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Free Malaysia Today
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Larry Sng's PBM to contest solo in Sabah polls
PBM president Larry Sng said the party's roots trace back to Sabah although it is now a national party. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Parti Bangsa Malaysia will be contesting in the impending Sabah elections and will not be forming any electoral pact with any major coalition for the polls, party president Larry Sng said. He told The Borneo Post that the party's decision to contest on its own was driven by grassroots' support and PBM's historical roots in Sabah. Among the seats PBM is eyeing are Bandau, Tanjung Papat and Kadamaian. 'Currently we are finalising the seats and the candidates, but tentatively we are looking at two to three constituencies,' Sng was quoted as saying. The three seats are currently represented by Perikatan National, Warisan and Upko. 'Whether or not we win is a secondary issue. The important thing is that we will be able to give people an option to choose,' he said. Sng said that although PBM is now a national party, its roots were in Sabah where it had developed a significant support base, with 65% of its members being from the state. He did not rule out working with the state government should PBM win any seats. 'We will be able to work with the government and play a stabilising role.' PBM's decision to throw its hat into the ring, comes days after Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi held firm to BN's alliance with Pakatan Harapan. The state's ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, has also announced a similar pact with PH. The five-year term of the Sabah state assembly expires on Nov 11, unless dissolved sooner. Elections must be held within 60 days of dissolution.
Free Malaysia Today
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
MIPP slams Urimai, says Ramasamy has no credibility among Indians
MIPP's S Subramaniam says that unlike P Ramasamy's Urimai, MIPP operates as a registered political party within PN and is focused on building a formidable and constructive Indian political force. PETALING JAYA : Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S Subramaniam has hit back at Urimai leaders, describing the movement's chairman, P Ramasamy, as an 'opportunist' with no real credibility among the Indian community. 'Is Ramasamy a real leader? Does Ramasamy have any credibility? 'Why did he leave DAP? He didn't leave DAP because of the community; he left because he didn't get a seat in the previous state election. He is an opportunist,' Subramaniam told FMT. His remarks came after Selangor Urimai chief K Gunasekaran accused Perikatan Nasional (PN) of failing to draw 'real Indian leaders' with grassroots support. Gunasekaran also pointed out that Indian voters have yet to rally behind the opposition coalition despite growing disenchantment with the Madani administration. He also criticised those who represented the Indian community at the recent Turun Anwar rally, saying the speakers were unfamiliar and lacked credibility within the community. Subramaniam, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that PN was making steady inroads among Indian voters. 'Nationwide, we have built the support of 20% of Indians (for PN). At every by-election, we get about 30-35% of the Indian vote, so on average nationwide, we have about 20%. 'So what is he talking about when he says MIPP has no credibility?' he said. He said his party plays a legitimate and structured role in shaping Indian political representation through its position in the PN coalition. Subramaniam said that unlike Urimai, MIPP operated as a registered political party within PN and was focused on building a formidable and constructive Indian political force. He added that MIPP's 'Reset' campaign was actively engaging the Indian community nationwide to address systemic issues and secure opportunities lost due to decades of ineffective leadership. As part of PN, Subramaniam said MIPP was positioned within the 'government-in-waiting' and was working through legitimate channels for tangible progress. On whether MIPP was open to working with Urimai, Subramaniam said the party was not against collaboration but questioned its legitimacy. 'We can work with anybody. But are you even an official party? You can't even secure your party's registration. So why are you talking about credibility? 'Urimai is just a movement. It's not even an NGO. Ask them to register first. If they cannot become a party, register as an NGO first. Then we can work together,' he said. The Registrar of Societies (RoS) informed Urimai on July 4 last year that its application to be registered as a political party had been rejected. Ramasamy subsequently announced that home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had also rejected Urimai's appeal. He said that an official from the ministry conveyed Saifuddin's decision 'without providing any reasons for the rejection'. On Feb 27, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the party leave to initiate judicial review proceedings against the government's decision. The case is ongoing.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Andrew Cuomo concedes to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in Democratic primary for New York's next mayor
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, is on track to win the Democratic primary for New York City's next mayor, marking a major upheaval of the city's political landscape with all eyes on the future of the fractured party. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — widely considered among pundits to be the front-runner against a field of progressive candidates who urged supporters to keep him off their ballots — called Mamdani to concede Tuesday night after more than one million Democratic voters cast their ballots for the next chief executive of the largest city in the United States. 'Tonight was not our night,' Cuomo said in remarks to supporters. 'Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.' Mamdani's campaign — fueled by a groundswell of grassroots support that stretched across the boroughs — had 'inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote,' Cuomo said. 'He really ran a highly impactful campaign,' he said. Mamdani received 43.5 percent of first-place votes in the city's ranked-choice voting system to Cuomo's 36.3 percent, according to early results from the New York City Board of Elections on election night. The board will continue tallying votes from ranked-choice ballots, which allow New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference, with votes for lower-ranked candidates adding to top choices in subsequent counts. The system is designed to avoid a runoff election by having voters rank their top five candidates for citywide races. Cuomo has said that, if he loses the primary, he would consider running as an independent in November's general election on a ballot that will also include current scandal-plagued Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent. Curtis Sliwa is expected to run as the Republican candidate for New York City mayor. Sliwa, who founded the nonprofit Guardian Angels, ran for mayor in 2021 and lost to Mayor Adams. A poll released on Monday by Emerson College showed Cuomo leading with 35 percent on election night, followed by Mamdani at 32 percent, and New York City comptroller Brad Lander at 13 percent. But in a simulation of the city's ranked-choice voting system, Mamdani came out on top throughout eight rounds, with 52 percent to Cuomo's 48 percent. Unlike Cuomo, Mamdani worked alongside other Democratic challengers, including cross-endorsing with Lander, urging voters against ranking Cuomo at all. Cuomo, who was pulling ahead in public opinion surveys in weeks leading up to the race, was powered by a multi-million dollar political action campaign that flooded mailboxes and the airwaves with anti-Mamdani advertisements. Mamdani, meanwhile, relentlessly focused a campaign around affordability, including no-cost childcare, freezing rent in tens of thousands of rent-controlled apartment units, boosting taxes on the wealthiest residents to fund free buses, and creating city-owned grocery stores to avoid a growing cost of living crisis in one of the country's most expensive places to live. His social media savvy campaign included more than 50,000 volunteers who canvassed across the city. If elected, Mamdani would be the New York's first Muslim and Indian American mayor. Cuomo, 67, had sought to revive a political career after the once-ascendent Democrat drew international attention for his state leadership designed to contrast Donald Trump's presidency at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. He announced his resignation from the governor's office in 2021 in the wake of widespread reports of sexual harassment allegations, investigations into nursing home deaths, and the possibility of a weeks-long impeachment investigation should he remain in the state's capital. In the years that followed, he launched an effort to defend himself and undercut the credibility of the women who accused him of misconduct. Should he secure the Democratic nomination, Mamdani — buoyed by endorsements from prominent progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — could join a crowded and complicated field of candidates in a general election despite the dominance of Democratic voters in New York politics. The explosion of money into a campaign against Mamdani is likely to roll into a general election, with attacks targeting Mamdani for his opposition to Israel's war in Gaza and his support for pro-Palestinian activism. But the primary race and Mamdani's massive upset against Cuomo's multi-million dollar machine serves as the highest profile Democratic primary election yet since Trump returned to the White House this year — and could serve as a litmus test for the kind of Democratic campaigns to challenge Trump as well as other Democrats that Americans believe have insufficiently stood up to a centrist establishment.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Andrew Cuomo concedes to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in Democratic primary for New York's next mayor
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, is on track to win the Democratic primary for New York City's next mayor, marking a major upheaval of the city's political landscape with all eyes on the future of the fractured party. Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo — widely considered a front-runner against a field of progressive candidates who urged supporters to keep him off their ballots — called Mamdani to concede Tuesday night. 'Tonight was not our night,' Cuomo said in remarks to supporters. 'Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won.' Mamdani's campaign — fueled by a groundswell of grassroots support that stretched across the boroughs — had 'inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote,' Cuomo said. 'He really ran a highly impactful campaign,' he said. Mamdani received 43.5 percent of first-place votes in the city's ranked-choice voting system to Cuomo's 36.3 percent, according to early results from the New York City Board of Elections on election night. The board will continue tallying votes from ranked-choice ballots, which allows New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference, with votes for lower-ranked candidates adding to top choices in subsequent counts. The system is designed to avoid a runoff election by having voters rank their top five candidates for citywide races. Cuomo has said that, if he loses the primary, he will, much like current Mayor Eric Adams, run as an independent in November's general election. A poll released on Monday by Emerson College showed Cuomo leading with 35 percent on election night, followed by Mamdani at 32 percent, and New York City comptroller Brad Lander at 13 percent. But in a simulation of the city's ranked-choice voting system, Mamdani came out on top throughout eight rounds, with 52 percent to Cuomo's 48 percent. Unlike Cuomo, Mamdani worked alongside other Democratic challengers, including cross-endorsing with Lander, urging voters against ranking Cuomo at all. Cuomo, who was pulling ahead in public opinion surveys in weeks leading up to the race, was powered by a multi-million dollar political action campaign that flooded mailboxes and the airwaves with anti-Mamdani advertisements. Mamdani, meanwhile, relentlessly focused a campaign around affordability, including pledging to freeze rent in tens of thousands of rent-controlled apartment units, boosting taxes on the wealthiest residents to fund free buses, and create city-owned grocery stores to avoid a growing cost of living crisis in one of the country's most expensive places to live. His social media savvy campaign included more than 50,000 volunteers who canvassed across the city. If elected, Mamdani would also be the New York's first Muslim and Indian American mayor.
