KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned Malaysians against voting for change today, arguing that it will result in a weak government that will hinder economic progress. The former prime minister also expressed his hope for Barisan Nasional (BN) to regain a strong two-thirds parliamentary majority in the next elections so that the government can implement its policies without resistance. "Change itself will be destructive, and turmoil is not good for any country," Dr Mahathir  (picture)  said at the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference here. He also claimed that the current government headed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak was considered weaker than previous ones. A weak government will in turn have to resort to meeting demands and delivering handouts in order to satisfy all parties, he said. The former prime minister also mocked Pakatan Rakyat (PR), insisting that the coalition was not a "real" one, and was only formed to win ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Barisan Nasional (BN) will win the 13th general election thanks to a shifting political landscape and its incumbent advantage, analysts predicted today. Speaking at a forum in the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference here organised by think-tank Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), the two analysts however agreed that the ruling coalition will not garner a two-thirds majority in Parliament. File photo of Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur. Two analysts said BN will not win a two-thirds majority in Parliament. "(Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak's) administration would win ... because it's incumbent. But it would be narrow, tight," said Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, principal research fellow with UKM's Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA). "One thing is absolutely certain, there is not going to be a hung Parliament," declared Institute of Political and Economic Affairs (IKAPE) chairman Tan Sri Abdull...

Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee Thursday, 31 January 2013 09:51 Commentary The recent lifting of the ban on Hindraf has resulted in a flood of commentary about how this and other measures undertaken by Najib Razak and the Barisan Nasional government to recapture Indian support through various conciliatory measures may impact on Hindraf and the larger Indian population (see here ). The consensus among many commentators is that the BN already has the Indian vote in the bag and that the mending of relations with Hindraf and the opening up of the national purse strings to address Indian shortfalls in education and economy – even if in a limited way – will be sufficient to bring the critical Indian vote in many federal and state constituencies back into the BN fold. This rush to judgement is not only premature; it is most probably wrong. This is because it underestimates the sense of deprivation, injustice and anger felt by the Indian community which has arisen from four...

Police recorded Ibrahim's statement yesterday. — File pic GEORGE TOWN, Jan 31 — Penang police have recorded statements from two Perkasa leaders — its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and information chief Roslan Kassim — over the alleged "festival" to burn Malay and Jawi versions of the Bible containing the word "Allah". Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said rumours had been spread that the "Bible-burning" gathering would be held at Padang Bandaran, Bagan Luar in Butterworth on the mainland last Sunday. He said police recorded statements from the two Perkasa leaders yesterday and that the investigation report was ready. "Police recorded statements from both the leaders here yesterday and they were co-operative. We have prepared the investigation report and will be submitted to the Attorney-General's office," he told reporters at the Penang police headquarters here today. A pastor had lodged a police re...

 Sung with a Liberace Piano? Dato Najib must have a death wish. Or something like that. Or he has political mental retards as his advisors. No one has raised the issue of Permata for some time. Suddenly he has taken the pre-emptive strike. He accuses the opposition for future attacks on Permata. It's similar to handing your opponent in a badminton game, a bola tanggung or a return that will allow your opponent to smash. Of course, we will respond since it is he who has suddenly gotten itchy in raising the issue.Or maybe he has a personal airborne warning and control system( AWACS). How much does it cost Mr PM? Why has he made pre-emptive strike? Could it be that Permata has gotten allocations and is asking for more? To do what? It has opened up 56 centres for incubating 4 year olds to become some sort of gifted children. Since 2009, Permata has received on average RM 130 million a year. It has received probably more than RM350 million. Where does the money come from? It ...

Foo holds up a photograph of his wife to reporters. — Picture by Choo Choy May KLANG, Jan 31 — A lorry driver is demanding an independent probe into why his young wife was allegedly shot dead by police after an apparent car chase two weeks ago at a housing estate here ended with a bullet-riddled car. The incident took place on January 18 at about 8.30pm when Pua Bee Chun, a 22-year-old housewife, together with a friend were said to have been pursued by the police while driving at Taman Sentosa here. Foo Voon Kong, 26, told reporters here today that his wife, according to the post-mortem, had died from a bullet wound to the heart. "There were 24 bullet holes in the side of the car," Foo said. "I was notified by someone. I thought he was joking so I said don't joke. The person then offered to pick me up and go the location and as I arrived, my wife was already in the bodybag," said the father of two. "The police shot my wife,...

Perak DAP says it will contest there even if the socialist party becomes a Pakatan member. PETALING JAYA: Perak DAP has dismissed any possibility that Pakatan Rakyat will let Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) contest in Jelapang even if it becomes a member of the bloc before the general election. "Pakatan Rakyat has already decided that DAP will contest in Jelapang," Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming told FMT today. He said PSM must not impose conditions for joining Pakatan. "It should help Pakatan battle BN in the 13th general election," he added. PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan announced yesterday that his party had applied to join Pakatan in response to popular demand. He made the announcement at a press conference attended by several other party leaders, who said seat negotiations with Pakatan were ongoing and that they hoped the bloc would allow PSM to contest the same seats it did in the 12th general election. In 2008, PSM fought for t...