won the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election with a 2,631-vote majority against Barisan Nasional and an independent candidate.