The Malaysian Insider

NOV 7 – It appears that the Opposition can win in court, but only in Round One!

Whether it is the Kampung Buah Pala case, or Nizar’s case involving the Perak crisis or Anwar’s case with regard to getting the vital evidence for his defence - that seems to be the case.

In all these instances, the High Court had shown a lot of wisdom, had taken the pain to understand the issues concerning these cases and had delivered well-reasoned judgments that were impressive and well received by the people at large.

NOV 7 — Throughout his autocratic reign, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad displayed contempt for the rule of law. Some say he was ignorant of this principle of democratic governance, confounding it with “rule by law”. His frontal assault on the judiciary in 1988 was an embarrassment for the nation so much so that his successor had to atone for this injury to “national security” 20 years later.

NOV 7 — A mere footnote at the bottom of a page of Malaysia’s political history or a tome on political change that recreated and revitalised a sick and openly corrupt society into a vibrant and prosperous democracy for all? Pakatan Rakyat must decide quickly where it wants to be.

On present showing, it has not a ghost of a chance to ever breach and occupy the still impregnable Putrajaya citadel, in spite of the credible March 8, 2008 electoral onslaught. It does not have to look far to find out why it is in such a sorry state. Lim Kit Siang’s warning of a “one-term miracle” could well become self-fulfilling and Putrajaya would be just a gleam in the eye if his words are not taken to heart.

NOV 7 — Remember those Republican boasts that they would turn health care into President Obama’s Waterloo? Well, exit polls suggest that to the extent that health care was an issue in Tuesday’s elections, it worked in Democrats’ favour. But while health care won’t be Obama’s Waterloo, economic policy is starting to look like his Anzio.

True, the elections weren’t a referendum on Obama. Most voters focused on local issues — and those who did focus on national issues tended, if anything, to go Democratic. In New Jersey, voters who considered health care the top issue went for Gov Jon Corzine by a 4-to-1 margin; Chris Christie won voters who were concerned about property taxes and corruption.

NOV 7 — Bahagian Dakwah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) dipertanggungjawabkan untuk melaksanakan pelbagai program dakwah di kalangan masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di Selangor sejak ditubuhkan 58 tahun lalu.

Bagaimanapun, sebagai sebuah negeri yang diiktiraf negeri maju pada 2005, Selangor menjadi tumpuan penduduk yang berhijrah dari negeri lain.