Change of Federal Govt in September ? ?

Image courtesy of Malaysiakini

1. OPPOSITION leader Anwar Ibrahim insists that a change of government will take place before mid-September, adding that the opposition-led government could be in place before Malaysia Day on Sept 16 which commemorates the establishment of the Malaysian federation. 'I stand by that date,' the former deputy prime minister told reporters yesterday.
   
   In recent days, Umno officials have privately said that as many as 17 BN Members of Parliament, mainly from the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, could defect to the opposition as early as tomorrow. Read here for more
   
   
2. SAPP (Sabah) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee has given Barisan Nasional until August to resolve the issues in Sabah.
   
   After August, there will be no guarantee that SAPP members will remain in Barisan, he said. He however said the 16 Sabah MPs, who were speculated to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, were not from SAPP.
   
   He added that this did not mean Barisan leaders should rule out the possibility that his members could leave the coalition in the near future. Yong also said the real issue in Sabah was not whether the Barisan MPs would cross over but the actual problems that Sabah had been facing.
   
   "It is the most important time for Barisan to do something for Sabah because if we do not do something, Sabah will be returned to its subservient role after August as September is the fasting month, October is the Hari Raya festivities and December is when the Umno general election will be held." Read here for more
   
   
3. SEVERAL Sabah MPs have been approached – directly or indirectly – to cross over, Batu Sapi MP Datuk Edmund Chong said. Admitting that he had been approached by PKR, the second-term MP said democracy allowed the “freedom of affiliation”. “We used to be the back-up parties that supported Barisan but now we are the ones who helped them form the government with a simple majority. And now, they are trying to show their appreciation by investigating us just because there is talk about MPs crossing over. Is this the way to thank us ?” Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric E. Majimbun asked. Read here for more
   
   
4. Describing the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah as threatening the peace and security in the state, two of its members of parliament (MP) have called on the federal government to urgently resolve the matter. They told the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday that the problem, which had been persisting for too long with no solution in sight, had become the main worries among the people.Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN-Keningau) likened the problem to a time bomb which could create serious implication if there were no serious steps taken to tackle the menace. Read here for more
   
   
5. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has managed to head off a possible crossover of Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs to the Opposition by meeting key political players from the East Malaysian state. The Malaysian Insider has learnt that the Prime Minister had discussions over the past 24 hours with Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and several other Sabah politicians to assure them that the administration was serious about developing the state and addressing their concerns over the lack of recognition for BN politicians from Sabah. Read here for more
   
   
6. If Umno wants to save Barisan Nasional, it has to stop its tai ko (big brother) stance, especially with component parties in Sabah and Sarawak, said an academic based in Kuching. The two states, especially Sabah, have been trying to get federal attention to problems associated with illegal immigrants, who are deemed to pose a serious threat to security, welfare and livelihood of the local people.
   
   The academic, who declined to be named, said increasingly critical parliamentarians from Sabah have raised valid demands, but “federal leaders appear not to be interested”. He warned thatpolitical allegiance could shift any time if this continues.
   
   Kalabakan MP Abdul Ghapur Salleh (right), a former Sabah deputy chief minister, said yesterday that state leaders would have no qualms about switching parties - although not immediately to Pakatan Rakyat - or forming a new party in the interim.Abdul Ghafur had questioned why certain states - including Perak which the BN lost to Pakatan - have more representatives in the federal cabinet. Read here for more
   
   
7. An UMNO/BN backbencher tells his counterparts from Sabah and Sarawak to stop complaining over their lack of representation in the cabinet. Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) criticised Sabah and Sarawak BN MPs who complained about the relative lack of representation in the cabinet as being ungrateful and unable to appreciate their blessings. He said it is unrealistic for any states to expect ministerial representation at the federal level to always reflect seats obtained in Parliament.
   
   "Do not be arrogant. Do not be proud. Just because we are comfortable does not mean we can speak as we want ... We cannot talk according to our whims. There must be some limits," he said. Read here for more
   
   
8. Speculation is rife that a number of Sabah MPs are close to crossing over to the Pakatan Rakyat. Anwar Ibrahim would want to wait until he has more than 30 MPs in his pocket before moving to unseat the BN government.
   
   There is now a real possibility that the process might get started with several – perhaps 15 to 20 – Sabah MPs announcing their decision to join Pakatan. The strategic purpose of such a move is to start a domino effect that begins with the Sabah MPs and then cascades over to Sarawak and finally to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia.
   
   If crossovers are to occur, they would likely start in Sabah rather than in Sarawak. The loyalty of Umno leaders in Sabah is not as unshakeable as those in Peninsular Malaysia. Umno Sabah was formed after PBS left BN just prior to the 1990 general election. Indeed, Anwar was instrumental in setting up Umno Sabah and he still has some influence over there.It's worth noting that Anifah Aman (Umno - Kimanis), who rejected the position of deputy transport minister, has made thinly-veiled remarks on changing sides. Read here for more
   
   
9. PKR’s sole elected representative in the Sarawak legislative assembly has asked Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons and MPs to join the ranks of Pakatan Rakyat “to fulfill the phenomenal expectations of the people after the March 8 general election”.
   
   Dominique Ng Kim Ho (PKR-Padungan), who is also Sarawak PKR chairperson said the defining moment had come to realise what he called "the dimensions and meaning of Merdeka in Malaysia after decades of hardship and unjust subservience". "You can help raise Sarawak to the centre stage in our nation, to a respected position in the Asean region and even beyond,” he told the ruling state BN’s 61 representatives, including ministers and assistant Read here for more
   
   
10. Dr Mahathir Mohamad thinks there is a possibility of disgruntled Barisan Nasional MPs, in particular those from Sabah and Sarawak, joining the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to form the next federal government. The former prime minister today warned BN that the matter could not be taken lightly as another round of bad showing at the next general election would spell doom for the coalition.
    
    "The urge to cross over, especially when there is no inherent loyalty to the party, is very strong. It can really happen. At first I wanted to dismiss this possibility. But in studying the situation, I feel there is great danger," Mahathir told reporters today. Firstly, the vocal government critic said that there are MPs willing to cross over to Pakatan if there is something to gain such as positions and other benefits. Read here for more
    
    
11. The Umno leadership can avert crossovers of party members and those from Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Rakyat if it provides firm and definite leadership and direction, said former Umno vice-president and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
    
    Reiterating a statement made previously that the issue of party-hopping should not be viewed or treated lightly, the Umno veteran added that it would create a "situation of instability". Read here for more
    
    
12. Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim has defended the morality of inviting Barisan Nasional representatives to form the next federal government.
    
    "Those who understand the situation and realise that this (new government) could bring goodness, give their support. They are not only talking about benefits to the Malays. What kind of morals do we talk about when Hindu temples are destroyed without reason?”
    
    He said that morals and ethics must be consistent and should not be limited to certain races. The issue, he said, is not about crossing over but about the basis for such a major change being made. Read here for more