'Opposition could take Putrajaya in GE13 if...'
Abdul Rahim SabriPublished: Feb 19, 2013 9:52 AM | Updated: Feb 19, 2013 12:46 PM
Pakatan Rakyat stands a chance of winning the 13th general election if its component parties cooperate with each other, said Harakahdaily editor Zulkifli Sulong.
Pakatan Rakyat stands a chance of winning the 13th general election if its component parties cooperate with each other, said Harakahdaily editor Zulkifli Sulong.
This is because BN had lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority in 2008, and with this, the power to redelineate constituencies in its favour for the next polls.
“Without this magic bullet (in BN’s armoury), I am confident that Pakatan has a good chance (of winning), but with the caveat that PAS, PKR and DAP can convince the people,” he said.
He was speaking at a forum themed ‘BN and Pakatan Rakyat Hopes in the 13th General Election’, held at Universiti Malaya today.
“It is the only condition the rakyat have (indicated) to me, which is cooperation. They don’t want to throw their lot in with leaders who fight with one another.”
He explained that gerrymandering in 2003 had been a factor in PAS’ downfall in Terengganu and its slim victory in Kelantan in 2004.
Since BN is deprived of this advantage, it will have to “fight with whatever is at hand”.
He cited the fact that three persons who were once close to BN had later approached Pakatan, saying this could be seen as a show of confidence.
He was referring to media conglomerate MRCB former chairperson Abdul Rahman Maidin, former deputy minister Yahya Lampong, and businessperson Deepak Jaikishan.
Malaysiakini’s position
Malaysiakini chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said the editorial staff are ‘concerned’ that the news portal could become irrelevant if democratic freedoms are extended after the election.
For this reason, he said, there is a need to extend the portal’s presence beyond cyberspace.
While welcoming democracy, Fathi quipped that he would be among those who would be unhappy in event of a Pakatan victory, as Malaysiakini could anticipate stiff competition in an environment where there is press freedom.
“Imagine if TV3 were to broadcast an event like the People’s Uprising Rally ‘live’ from Stadium Merdeka - Malaysiakini would be finished, given that its journalists would require time to post their reports,” he said tongue in cheek.
He was responding to a question from the floor on the political landscape and implications to the media after the 13th general election.
This is because BN had lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority in 2008, and with this, the power to redelineate constituencies in its favour for the next polls.
“Without this magic bullet (in BN’s armoury), I am confident that Pakatan has a good chance (of winning), but with the caveat that PAS, PKR and DAP can convince the people,” he said.He was speaking at a forum themed ‘BN and Pakatan Rakyat Hopes in the 13th General Election’, held at Universiti Malaya today.
“It is the only condition the rakyat have (indicated) to me, which is cooperation. They don’t want to throw their lot in with leaders who fight with one another.”
He explained that gerrymandering in 2003 had been a factor in PAS’ downfall in Terengganu and its slim victory in Kelantan in 2004.
Since BN is deprived of this advantage, it will have to “fight with whatever is at hand”.
He cited the fact that three persons who were once close to BN had later approached Pakatan, saying this could be seen as a show of confidence.
He was referring to media conglomerate MRCB former chairperson Abdul Rahman Maidin, former deputy minister Yahya Lampong, and businessperson Deepak Jaikishan.
Malaysiakini’s position
Malaysiakini chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said the editorial staff are ‘concerned’ that the news portal could become irrelevant if democratic freedoms are extended after the election.
For this reason, he said, there is a need to extend the portal’s presence beyond cyberspace.While welcoming democracy, Fathi quipped that he would be among those who would be unhappy in event of a Pakatan victory, as Malaysiakini could anticipate stiff competition in an environment where there is press freedom.
“Imagine if TV3 were to broadcast an event like the People’s Uprising Rally ‘live’ from Stadium Merdeka - Malaysiakini would be finished, given that its journalists would require time to post their reports,” he said tongue in cheek.
He was responding to a question from the floor on the political landscape and implications to the media after the 13th general election.
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