News

GEORGE TOWN: Three enforcement teams, which will also include representatives of the parties contesting, will assist in monitoring the flow of the by-election process for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat scheduled for May 25.

Penang acting director of the Election Commission (EC) Azizal Ahmad said on Wednesday the team would also include a police officer with the rank of Inspector or higher and a representative of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president hopeful Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his contenders, incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, have factions.

“If you follow them closely (on their campaign trail), you can see their own followers.

"That is also considered a pact, only I chose to announce it openly,” he said at a press conference at PKR headquarters here on Monday.

On Sunday, Azmin warned against formation of alliances, groupings and cartels, stressing it would not augur well for the future of the party.

PETALING JAYA: PKR polls contenders Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli are forming an alliance in a bid to return the party to its “original values of Reformasi”.

Announcing this at the launch of their Masa Depan Bersama campaign yesterday, the trio also presented a list of events scheduled nationwide in the run-up to the party elections, which begin on April 25.

KOTA KINABALU: A group of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) supreme council members have cry foul over the reappointment of 18 supreme council members by acting party president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

KUALA LUMPUR: Incumbent PKR vice-president Tian Chua (pic) said he might pull out from the six-cornered deputy presidency race pending talks with the party’s top leadership.

Speaking to reporters at his office here on Tuesday, the Batu parliamentarian said the discussion was necessary in the move to reduce competition, and to build a solid leadership within the organisation.

The talks, he said, would include consultation with outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also vying for the post, because of their "close friendship".

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will have a closer look at a proposal to adopt a “one-person, one vote” model based on racial composition for future polls, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Shahidan, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs, said he would recommend this as part of the pending redelineation exercise by the Elec­tion Commission (EC).

While agreeing with Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) on the one per­son, one vote concept, Shahidan said it would be better if done based on race.

MUKAH: Voter turnout for the Balingian by-election was 72.33% when polls closed here, says Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

A total of 9,668 votes were cast between 8am and 5pm, out of a total of 13,233 registered voters.

The final turnout is lower than the 80% expected by Abdul Aziz, who at noon today had predicted a record high. "Nonetheless, this is still an improvement of 2% for Balingian from the last state election (in 2011)," Abdul Aziz told reporters.

KOTA KINABALU: Kadaimaian assemblyman Jeremy Majalad, who quit Opposition PKR last year, has applied to join Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) led by Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

PBRS secretary-general Datuk Johnson Tee when contacted confirmed that Majalad had put in an application but the party's supreme council has yet to make a decision over his membership.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen on Wednesday said that the recent episode of opposition leaders being denied entry to Sarawak goes to show that the current state government is threatened by Pakatan Rakyat.

"None of those who were prevented entry are in any way a threat to the security of the state or the nation.

"With that said, it does not make any sense to stop them from entering the state," he said adding that this is an abuse of power to increase their stronghold on the state.