New blood to rejuvenate Penang BN

The Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) is banking on a troop of new faces to help the coalition return to power in the state.
State BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said nine candidates contesting the 13 parliamentary seats were new, while 24 would get their first taste of contesting for a share in the 40 state seats on the table.

He said the youngest candidate was 31-year-old Loo Jieh Sheng, who will be contesting in Air Itam, which is expected to be defended by DAP's Wong Hon Wai.

He urged all component parties to work hand-in-hand for a BN victory, adding that the coalition was going into the contest with a "win" mindset.

“Win or lose, it is up to the people. But we go in with a winning mindset,” he said in a press conference today after revealing the state BN line-up.

Among the new faces are: UMNO Youth Information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas), former PAS Youth chief Dr Mazlan Ismail (Permatang Pauh), MCA's David Chua (Bagan) and Gerakan's N Gobalakrishnan (Batu Kawan).

Teng reminded those who were not chosen not to sabotage BN, warning that any such attempts would result in immediate expulsion from their respective parties.

He said candidates were picked based on their “winnabililty” and for their ability to serve the people.

“There are only 53 seats in Penang, but many more aspiring candidates and not all can be chosen,” the candidate for Bukit Tengah added.

Below are the BN candidates for Penang listed by Parliamentary constituencies followed by state seats:

Parliament

1. Kepala Batas – Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (UMNO)

2. Tasek Gelugor – Shabudin Yahaya (UMNO)

3. Bagan – David Chua (MCA)

4. Permatang Pauh – Dr Mazlan Ismail (UMNO)

5. Bukit Mertajam – Gui Guat Lye (MCA)

6. Batu Kawan – N. Gobalakrishnan (Gerakan)

7. Nibong Tebal – Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman (UMNO)

8. Bukit Bendera – Teh Leong Meng (Gerakan)

9. Tanjong – Ng Song Kheng (Gerakan)

10. Jelutong – Ng Fook On (Gerakan)

11. Bukit Gelugor – Teh Beng Yeam (MCA)

12. Bayan Baru – Tang Heap Seng (MCA)

13. Balik Pulau – Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (UMNO)

State

1. Penaga – Mohd Zain Ahmad (UMNO)

2. Bertam – Shariful Azhar Othman (UMNO)

3. Pinang Tunggal – Datuk Roslan Saidin (UMNO)

4. Permatang Berangan – Omar Abd Hamid (UMNO)

5. Sungai Dua – Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (UMNO)

6. Telok Air Tawar – Datuk Jahara Hamid (UMNO)

7. Sungai Puyu – Sum Yoo Keong (MCA)

8. Bagan Jermal – Tan Chuan Hong (MCA)

9. Bagan Dalam – M. Karuppanan (MIC)

10. Seberang Jaya – Mohammad Nasir Abdullah (UMNO)

11. Permatang Pasir – Anuar Faisal Yahaya (UMNO)

12. Penanti – Ibrahim Ahmad (UMNO)

13. Berapit – Lau Chiek Tuan (MCA)

14. Machang Bubuk – Tan Lok Heah (Gerakan)

15. Padang Lalang – Tan Teik Cheng (MCA)

16. Perai – L.Krishnan (MIC)

17. Bukit Tengah – Teng Chang Yeow (Gerakan)

18. Bukit Tambun – Lai Chew Hock (Gerakan)

19. Jawi – Ten Cheng Liang (MCA)

20. Sungai Bakap – Mohd Foad Mat Isa (UMNO)

21. Sungai Acheh – Mahmud Zakaria (UMNO)

22. Tanjung Bunga – Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye (Gerakan)

23. Air Putih – Tan Ken Keong (MCA)

24. Kebun Bunga – H'ng Chee Wey (Gerakan)

25. Pulau Tikus – Rowena Yam (Gerakan)

26. Padang Kota – Oh Tong Keong (Gerakan)

27. Pengkalan Kota – Loke Cheang Gin @ Loke Poh Chye (MCA)

28. Komtar – Loh Chye Teik (MCA)

29. Datuk Keramat – Ong Thean Lye (Gerakan)

30. Sungai Pinang – Dr Thor Teong Gee (Gerakan)

31. Batu Lanchang – Lee Boon Ten (Gerakan)

32. Seri Delima – Low Joo Hiap (MCA)

33. Air Itam – Loo Jieh Sheng (Gerakan)

34. Paya Terubong – Koh Wan Leong (MCA)

35. Batu Uban – Goh Kheng Sneah (Gerakan)

36. Pantai Jerejak – Wong Mun Hoe (Gerakan)

37. Batu Maung – Mansor Musa (UMNO)

38. Bayan Lepas – Nordin Ahmad (UMNO)

39. Pulau Betong – Muhamad Farid Saad (UMNO)

40. Teluk Bahang – Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah

Husam’s solution to Putrajaya housing woes

Housing problems in the nation's administrative capital, Putrajaya, can be resolved by building houses on land that is reasonably priced, said PAS's candidate for the parliamentary seat Datuk Husam Musa today.

He said the 10,000-home government pilot project planned for Presint 11, as announced by Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa today, would produce better results if it were built at Bukit Damai, due to lower land cost.

"The land is valued at RM150 per square foot (psf) in Presint 11. I propose that the land be sold to third parties at RM150 psf, but the profits be used to buy land at Bukit Damai, where land costs RM50 psf," adding the profits would allow 20,000 houses to be built at a lower cost," he said..

Ali said a pilot project with 10,000 units of houses would be built in Putrajaya and launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak soon.

On a another matter, Husam, who is also PAS vice-president, said the party had heeded the grassroots message that a political transformation would occur in Terengganu if the Pas line-up was revamped.

"The new generation requires new aspirations and PAS accepts that is what is needed for a more dynamic millennium, and this is reflected in our candidate list, sending a clear message to young voters," said Husam, adding that the attitude of candidates was more important than their age.

BN to mount strong challenge in swing states

The battle lines in the 13th general election were stretched taut today with the naming of Umno candidates by the Barisan Nasional (BN) that sees federal heavyweights International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and his deputy minister, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, moved to the Kelantan and Kedah state contests.

Outgoing Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman will stand in Gelang Patah, ending days of intense speculation about his face-off with DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang in the Chinese-majority parliamentary constituency.

Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rattled the fight to win back another swing state, Selangor, with a list of 80 per cent new candidates which includes professionals such as lawyers, engineers, accountants and businessmen.

"This is the line-up which will redeem our defeat and return the BN as the government in Selangor," said Najib who will be defending his Pekan parliamentary home seat in Pahang.

A surprise in the BN Selangor line-up is Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, who will be fielded as a direct candidate for the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency. The 51-year-old lawyer won the Kulim Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat in Kedah on a PKR ticket in 2008 but is now an independent.

Klang Umno division deputy head Nasarruddin M Zin is fielded in Port Klang where Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim of PKR will contest this time in a change from his previous Ijok seat. Mustapa, affectionately called "Tok Pa" by Kelantan grassroots, will stand for the Air Lanas state seat in the Jeli parliamentary constituency which he will defend as well.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who remains a force in state politics, will contest in his Gua Musang parliamentary stronghold, seen as a walkover for the 76-year-old Kelantan prince, the oldest BN candidate in the reckoning.

The BN will field Che Johan Che Pa in the Pasir Mas parliamentary constituency that was won by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

In Kedah, Mukhriz is lined up for the Ayer Hitam state seat.

The one-term parliamentarian and son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among 19 new faces included to contest the 36 state seats. The BN is also fielding another seven first-timers in the fight for the 15 parliamentary constituencies at stake.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, already a two-term senator, will make his parliamentary debut in Jerai. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung will defend the Alor Star parliamentary seat.

In Johor, Muar-born Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, touted as Abdul Ghani's successor, will stand in the Permas state constituency after being an MP for the past 23 years.

Perlis will have a new menteri besar because incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu has been dropped.

Melaka too will have a new man at the helm following Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam's move to contest the Bukit Katil parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, several veterans have made way for younger leaders, among them former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop.

Umno Youth information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican will contest the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in Penang in place of Abdullah. Tasek Gelugor, also a parliamentary seat in Penang, won by Nor Mohamed in 2008 will see a new BN contender, Shabudin Yahaya.

Rais is replaced by Jelebu Umno division vice-chief Zainuddin Ismail for the parliamentary contest there. Abu Seman, a four-term MP for Masjid Tanah in Melaka, was dropped in favour of Melaka Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin. – Bernama

Busuknya hati PAS pada BN

BN tumbang Melayu makin kukuh - pakar Perlembagaan

 Kedudukan orang Melayu, bahasa kebangsaan, agama Islam dan Raja-raja Melayu akan terus kekal kukuh kerana perlembagaan telah memahat mati semua peruntukan yang berkenaan. 

Jika Pakatan perolehi majoriti dua pertiga sebanyak 148 kerusi sekalipun, ia hanya di Dewan Rakyat.

Tetapi Dewan Negara majoritinya masih senator lantikan Umno-BN yang dengan sendirinya tidak membolehkan sebarang pindaan Perlembagaan kerana syarat majoriti dua pertiga itu di kedua-dua Dewan Negara dan Dewan Rakyat. 

Ia juga memerlukan perkenan Majlis Raja-Raja berdasarkan peruntukan perlembagaan itu.

Sebab itu, tidak timbul soal Pakatan meminda atau memansuh peruntukan-peruntukan berkenaan bahkan Pakatan bakal mengukuhkannya lagi.

Inilah ulasan pakar undang-undang perlembagaan, Dr Abdul Aziz Bari yang bakal disiarkan Harakah dalam edisi Jumaatnya.

PAS tuduh BN bergolak

BN Johor bergolak, jentera Pakatan dinasihat fokus

 PAS tidak memandang rendah calon yang dikemukakan BN di Johor, biarpun percaya akan ada siri-siri bantahan daripada akar umbi, bermula di parlimen Gelang Patah, semalam.

Naib Presiden PAS, Salahuddin Ayub berkata barisan calon BN itu perlu dihadapi secara serius oleh calon Pakatan Rakyat dengan menumpukan seluruh gerak kerja semaksima mungkin.

"Walaupun tidak banyak perubahan di kalangan calon BN untuk memanaskan politik Johor, ia tetap menjadikan negeri itu sebagai salah satu negeri yang keputusannya nanti mendebarkan selepas 5 Mei," tegas Salahuddin kepada Harakahdaily, hari ini.

Apa yang penting, kata Salahuddin, kesepaduan Pakatan Rakyat Johor mesti dipertahankan bagi memberi keyakinan kepada rakyat Johor untuk memilih Pakatan Rakyat.

Beliau yang optimis tentang kesepaduan dalam BN yang semakin rapuh di negeri itu, memberi ruang kepada Pakatan Rakyat untuk menawarkan khidmat terbaik kepada pengundi di Johor.

tunggu dan liaht sahaja siapa yang akan menawan BN balik..Janji ditepati!!