The Big Read: Voters not swayed by racial politics in Malaysian GE, but how long will that last?
By Kenneth Cheng, EILEEN NG and FARIS MOKHTAR in Kuala Lumpur
13 May, 2018
KUALA LUMPUR — For years, the issue of race has dominated Malaysian politics, with Malays —particularly those in the rural areas — tending to vote for the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and its Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which have long positioned themselves as the defender of Malay rights and supremacy.
But this week’s historic polls have turned things on their head.
Up in arms over the escalating cost of living, a burdensome Goods and Services Tax (GST) and an out-of-touch government mired in corruption scandals, the crucial Malay vote bank looked past race to end BN’s six-decade rule of the country.
[It's not that they looked past race that is remarkable. It is that it took them so long to overlook corruption before it was untenable.]
Monday, May 28, 2018
Sunday, May 27, 2018
ElderShield to be renamed CareShield Life with higher, lifetime payouts from 2020
By Louisa Tang
27 May, 2018
SINGAPORE — The enhanced ElderShield insurance scheme will be renamed CareShield Life from 2020, and will dole out higher and lifetime payouts to severely disabled Singapore residents — up from a cap of six years.
Unlike the existing opt-out ElderShield scheme, enrollment in CareShield Life will be compulsory. The first cohort to be enrolled are citizens and permanent residents aged between 30 and 40 in 2020, with all subsequent cohorts automatically enrolled once they reach 30 years old.
Those born before 1980 can opt to join the scheme from 2021.
The Government, which on Sunday (May 27) accepted the committee's full set of recommendations, has pledged to help lower- to middle-income residents by providing them with means-tested premium subsidies of up to 30 per cent.
27 May, 2018
SINGAPORE — The enhanced ElderShield insurance scheme will be renamed CareShield Life from 2020, and will dole out higher and lifetime payouts to severely disabled Singapore residents — up from a cap of six years.
Unlike the existing opt-out ElderShield scheme, enrollment in CareShield Life will be compulsory. The first cohort to be enrolled are citizens and permanent residents aged between 30 and 40 in 2020, with all subsequent cohorts automatically enrolled once they reach 30 years old.
Those born before 1980 can opt to join the scheme from 2021.
The Government, which on Sunday (May 27) accepted the committee's full set of recommendations, has pledged to help lower- to middle-income residents by providing them with means-tested premium subsidies of up to 30 per cent.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Commentary: Malaysia reborn? Does GE14 spell an end to racial politics?
Many had predicted a Malay tsunami would rise up against the ruling party but what happened instead was a tsunami rakyat, where voters voted with economic concerns in mind, says ISEAS-Yusof Ishak’s Serina Rahman.
Serina Rahman
10 May 2018
SINGAPORE: Malaysia woke up this morning to a new dawn. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost their 61-year hold on government and Mahathir Mohamad, now the prime ministerial candidate for the Pakatan Harapan coalition, is poised to be sworn into power after a 15-year hiatus.
Prior to Polling Day, the term of the moment was “Malay tsunami” – the prediction that rural Malays will swing to Pakatan Harapan to dethrone the incumbent government.
What happened instead was a “tsunami rakyat”: A citizen’s tsunami.
Serina Rahman
10 May 2018
SINGAPORE: Malaysia woke up this morning to a new dawn. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost their 61-year hold on government and Mahathir Mohamad, now the prime ministerial candidate for the Pakatan Harapan coalition, is poised to be sworn into power after a 15-year hiatus.
Prior to Polling Day, the term of the moment was “Malay tsunami” – the prediction that rural Malays will swing to Pakatan Harapan to dethrone the incumbent government.
What happened instead was a “tsunami rakyat”: A citizen’s tsunami.
MP suggests changing valuation method for ageing flats to raise demand
By Chen Lin
15 May, 2018
SINGAPORE — With owners of older HDB flats worried about the value of their homes as their leases shorten, Ms Cheryl Chan, Member of Parliament for Fengshan constituency, proposed taking a “multi-prong” approach to help sellers and buyers by changing the valuation method for ageing units and extending the lease for flats in mature towns of selected precincts.
To further help Singaporeans put a roof over their heads, she also proposed reassessing the property loan structure and allowing selected older flats to be leased directly from the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
15 May, 2018
SINGAPORE — With owners of older HDB flats worried about the value of their homes as their leases shorten, Ms Cheryl Chan, Member of Parliament for Fengshan constituency, proposed taking a “multi-prong” approach to help sellers and buyers by changing the valuation method for ageing units and extending the lease for flats in mature towns of selected precincts.
To further help Singaporeans put a roof over their heads, she also proposed reassessing the property loan structure and allowing selected older flats to be leased directly from the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
Monday, May 14, 2018
Commentary: Malaysia’s new leadership line-up strengthens Mahathir’s hand
Mahathir Mohamad named three Cabinet ministers and announced the establishment of a Council of Elders on Saturday (May 12), in a move that strengthens his position within the Pakatan Harapan coalition, says one observer.
By Tricia Yeoh
14 May 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wasted no time in getting to work after the 14th general election concluded with the country’s first ever change in government.
By Tricia Yeoh
14 May 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wasted no time in getting to work after the 14th general election concluded with the country’s first ever change in government.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
With Anwar’s pardon, will ‘Mahathir’ prophecy come true?
REUTERS
New Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 11, 2018.
11 May, 2018
PETALING JAYA — The ‘Rahman’ prophecy was an amusing, albeit unconventional, way for Malaysians to predict the country’s first six prime ministers.
For the uninitiated, the legend started circulating around the 1960s and 1970s and predicted that each letter in the word ‘Rahman’ represents the name of Malaysia’s prime ministers: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Abdul Razak Hussein, Hussein Onn, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak.
Some believe the prophecy would mean the end of Umno.
With the Najib administration’s defeat in the 14th general election (GE14), many believed the Rahman prophecy was fulfilled.
PETALING JAYA — The ‘Rahman’ prophecy was an amusing, albeit unconventional, way for Malaysians to predict the country’s first six prime ministers.
For the uninitiated, the legend started circulating around the 1960s and 1970s and predicted that each letter in the word ‘Rahman’ represents the name of Malaysia’s prime ministers: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Abdul Razak Hussein, Hussein Onn, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak.
Some believe the prophecy would mean the end of Umno.
With the Najib administration’s defeat in the 14th general election (GE14), many believed the Rahman prophecy was fulfilled.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Commentary: Pakatan Harapan’s successful campaign strategy, informed by data, powered by people
Data highlighting Malaysians’ key concerns helped the Pakatan Harapan connect with voters and formulate a winning strategy in Malaysia’s 14th General Election, says Khor Yu Leng.
By Khor Yu Leng
11 May 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: News of an extraordinary political upset for Barisan Nasional came through slowly after polls for Malaysia’s 14th General Election (GE14) closed.
Mahathir Mohamad, leader of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, claimed victory for Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, under whose flag the Pakatan Harapan coalition parties contested under.
Where many have called the win a “shock victory”, in fact, there were early signs of voter concerns that Pakatan paid close attention to and worked hard at addressing to gain the electoral advantage.
By Khor Yu Leng
11 May 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: News of an extraordinary political upset for Barisan Nasional came through slowly after polls for Malaysia’s 14th General Election (GE14) closed.
Mahathir Mohamad, leader of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, claimed victory for Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, under whose flag the Pakatan Harapan coalition parties contested under.
Where many have called the win a “shock victory”, in fact, there were early signs of voter concerns that Pakatan paid close attention to and worked hard at addressing to gain the electoral advantage.
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