Malaysian Indian Minority and Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2008

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim: ‘When it is denied to you, freedom is a torture’

theguardian.com, 19/05/2018 -- When Anwar was fired as deputy prime minister in 1998, he was told to move out of the official residence immediately. He asked for a few days as he had young children: Mahathir ordered for the water and electricity to be cut off.

Standing outside the court after he was charged with sodomy in 1999, Anwar described Mahathir as “a coward who will not seek responsibility for his own evil … Mahathir’s lust for power is insatiable”. In return, when Anwar was in jail, Mahathir made sure visiting requests from his young family were denied. And even after Anwar got out in 2004, Mahathir continued his tirade. “Imagine having a gay prime minister. Nobody would be safe,” he said in 2005. Anwar unsuccessfully tried to sue Mahathir for slander as a result.

Election and the economy

borneopost, April 22, 2018 -- “But, considering the impact of contribution to an big-tickets project announcement such as the packages for East Coast Railway Link, Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Railway, MRT3 Circle and Pan Borneo Sabah a post-election relief rally is expected. “Apart from that, deep sea ports project such as the Carey Island Port and Kuala Linggi International Port will make headlines for its latest developments contributing another round of positive earnings expectation for the sector. “Additionally, judging by the improvement of construction sector’s operating margin we reckon that the sector’s cost has improved illustrating better opportunity for project undertaking especially for big ticket projects,” the research team highlighted.

Islamic party aims to hold the key in Malaysia's election

Reuters, APRIL 22, 2018 -- If PAS does hold sway over the next government, some political analysts say it could stoke divisions in multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority Malaysia. The government could come under pressure to further entrench affirmative-action policies that favor ethnic Malays in business, education and housing, and to strengthen Islamic courts, they say. Muslims, the majority of whom are ethnic Malays, make up about 60 percent of Malaysia’s population of 32 million. Ethnic Chinese and Indians, who are Buddhist, Christian or Hindu, account for most of the rest.

ST Global Outlook Forum: Questions on various Malaysia election outcomes raised

The Straitstimes, 19/04/18 -- Despite BN's pole position - it has won all 13 of the country's previous general elections - many expect a heated battle for the Malay vote because the opposition is led by a former prime minister - Dr Mahathir - who is flanked by two former deputy prime ministers, Anwar and Muhyiddin Yassin.

After GST was introduced, more Malaysian voters are asking: Where is our money going?

The Straitstimes, 19/04/18 -- The lower-middle class, which found itself paying taxes for the first time, was hit the hardest because a third of their daily household items were not exempt from GST. "Everytime you buy toothpaste, you top up your mobile phone, anything like that, you buy Milo, you are paying tax and you can see that in your receipt the first time," he said. This unhappiness over the GST is a very effective tool for opposition forces such as the Pakatan Harapan alliance and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) to start asking where people's money is going. By taxing people instead of oil, the government is forced to be more responsive to voters, Dr Hutchinson said.

Najib says 'truly illogical' to blame him for closure of Mahathir's bakery

The Straits Times, 15/04/18 --

Tun Dr Mahathir, who now leads federal opposition pact Pakatan Harapan (PH), told The Straits Times on Saturday (April 15) that he had wanted to sell the business to raise funds for his election campaign. Malaysia's general election will be held on May 9. Dr Mahathir said during a walkabout on Langkawi that he had faced some obstacles from the authorities. He said he had a prospective buyer, but "immediately the income tax department went to his place and demanded that he should pay a lot of taxes".

Malaysia elections: Mahathir warns of 'dirtiest' vote in history

The Straitstimes, 13/04/18 -- "If you go by the sentiments of the people, we will win hands down," he said, during the interview at his Kuala Lumpur office. "But we know (Najib) is going to cheat." Dr Mahathir, who used to be Mr Najib's mentor, said he once believed the premier was a "nice man" - but now considers him a "monster". "I don't relish the idea of a thief becoming the prime minister of Malaysia," he said.

Truly ASEAN?

The Jakarta Post Editorial, 10/04/18 -- Oppress the opposition, manipulate the fears of the majority Malays against economically powerful minorities, rewrite the election rules, control the mainstream and social media. PM Razak has used and will continue to use such primitive tactics to win the next election. The “1Malaysia Development Berhad” corruption case that allegedly involved him and people around him, which he has repeatedly denied, has been effectively swept under the carpet.