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Barisan Nasional

This tag is associated with 9 posts

GE13 a war of symbols and slogans

By Ooi Kee Beng | 9:49AM May 2, 2013 For Malaysiakini.com These critical days, if one reads – and believes – the Malaysian mainstream media, which seem to have thrown off all pretense of being anything other than BN propaganda machines, one must draw the conclusion that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s presidential style election … Continue reading

The Deuce Position and Najib’s Incumbency Advantage

By Ooi Kee Beng [This article was first published in The Edge Malaysia, Nov 26-Dec 2 issue] THE coming into being of a steady two-party system in Malaysia is often thought of as a necessary step in democratic development. But we have to remind ourselves that the process itself, the detailed dynamics of that transformation, … Continue reading

ISA repeal: Najib should push ahead

By Ooi Kee Beng For TODAY, 17 Sept 2011 MALAYSIAN Premier Najib Abdul Razak’s sudden announcement on Thursday night that he would very soon be repealing several unpopular laws, including the Internal Security Act (ISA) of 1960, should have won him praise from most quarters. But it did not. Instead, a general wait-and-see sense of … Continue reading

UMNO turning right leads BN downhill

by Ooi Kee Beng For TODAY, 2 Sept 2011 On July 9, the streets of Kuala Lumpur played host to animated engagements between demonstrators and the police. Bersih 2.0, which started out as a simple and hesitant attempt to revive public interest in electoral reforms, became a huge demonstration that captured the imagination of many … Continue reading

Bersih 2.0 is Najib’s biggest challenge

The planned July 9 rally will be a deciding point for Malaysia  By Ooi Kee Beng for TODAY │ 4 July 2011 AS JULY 9 looms closer, the administration of Malaysia’s Premier Najib Abdul  Razak feels itself more and more pushed into a corner. This coming Saturday threatens to be a day of reckoning for … Continue reading

‘Right wing’ Umno won’t tango with Najib

By Tarani Palani, for Free Malaysia Today, May 14, 2011 Utusan Malaysia’s contentious headline is a ‘ploy’ by right wingers within Umno for Najib Tun Razak to take a hardline stand on Malay issue, says a political analyst. PETALING  JAYA: The latest Christian Malaysia controversy propagated by Malay  daily, Utusan Malaysia, whilst merely a “wayang” involving … Continue reading

Now’s not the time for Najib to call a GE

THE results of the Sarawak state elections last weekend were extraordinary in the sense that one cannot strictly say that they were expected. Nor can one claim that they were unexpected. This in truth reflects how uncertain things seemed during the 10 days of campaigning. Wishful thinking mixed freely with insider information, and strategic statements … Continue reading

BN feels the Sarawak heat

JUDGING from recent events, the ruling coalition in the Malaysian state of Sarawak is feeling very unsure of its ability to retain its two-third majority in tomorrow’s state election. Not only are the rallies of the Barisan Nasional (BN) not drawing the crowds, its candidates are failing to excite voters except through offers of money … Continue reading

Ghosts of Compromises Past – Malaysia and the Limits of Change

Trends in Southeast Asia Series: 9(2005), ISEAS, Singapore AT A DINNER given in his honour held on 31 October 2004 by the Mentri Besar of Perak state exactly one year after Abdullah Badawi became Malaysia’s Prime Minister, the new leader optimistically stated that he expected to reap greater success during his second year in office. … Continue reading