Malaysiakini brings you the latest election news and snippets from around the web. Findout who is up to what and where; who's saying what about who and why; and who's planning what against who and how!

Bernama

BN picks up another state seat

Barisan Nasional has won another seat unopposed - this time the state seat of Gum-Gum in Sabah when PKR’s candidate Mohaspa Hassan withdrew from the contest.

The Election Commission subsequently declared BN-Umno candidate Zakaria Edris as the winner.

With this, the ruling coalition has eight parliament seats and three state seats in the bag, giving it a total tally of 11 seats. Meanwhile, opposition PAS has one crucial Kelantan state seat under its belt.

Awang Adek’s warning to Kelantan voters

Awang Adek Hussin said Kelantan may not be able to attract part of the RM112 billion to be pumped in by foreign investors for projects under the East Coast Economic Corridor if the state continues to be led by PAS.

Instead, Terengganu and Pahang will get the investments because they have credible state governments, he said.

Awang Adek, who is Kelantan BN general election director, said that if the state government is not changed, Kelantan might just get a mention and a small portion of the investments.

Abdullah: Opposition is jealous of BN

BN head Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the coalition is being slandered by opposition parties because they are envious of its success and support of the people.

"They (opposition) make up various stories so that we are suspicious of each other which leads to chaos, quarrels and eventually we become weak," he said in Kuala Kedah today.

Star

200 quit Gerakan to join DAP in Sungai Siput

200 Gerakan members from the Kampung Veerasamy branch defected to opposition DAP today, dealing a blow to Gerakan’s campaign for the Jalong state seat in Sungai Siput, Perak.

Kampung Veerasamy branch chief Hu Hoong Choy, 49, said it was a collective decision to leave the party, citing unhappiness over the way the Sungai Siput division is being run.

EC deploys enforcement team

The Election Commission (EC) has deployed 200 teams to ensure political parties play by the rules while campaigning.

EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the Election Campaign Enforcement Teams include an EC official, a policeman with the rank of inspector or above, and representatives of the local authority, and the party or independent candidate.

"The monitoring has contributed to the peaceful conduct of election campaigns and has ensured the safety of the public who attended the rallies," he said.

PKR denies pressuring Independent to bow out

PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali has denied that de facto party leader Anwar Ibrahim had asked Independent N Periasamy to withdraw from contesting the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat where his daughter Nurul Izzah is standing.

"I have informed Anwar about this issue and I would like to reiterate that he never made such a request either directly or through the telephone as alleged," he said.

Periasamy, who is involved in a three-corner fight with Nurul Izzah and incumbent Shahrizat Abdul Jalil from BN, had reportedly been asked by Anwar to pull out of the contest.

New Straits Times

Independent MCA candidates to be sacked

Two MCA members currently contesting as Independents in two Pahang state seats will be expelled from the party, said deputy president Chan Kong Choy today.

Chan, who is also MCA disciplinary committee chairperson, said Ho Yip Kap and Koh Boon Heng are standing in the Tanah Rata and Damak state seat respectively, in a three-corner fights against MCA candidates.

“Whether they stand as Independent candidates or become proposers or seconders to opposing parties, we will definitely have to sack them,” he said.

DAP Negri Sembilan to act against ‘party hoppers’

DAP Negri Sembilan will take any candidate to court for alleged breach of trust if he or she wins a seat on the party ticket, but crosses over to another party.

State chairperson Anthony Loke Siew Fook said all candidates have signed an oath stating that they will not quit the party if they win, as they owe the party and constituents a moral obligation.

Utusan Online

PAS allows candidates to go all out

Opposition PAS has permitted its candidates to make accusations, cast aspersions and to reveal their opponents’ flaws during campaigning.

Party president Abdul Hadi Awang said it is to ensure that all potential representatives are free of any elements that might damage their leadership.