Election Fever in Thailand

This is certainly a year of elections ...  I was in Bangkok for work this past week and witnessed political campaigning in full swing on the streets of the capital city. The Thais go to the polls on Sunday 3rd July 2011, and I think it'll be another exciting one to watch. We've all heard about the shenanigans of the red shirts and the yellow shirts, the huge protests in the heart of Bangkok, as well as the forced closures of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. One wonders what will happen after the election results are known this time.

The two key parties are the Democratic party, led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, the sitting Prime Minister, who some ladies think is handsome, and the Pheu Thai party, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who some guys think is hot (I'm referring to Yingluck, not Thaksin!)

Anyway, here's a sample of the posters I saw on the streets.

Pheu Thai party's poster with Yingluck Shinawatra on the right

Democratic party, with Abhisit Vejjajiva on the right

 Can't remember the name of this smaller party ... will check later

Sometimes it is quite easy to spot which politician some people don't like ...

Horny politicians take on a different meaning here

This is your Political Jaga, signing off from the streets of Bangkok ...

Actually not really, I'm back home as of last evening :-)

Singapore Goes To The Polls

Today is Polling Day in Singapore. The polling stations close at 8pm, barely an hour away. By late this evening we should know the results - how many did the PAP win? How did the Opposition do? All constituencies are being contested except for one - Tajong Pagar, a Group Representation Constituency (GRC), helmed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, which saw a walkover.

Here's a scorecard for you to more easily track who's contesting where ...

Many have noted that this General Election has seen the most aggressive campaigning by the opposition parties. There are a number of veteran Opposition leaders as well as new faces which have gained renewed prominence during this election period.

Here's an interesting set of posters I got which reflect the personalities in very creative poses ...

Well, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled this evening, watching the election results as they unfold. Will further update this posting later.

Bye for now ...

The Day After

Well, as you might have heard from the news, the PAP won all the constituencies except two. In Hougang (a single member constituency), the Worker's Party candidate Yaw Shin Leong won (64.8% vs the PAP's 35.2% of votes). Most significantly, in Aljunied (group representation constituency), the Worker's Party led by Low Thia Kiang won (54.7% vs PAP's 45.3% of votes). The WP team comprised Low, Sylvia Lim (another firebrand of a lady!), Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh and Faisal Abdul. So for the first time in Singapore's political history, there will be 6 Opposition members in Parliament. Let the fun begin ...

For other reading on the Election results, check out the New York Times or Yahoo News Singapore or The Straits Times article or this other Straits Times article or even Nicole Seah's post-election message ...


FULL RESULTS

This is from the Sunday Times on 8th May 2011 ...

In case you cannot read the info on the newspaper page clearly, here are the official results of Singapore's 2011 General Election (accurate as of 4am on Sunday 8th May 2011). Postal votes may change the numbers a bit, but are not expected to make a difference to the final results in any constituency ...

Bukit Panjang SMC 

PAP's Teo Ho Pin - 20,349 votes (winner)

SDP's Alec Tok - 10,362 votes

Hong Kah North SMC

PAP's Amy Khor Lean Suan - 18,149 (winner)

SPP's Sin Kek Tong - 7,553

Hougang SMC

WP's Yaw Shin Leong - 14,833 (winner)

PAP's Desmond Choo Pey Ching - 8,053

Joo Chiat SMC

PAP's Charles Chong You Fook - 9,630 (winner)

WP's Yee Jenn Jong - 9,248

Mountbatten SMC 

PAP's Lim Biow Chuan - 11,965 (winner)

NSP's Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss - 8,436

Pioneer SMC

PAP's Cedric Foo Chee Keng - 14,581 (winner)

NSP's Steve Chia - 9,430

Potong Pasir SMC 

PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin - 7,973 (winner)

SPP's Lina Loh Woon Lee - 7,859

Punggol East SMC

PAP's Michael Palmer - 16,969 (winner)

WP's Lee Li Lian - 12,765

SDA's Desmond Lim Bak Chuan - 1,386

Radin Mas SMC

PAP's Sam Tan Chin Siong - 18,591 (winner)

NSP's Yip Yew Weng - 9,110

Sengkang West SMC

PAP's Lam Pin Min - 14,667 (winner)

WP's Koh Choong Yong - 10,585

Whampoa SMC

PAP's Heng Chee How - 13,015 (winner)

NSP's Ken Sun - 6,672

Yuhua SMC

PAP's Grace Fu Hai Yien - 14,081 (winner)

SDP's Teo Soh Lung - 6,977

Aljunied GRC (5 seats)

WP's Chen Show Mao, Sylvia Lim, Low Thia Khiang, Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap, Pritam Singh - 72,165 (winners)

PAP's Lim Hwee Hua, Ong Ye Kung, Cynthia Phua, George Yong-Boon Yeo, Zainul Abidin Rasheed - 59,732

Ang Mo Kio GRC (6 seats)

PAP's Ang Hin Kee, Inderjit Singh, Intan Azura Binte Mokhtar, Lee Hsien Loong, Seng Han Thong, Yeo Guat Kwang - 112,544 (winners)

RP's Lim Tung Hee Arthero, Lim Zirui, Mohamed Mansor Bin Abdul Rahman, Osman Bin Sulaiman, Tan Zhi Xiang - 49,779

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC (5 seats)

PAP's Hri Kumar Nair, Ng Eng Hen, Josephine Teo, Wong Kan Seng, Zainudin Nordin - 62,282 (winners)

SPP's Chiam See Tong, Lee Yeong Wee, Wilfred Leung, Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, Benjamin Pwee - 47,092

Chua Chu Kang GRC

PAP's Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Alex Yam Ziming, Yeo Khirn Hai Alvin, Zaqy Bin Mohamad - 89,605 (winners)

NSP's Jeisilan Sivalingam, Nor Lella Mardiiah Bte Mohamed, Hazel Poa Koon Koon, Tony Tan Lay Thiam, Sebastian Teo Kway Huang - 56,817

East Coast GRC (5 seats)

PAP's Lee Yi Shyan, Lim Siang Keat Raymond, Lim Swee Say, Mohd Maliki Bin Osman, Tan Soon Neo Jessica - 59,895 (winners)

WP's Gerald Giam Yean Song, Glenda Han Su May, Mohamed Fazli Bin Talip, Png Eng Huat, Eric Tan Heng Chong - 49342

Holland-Bukit Timah (4 seats)

PAP's Christopher James de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa, Sim Ann, Vivian Balakrishnan - 48,682 (winners)

SDP's Ang Yong Guan, Michelle Lee Juen, Tan Jee Say, Vincent Rene Wijeysingha - 32,322

Jurong (5 seats)

PAP's Ang Wei Neng, Halimah Binte Yacob, Desmond Lee Ti-Seng, ong Kim Huat, Tharman Shanmugaratnam - 76,489 (winners)

NSP's Abdul Rasheed, Christopher Neo Ting Wei, Noraini Yunus, Ong Beng Soon Elvin, ong Hock Siong - 37,734

Marine Parade GRC (5 seats)

PAP's Fatimah Binte Abdul Lateef, Goh Chok Tong, Seah Kian Peng, Tan Chuan-Jin, Tin Pei Ling - 78,182 (winners)

NSP's Abdul Salim Bin Harun, Cheo Chai Chen, Ng Chung Hon, Nicole Rebecca Seah Xue Ling, yeo Tiong Boon - 59,833

Moulmein-Kallang GRC (4 seats)

PAP's Yaacob Bin Ibrahim, Lui Tuck Yew, Denise Phua Lay Peng, Edwin Tong Chun Fai - 44,828 (winners)

WP's Mohd Rahizan Bin Ya'acob, Toh Hong Boon, L Somasundaram, Frieda Chan Sio Phing - 31,721

Nee Soon GRC (5 seats)

PAP's K Shanmugam, Lee Bee Wah, Lim Wee Kiak, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Patrick Tay Teck Guan - 80,659 (winners)

WP's Chong Cham Weng, Angela Oon Kheng Faye, Poh Lee Guan, Sajeev S/O Kunju Raman Kamalasanan, Yam Poh Nam - 57,482

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

PAP's Gan Thiam Poh, Janil Arusha puthucheary, Penny Low, Teo Chee Hean, Teo Ser Luck, Zainal Bin Sapari - 100,382 (winnesr)

SDA's Harminder Pal Singh, lee Song Juan, Jeffrey Lim, Mohd Shafni, Sidney Soon, Tan Keng Hong - 54,546

Sembawang GRC (5 seats)

PAP's Hawazi Daipi, Khaw Boon Wan, Ellen Lee Geck Hoon, Ong Teng Koon, Vikram Nair - 84,185 (winners)

SDP's James Gomez, Luo Jie Jarrod, Mohd Isa, Sadasivam V, John Tan Liang Joo - 47,578

Tampines GRC (5 seats)

PAP's Baey Yam Keng, Heng Swee Keat, Mah Bow Tan, Masagos Zulkifli BMM, Irene Ng Phek Hoong - 72,664 (winner)

NSP's Fong Chin Leong, Goh Keow Wah, Goh Meng Seng, Raymond Lim Peng Ann, Syafarin Bin Sarif - 54,337

Tanjong Pagar (5 seats)

PAP's Chan Chun sing, Chia Shi-lu, Indranee Thurai Rajah, Lee Kuan Yew, Lily Tirtasana Neo - uncontested (winners)

West Coast (5 seats)

PAP's Arthur Fong, Foo Mee Har, Lim Hng Kiang, S Iswaran, Lawrence Wong - 72,465 (winners)

RP's Ho Soak Harn, Kenneth Andrew Jeyaretnam, Kumar S/O Appavoo, Low Chiak Huan, Zhu Laicheng - 36,395

Election Fever in Sarawak (Part 5)

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By now, most of you would know the results of the Sarawak Elections. As one newspaper headlined the situation, "BN Wins Sarawak, But Grip Loosens". Yes, I think that about sums it up.

Here's an analysis table of the final situation...

Of course, the numeric figures can never fully capture the thrill and emotion of the Election campaign. For that, you have to look at photos. Here are a few shots that, to me at least, capture the essence of the Electoral outcome.

Depressed

Upbeat

Sworn in

Election Fever in Sarawak (Part 4)

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IT HAS BEGUN !

Polling stations opened across Sarawak at 8am for the state’s 10th election

Voters trickled into stations here which will remain open until 5pm. A total of 979,796 voters are eligible to cast ballots at the 1,749 centres across the state after a 10-day campaign period.

More than 200 candidates are vying for 71 seats in the state assembly. For the first time ever, all constituencies are being contested. In this election, 27 seats will see straight fights, 23 will have three-cornered contests, 17 four-cornered fights, 2 five-cornered contests and another 2 where six are contesting.


Political analysts say a clear victory in the Sarawak contest for Najib could lead to snap national polls being called this year even though they do not need to be held until mid-2013. Najib is attempting to woo Sarawak's voters following unprecedented gains made by the opposition at the national level in 2008 in which it won a third of parliamentary seats. Those results forced Najib's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down


If you are voting or have photos of the voting scene in Kuching today, please do send them to me at jslyong@hotmail.com or +6596678155 for sharing on this blog.




Random Scenes from Polling Day

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Pic 4

Pic 5

Pic 6

Election Fever in Sarawak (Part 3)

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It's two days before Polling Day on 16 April. Both PM Najib and Karpal Singh are in Miri. Thanks to LS for the ongoing coverage from Miri ...

About 3000 attended PM Najib's ceramah

One of the incentives perhaps

I hear there's food provided too ...

Here's the close-up of the food packs. Hmmm, not exactly gourmet dishes ...

There was even a Lucky Draw

*** MISSED OUT BY MISTAKE.***

Less than 1 km away, Karpal arrives to thunderous cheers

He attracted a crowd exceeding 8000.

*** PREVIOUSLY OMITTED PHOTO ABOVE ***

Less than 1 km away Karpal arrives to thunderous cheers.

He attracted an 8000 person crowd.

A closer look at the man

Karpal took to the stage as rain drops started falling.

Some people left, but not many.

Umbrellas came up for those who came prepared,

while others braved the rain to hear Karpal.

Back to PM Najib's side, where most have already left

An interesting evening indeed.

Election Fever in Sarawak (Part 2)

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Yesterday the Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) unveiled a 10-point manifesto for Sarawakians aimed at restoring the state's wealth to the people and bringing them abreast with the rest of the world. This posting reproduces the manifesto in full, in case any of you have not yet read it.


However, I should point out that this blog is not meant to give special support to any particular party. It simply reports the facts. If anyone sends me the equivalent manifestos of BN or other parties, I will also post them. It's always good to compare manifestos, as well as compare party promises to the reality on the ground.

1. FREEDOM OF BELIEF

WE GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF RELIGION as enshrined in the Federal Constitution without any form of hindrances and make no discrimination in assistance and allocations to a particular belief or religion and in the process maintain the status of Sarawak as a secular State.

2. GOOD GOVERNANCE

WE PROMISE GOOD GOVERNANCE premised on proven international principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT),which will create and promote a clean administration of the State’s welfare, equal business opportunities, and bring back national pride, patriotism and self esteem in the public sector.

WE PLEDGE A FAIR DISTRIBUTION of the State’s wealth and riches, endeavoring to end the practice of favouritism, corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

WE PROMISE TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY to investigate the allegations of ill-gotten wealth of BN politicians and their cronies, to ensure the due process of law and prosecution and to return the wealth to the people of Sarawak.

WE PROMISE to establish an Ombudsman to receive complaints from the public against corruption and power abuse by Government Ministers and heads of departments.

WE PLEDGE TO RESTORE local government elections for all local authorities including the adatruaiand/or custom of choosing the Village Leaders or Ketua Masyarakat in order to return power to the people at all levels.

3. LAND REFORM & NATIVE LAND COMMISSION

all expiring leases will be unconditionally renewed for 99 years; all s47 notifications will automatically lapse after 2 years of gazettal; all in perpetuity and 999-year leases will remain when land is approved for development; land alienation will be carried out through open tenders; and a Native Land Commission shall be formed having the power to investigate all Native Customary Rights land claims, and thereafter to survey and issue grant or leases to such lands in accordance with the adat or customs of the natives of Sarawak.

4. ERADICATION OF POVERTY

WE PROMISE to set up a RM1 billion State Poverty Alleviation Fund to ensure that no family in Sarawak lives below the official poverty line.

WE PLEDGE TO KICK-START THE RURAL ECONOMY by the construction of roads connecting all the rural areas of Sarawak that will quicken the provision and construction of public amenities including schools, kindergartens, medical services and telecommunications.

WE ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE agricultural entrepreneurship, like small holdings through micro-financing to all farmers.

Berubahlah! Vote for a NEW Sarawak!

5. FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS

WE PLEDGE to maintain good federal state relations in line with the spirit of the Malaysian Agreement 1963, and to ensure that any marginalization, neglect and omission on the 18 points be addressed immediately.

Confident that Pakatan Rakyat will take over the federal government WE GUARANTEE to increase the petroleum royalty from the present 5% to 20%.

WE BELIEVE that priority in employment opportunities in the public service of Sarawak should be given to Sarawakians.

6. GREENER SARAWAK

WE WILLENSURE the observance and implementation of State and International laws and/or conventions on the environmentfor the benefit of future generations of Sarawakians.

WE WILL STOP the constructions of excess dams.

WE FORBID the construction of nuclear powered plants in Sarawak.

7. A FAIR DEAL FOR ALL SARAWAKIANS

WE ARE COMMITTED to support stable economic growth, sustainable development and a fairer distribution of income and wealth based on hard work, competitiveness and technological innovation.

WE ENDEAVOUR to remain investor friendly, emphasizing long term investment in human capital by offering financial incentives to all industries to upgrade the technical skills of their employees as well as their production processes.

WE PROMISE the immediate registration of stateless Sarawakians and the unconditional granting of citizenship papers to all Malaysians of Sarawak origin.

WE PLEDGE a grant of RM200-00 for every child of Sarawak origin who begins primary one education.

In appreciation of their contribution to the State, WE PROMISE to give all Sarawakians above 60 years of age who are residents in the State annual welfare assistance of RM600-00 and to set up community support systems within every local government authority for their continued well-being.

8. CULTURE AND EDUCATION

WE RESPECT the constitutional rights of all ethnic groups to learn their mother tongues and to treat all mother tongue education equally.

WE PLEDGE that all schools regardless of background will be given systematic allocations according to needs as is practised in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan so that our children can have a bright future.

WE EMPHASIZE that Science and Mathematics subjects in secondary schools must be taught in the English language.

9. RIGHTS of WOMEN’S & THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

WE GUARANTEE gender equality and will REVIEW all laws that are discriminatory against women.

WE PLEDGE to establish women’s aid centres to shelter women suffering from violence and child care services to reduce the financial and psychological burden of working mothers.

WE PLEDGE to set up more special schools for children with special needs.

WE IMPLEMENT measures to employ those with disabilities and PROMISE incentives to  employers who employ them.

10. INVESTMENT INTO THE FUTURE

WE PROMISE to tackle the flood problems in Sarawak in 2 years.

WE EMPHASIZE in long term investment in human capital and infrastructure to make Sarawak a great economy.

WIFI will be provided free to move Sarawak into a knowledge state.