2008 elections : the day after
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 09, 2008

A day after the shocking results of the nation’s 12th general election, political parties - winners and losers alike - will have to pick up the pieces to continue with their tasks. Here we list some of the happenings, fallouts and new beginnings. MCPX

Ku Li: Let’s face the truth

Umno strongman and Gua Musang member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today said that the heavy losses suffered by BN yesterday puts into question the coalition’s and Umno’s legitimacy and strength.

“We now face a period of uncertainty such as we have never experienced before,” he said in a statement.

He said that the BN has been defeated and shamed on a scale without precedent in the coalition’s history

“Alongside losing our two-thirds majority in Parliament, we have lost a record number of states to the Opposition, including the premier state  and the home state of the Prime Minister,” he added.

“BN and Umno's legitimacy and strength have been the bedrock of national unity and of Malaysia's successful development since Independence. All this is now in question.”

“We have won enough seats to form a federal government by simple majority, but because of our losses, including our stunning defeat in the Malay heartland states of Kedah and Kelantan, people are now saying that Umno has lost its legitimacy to represent the Malays.

He added that the other BN component parties have already lost their leadership role as representatives of the other major races of this country.

“This is a historic crisis, and we must face it without further denial, self-deception or media spin.

“To begin immediately the process of restoring ourselves, the leadership team must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for this debacle.

He added that the electorate's rejection of BN in key areas has serious consequences on the government’s ability to execute the national development plans.

“The honesty with which we interpret this result, and the decisiveness with which we act on it, will determine whether we still have a future with the people, he said.

Abdullah to meet King today

Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will seek an audience with the Agong at 6pm today to inform him that the BN has won the general election.

Following that Abdullah is expected to be sworn in as the Prime Minister tomorrow morning at 10.30am.

It is also learnt that several top level Umno leaders - including Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, several ministers and chief ministers - have been meeting Abdullah to pledge their support for him.

These visits are seen as important following wide speculations that Abdullah is facing pressure from within Umno to resign.

In the election, BN suffered its worse ever defeat by losing its two-thirds majority. The coalition only managed to obtain 137 parliamentary seats as opposed to the 199 they won in 2004.

Azizan sworn in as Kedah MB

Kedah PAS commissioner and Sungai Limau state assembly person Azizan Abdul Razak was today sworn in at 3.30pm as the state’s new menteri besar in front of the Kedah sultan

He said that said PAS would keep its pledges contained in its manifesto for Kedah. He retained the Sungai Limau seat yesterday.

In the election, the opposition parties led by PAS routed BN to take full control of the state.

Of the 36 state seats in contention, PAS won 16 while its ally PKR won four. DAP and an independent candidate won one each. BN managed to win the remaining 14 seats.

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