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INSIDE TELLING IT AS IT IS Low voter page turnout 2 expected for Sabah polls ‘Returnees a page bigger threat ON MONDAY AUGUST 17, 2020 4 than foreign No. 7599 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my workers’ OUT OF THIS WORLD... A performer dressed as the lead character from the Predator movies entertains children at an event in Anjung Indah, Penang yesterday. – MASRY Where the CHE ANI/THESUN wind blows █ BY KEERTAN AYAMANY [email protected] oSabah polls good indicator of political ETALING JAYA: The Sabah state election will likely serve as a outcome for country, say experts barometer of political sentiments not only in the state but He pointed out that apart from Warisan still part of Barisan Nasional, as well as Pthroughout the country. and its allies – DAP, PKR and the United PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia It could also determine whether Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) (Bersatu) – have little influence in Sabah. Pakatan Harapan (PH) is still strong – almost all the other parties, including Umno has also effectively abandoned PN enough to muster sufficient support to Umno and new ones such as Parti Cinta in favour of a new and separate alignment make a comeback after having been Sabah (PCS), have indicated that they with PAS and Bersatu, called Muafakat unceremoniously booted out of Putrajaya would cooperate or align themselves with Nasional. through party hopping. PN, which now holds power at the federal “The statement of intention, among Actress with Sabah Mara Technology University level. others, reflects the general wishes of the political science lecturer Dr Asri But that would depend on whether supporters of those political parties that page Salleh said the election will likely they, collectively, win enough seats now form the federal government,” backup plan determine the allegiance of the to form a new state government. Turn to Asri told theSun yesterday. 15 parties yet unaligned with either Apart from Umno, the other — “I would expect that the majority CELEB SPEAK CELEB Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Warisan parties in PN – such as MCA and page 2 of the people of Sabah are in law Sabah (Warisan). MIC, which together with Umno are comfortable with the stability that the 2 theSUN ON MONDAY | AUGUST 17, 2020 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Low turnout likely for Sabah polls factors that are likely to have an impact on the Fann also expressed disappointment on the compelled to find jobs far away from home and oDisenchantment, Covid voting pattern are political disillusionment inability of the EC to allow absentee voting for they should not be further financially burdened among voters in the state and the Covid-19 those who work in Sarawak and Peninsular or put at risk of a Covid-19 infection just to fears among factors that pandemic. Malaysia. exercise their right to vote. He said many voters will likely not make the “This is a long-standing issue but it can be Society for the Promotion of Human Rights would keep voters away trip home to Sabah to cast their ballots. fixed.” member Ivy Josiah said Covid-19 remains a “There is the fear of infection,” he told theSun Bersih had earlier proposed that out-of- health risk and air fares are high, making it hard yesterday. region voters be gazetted as advance voters for many Sabahans to return home to vote. █ BY ELLY FAZANIZA “People also feel let down by the political eligible for postal voting under the Elections “Sabahans have always faced this challenge. [email protected] process, so why bother to vote when a (Advance Voting) Regulations 2012. Many are also unable to get leave from work to government can be changed on a whim?” In the 14th general election, a total of 51,472 go home to vote so the EC has a duty to put in PETALING JAYA: Voter turnout for the Sabah By comparison, he pointed out, the Kimanis personnel in various government agencies such place mechanisms to allow for postal voting just state election will likely be below 70%, and this by-election in January saw a voter turnout of as the police, Fire and Rescue Department as like it has been done for Malaysians living is among factors that will have a bearing on the 70.2%, surpassing the Election Commission’s well as health facilities opted to vote through abroad. There is some anxiety that postal votes outcome. (EC) target of 70% by a whisker. the post. may be manipulated but this is where the EC Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) “That was a huge turnout for a by-election,” Fann pointed out that many Malaysians, has to step up to ensure there is no foul play,” chairman Thomas Fann said among other he noted. including Sabahans and Sarawakians, are she added. Win would endorse PN incumbent federal From government has brought front page to the country,” he said, indicating that those parties aligned to PN may yet have a slight edge over Warisan. “If the PN-friendly parties win, one can take that as an endorsement of the authority of the federal government. On the other hand, a win for Warisan will prove to be a contrasting proposition.” Asri added that if the results favour Warisan, it would give PH a degree of hope for a comeback in the next general election or, in the case of Sabah, retention of power. “One can’t rule out such a possibility (of Warisan winning), given the fact that while it remains a solid bloc, the other political parties are quite spread out and segregated,” he pointed out. “But if the other political parties manage to avoid three or four-cornered contests against Warisan, the odds will favour them. “However, even if PH loses, they will TOUCHING BASE ... Slim by-election remain strong for the foreseeable Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Zaidi future.” Aziz visits an orang asli village during his Asri also said as regional politics still campaign rounds in Kampung Jentung reigns supreme in Sabah, it is quite different from the situation in the yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX peninsula. Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said a sizeable win by Warisan could give an Bersatu role in Umno-PAS pact ’agreed’ advantage to PH. “I think most probably, (Datuk Seri KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu PAS and Umno to unite the Malays, apart from Annuar said Mukhriz’s political philosophy Mohd) Shafie Apdal will win. But Malaysia’s (Bersatu) participation in Muafakat forming a stable political core. is outdated by 20 years, compared with the whether this election will serve as a Nasional has been agreed upon in principle, Meanwhile, in response to a question new politics of Muafakat Nasional. barometer for political support at the said Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general raised by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir on “Follow the Muafakat Nasional model of federal level depends on whether Shafie Tan Sri Annuar Musa. whether Muafakat Nasional would appoint tolerance. (After) seven by-elections with all wins big or small. He said the Muafakat Nasional steering Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as candidates from BN, PAS still cooperates and “If he wins a large majority of seats, committee is working out the charter and its chairman, Annuar said the three parties in that is the new model,” he added. that will create a momentum for memorandum of understanding between PAS the coalition would practise coexistence and He also said that although BN has the Warisan, and by extension for their and Umno. there would be no jostling for the chairman’s most seats, the alliance continued to support political partner PH. And it will look very Annuar said the oral agreement between post. Muhyiddin as prime minister, which is in line good because PH is taking part in the Bersatu and Muafakat Nasional was taken to “We no longer use the old political system, with the new political model. state elections as well,” he said. the Muafakat national steering committee we have ‘migrated’ far ahead using politics “If we follow the normal model, it has to be Oh also expressed the view that PN is meeting, which then decided to extend an termed as ta’awun and ta’yush. Umno (that has the prime minister’s job). effectively dead since Umno pulled out official invitation to Bersatu this Thursday to “The concept of ta’awun is from fighting to When the time comes, perhaps tomorrow, of it, leaving a motley crew in the join the pact. cooperating and ta’ayush is respecting the Bersatu may give Umno the post of prime coalition at the federal level. Muafakat Nasional is an alliance between principle of coexistence.” minister.” – Bernama “However, let us also not forget the internal tensions in PH, as (Tun Dr) Mahathir Mohamad touts Shafie as prime minister while Datuk Seri Anwar On good terms again with China, India Ibrahim guns for the position as well,” he added. TANJUNG MALIM: Malaysia is back on good community leaders and South Trolak Felda Malaysia’s stand on not establishing diplomatic terms with China and India since the Perikatan settlers yesterday. ties with Israel, while stressing that the country Nasional (PN) government took charge, said Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Slim was still on good terms with the United Arab experience. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin state by-election Mohd Zaidi Aziz was also Emirates (UAE). The Slim state by-election will be held on Hussein. present. He said this in reference to UAE’s recent Aug 29. It has been called to fill the seat left He said the improved bilateral ties would Hishammuddin said he has asked palm oil recognition of Israel as a state, with both sides vacant by the death of incumbent Datuk Mohd help Malaysia boost the export of palm oil and industry players to provide feedback in order to also establishing diplomatic and economic Khushairi Abdul Talib on July 15.