by Frankie D'Cruz

Stories from by Frankie D'Cruz

frank
WILL the new home minister and the 10th inspector-general of police hold a sledgehammer stance in restoring public confidence in policing?

Early messages from Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar offered an approach to a new, firmer police force. They could have been a little more convincing though.
frank
DID one expect the rain clouds to open and party members to weep when Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon declared that he will resign as the Gerakan president today?

Why weren’t his comrades squirming: Why Tan Sri? Fact is, they were bitter with the route the party had taken under his leadership and had wanted an end to his leadership earlier.


WHAT
will happen if a PAS candidate becomes the new Selangor menteri besar? A PAS menteri besar is certain to stir a cocktail of intoxicating issues that have the potency to cause social distress.

Expect a slew of unpopular policies, beginning, of course, with the easiest move to ban Muslims from working in entertainment outlets serving liquor and closing down massage parlours.

Never mind, if the tourism and entertainment industry is soaked in hysterics.

frank
RACIAL taunt in a fragmented Malaysia only spews more hatred and anger, especially when the country is facing a huge challenge of national reconciliation.

Just three days after the 13th general election, Malaysia has become more divided as racism forms the backdrop to daily lives. Compared to what used to be stacked against us, I fear this is something we would find hard to handle.
frank
IF one’s beneath an umbrella, a downpour sounds noisy. As raindrops bounce on the road, it seems that it can barely rain any harder. Then the rain turns to storm and the noise rises to fierceness.

That’s what it has been like for journalists during the coverage of the 13th general election: a monsoon of public criticism, steaming with anger.
FRANKIE


FINALLY, your voice will rise above the noise. Finally, it’s all up to you. Today is the frenzied final day of GE13 and after months of speeches, debates and advertisements, voters will finally have their say.

column


TODAY is the eighth day of campaigning for the 13th general election but given the crossness at ceramah sessions where we had expected the hopeful people’s representatives to give us hope, we got little, or none.

frank
LIKE a flower seeking light, the electorate is beginning to recognise that they are increasingly being fed vile fodder at a growing number of umbrage fests in the run-up to the general election.

This has to be put right because the highly-animated soapbox yelling at ceramah sessions are anything but real debates about real issues.
frank
AREN’T decisions best taken as closely as possible to how candidates for the general elections impact and address current issues?

If one looks at some of the candidates for the 13th general election from both divides, you can’t help but see a display of serious-minded negative instincts.
frankie

THE stunning scheme by the DAP to use the logo of another party was a deliberate ploy to draw public sympathy, say party insiders.

They said the unprecedented strategy brought to fore the moral and ethical shortfalls of the party leadership and exposed a “brilliant” plan that was hatched for a sterling performance at the stumps.

frank
THREE more days to Nomination Day and we might just have last-minute surprises on Saturday. Perhaps, revenge missions by those dropped by their parties.

After all, politicians are known to shock rather than tantalise and incumbent Pandan MP and former MCA president, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, might just sit atop the heap.

WOULD
the escalating fight between the MCA and Umno for the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur make it easier for the opposition candidate’s job? Is the incumbent MP Wee Choo Keong any threat at all?

The Malay Mail gauged the sentiments of the electorate during this crucial period of seat-swapping in the run-up to May 5.

Many in Malay-majority Wangsa Maju feel the uncertainty over the Barisan Nasional contender will be to the detriment of the ruling coalition.
frank
I AM deliriously engrossed with the number 10. I huffily wonder: Can the strength and clarity of a vision to lead the nation be done in 10 minutes?

Can 10 minutes influence the invigorating power of citizens and communities — and trigger a political change of heart?
chua tee yong

MCA’s Datuk Chua Tee Yong (pic) has dismissed speculation that he is leaving his parliamentary constituency of Labis in Johor to contest in Bandar Tun Razak in the general election.

Chua said although the party leadership had yet to decide where he would be standing, “I would like to defend my incumbency in Labis”.
frank

WHEN you’re thrilled about politicians, it’s mind-blowing what you’ll row about. The harsh reality is that you should never get over-excited. Why? Because politicians tell us the world will end if you do not vote for them.


EVEN
as the final Barisan Nasional candidate list must be ready by today, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek appears determined to parachute his son, Tee Yong, into the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary constituency much to the chagrin of his party and Umno leaders, say insiders.

Some MCA leaders have bristled at the move for four reasons:

• Moving from Labis, Johor — where Tee Yong is the incumbent MP to Malaymajority Bandar Tun Razak

- is a sign of diminished MCA confidence in contesting other Chinese-majority constituencies.
frank

MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek has to reorder his priorities. The first is to make his team fit for the final lap of ploughing through a tough general election. Unfortunately, his party doesn’t appear fit. It is not a superbly-drilled team.

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