From Malaysian Chinese newspapers:
Last week, Maria announced that she wasn’t joining any party and would be an independent candidate contesting under the Pakatan Harapan ticket instead. It’s difficult to fathom how any of the component parties will work for her in that odd situation, which will be nothing short of an uphill climb.
Unlike Wan Saiful, who was by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin’s side at a press conference, Maria merely revealed her decision to be a politician.
She had said on Tuesday that she would only contest in the 14th general election (GE14) if handed a parliamentary seat by Pakatan, adding that “Federal is the one that makes the decisions”.
Word is that the DAP has no plans of offering her a seat since they have sufficient candidates, the sentiment being that the party need not ride on Maria’s coattails, indicating it would only benefit her instead of the party.
PKR has remained coy, with vice-president Tian Chua politely welcoming her ambition but saying that the former Bersih 2.0 chairman’s contesting location would have to be “worked out”.
The Batu MP said that Pakatan wouldn’t have problems allocating a parliamentary seat for her to contest in, with 222 to choose from.
So, don’t expect the PKR to offer Maria a safe seat, especially with Chua insisting that her placement is just a technicality.
Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the Opposition coalition has yet to decide on her candidacy.
Perhaps she has already cut a deal she isn’t prepared to divulge publicly yet, but time is fast running out with the elections impending. For a dose of reality though, no party grassroots accept “parachute” candidates.
Of course, given that they have been toiling in their respective constituencies, they naturally expect to be fielded as candidates as just reward for their sacrifices for the party.
Poor Zaid. Poor Waytha.
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BERSIH an electoral watchdog? |
How independent is she?
Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has decided to take part in politics and be an independent candidate in the coming election. Her so-called independent candidacy has however overturned a general perception.
Traditionally, an independent candidate would choose approved symbols like umbrella, bicycle or coconut tree. But Maria wants to openly borrow PKR’s “blue-eye” party flag.
An independent candidate would make her own choice to contest in a particular constituency. But Maria cannot decide for herself. She leaves it to Pakatan headed by Mahathir. Mahathir was evasive about this.
How independent is this kind of independence? She endorses the “blue-eye” but does not want to join the party. It is exactly like modern couples staying together but do not get married. They enjoy the intimacy but keep their single status.
She has already stated all her reasons to join politics. The irony is that she wants to campaign democratization under the leadership of Mahathir. Isn’t it sounds like asking the tiger for its skin?
In the beginning, she insisted Mahathir to apologize. Later, she tried to gloss over her own stand and eventually accepted the leadership of Mahathir. How helpless is she!
Some critics have started to attack her. My view is there is no reason to attack a person just because he or she has changed lane. But one could still scrutinize her past performance before she changed lane. In other words, people can scrutinize whether she rose up because she had cheated or because she had really done an honest job.
Traditionally, an independent candidate would choose approved symbols like umbrella, bicycle or coconut tree. But Maria wants to openly borrow PKR’s “blue-eye” party flag.
An independent candidate would make her own choice to contest in a particular constituency. But Maria cannot decide for herself. She leaves it to Pakatan headed by Mahathir. Mahathir was evasive about this.
How independent is this kind of independence? She endorses the “blue-eye” but does not want to join the party. It is exactly like modern couples staying together but do not get married. They enjoy the intimacy but keep their single status.
She has already stated all her reasons to join politics. The irony is that she wants to campaign democratization under the leadership of Mahathir. Isn’t it sounds like asking the tiger for its skin?
In the beginning, she insisted Mahathir to apologize. Later, she tried to gloss over her own stand and eventually accepted the leadership of Mahathir. How helpless is she!
Some critics have started to attack her. My view is there is no reason to attack a person just because he or she has changed lane. But one could still scrutinize her past performance before she changed lane. In other words, people can scrutinize whether she rose up because she had cheated or because she had really done an honest job.
Meanwhile The Star Online published an opinion article by Wong Chun Wai (extracts):
Unlike Wan Saiful, who was by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin’s side at a press conference, Maria merely revealed her decision to be a politician.
She had said on Tuesday that she would only contest in the 14th general election (GE14) if handed a parliamentary seat by Pakatan, adding that “Federal is the one that makes the decisions”.
Word is that the DAP has no plans of offering her a seat since they have sufficient candidates, the sentiment being that the party need not ride on Maria’s coattails, indicating it would only benefit her instead of the party.
PKR has remained coy, with vice-president Tian Chua politely welcoming her ambition but saying that the former Bersih 2.0 chairman’s contesting location would have to be “worked out”.
The Batu MP said that Pakatan wouldn’t have problems allocating a parliamentary seat for her to contest in, with 222 to choose from.
So, don’t expect the PKR to offer Maria a safe seat, especially with Chua insisting that her placement is just a technicality.
Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the Opposition coalition has yet to decide on her candidacy.
Perhaps she has already cut a deal she isn’t prepared to divulge publicly yet, but time is fast running out with the elections impending. For a dose of reality though, no party grassroots accept “parachute” candidates.
Of course, given that they have been toiling in their respective constituencies, they naturally expect to be fielded as candidates as just reward for their sacrifices for the party.
