PM APPROVAL RATING ALL-TIME LOW AT 61%

PM's approval rating plunges 10 percent-point to all-time low of 61%; Chinese most pessimistic over economic outlook 2008.

The approval rating of the Prime Minister has plunged 10 percent-point, from 71% to 61% quarter-on-quarter as at Q4 2007.

This is also the all-time low in the PM's approval rating since he took over the office from Dr Mahathir Mohamad. As at December 2007, Abdullah's rating among the Malays, Chinese and Indians has dropped by 8%, 5% and 41%, respectively.

Three key issues that worried the poll respondents, reflecting the general sentiments of the populace, are Price hikes and inflation (20%), Ethnic issues & Inequallity (17%), and Crime & Public Safety (12%).

On economic outlook for 2008, confidence in the Abdullah Administration in running the economy remains high among the Malays, but very, very low among Chinese.

The poll indicates that the Malays are the most positive with 53% expressing optimism. However, only 19% of Chinese are optimistic, while 43% of Indians show their optimism.

The poll was conducted from December 14 through 19 -- notably after the November 10 BERSIH Rally and the November 25 Hindraf Rally -- on a sampling size of 1,026, with the subjects being registered voters aged above 21 years old. They were selected based on random stratafied sampling method, along the lines of state of residence, ethnicity, gender and age.

You may download the executive summary of the poll results here.

Mr. Clean asks for Fresh Mandate

Kata-kata puisi Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad;

“Aku Cari Bukan Wang Berjuta-juta, Untuk Hidup Bergaya; Aku Cari Bukan Kawan-kawan, Untuk Hidup Sekadar Berfoya-foya.”

Luxury Toy for the VVIP - (acquired by the present government for PM)
"Untuk Hidup Bergaya"

Luxury Yacht 'The King Cobra (Sultan)' owned by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

"Untuk Hidup Sekadar Berfoya-foya"

Kata-kata di atas menyakinkan majoriti pengundi bahawa Abdullah memang benar-benar “Mr. Clean” yang wajar diberikan sokongan penuh untuk membasmi korupsi di Malaysia.

Bagaimanapun, realitinya pada hari ini adalah amat mengecewakan. Lantas, adakah rakyat jelata akan terus memberikan mandat yang dipinta oleh Abdullah menerusi PRU12? Adakah “Mr. Clean” dan “hamba no. 1 negara” ini masih terus putih dan bersih hingga ke saat ini? More story here and here

Undi penentuan di tangan ANDA! Gunakanlah kebijaksanaan ANDA sebagai pengundi.

PAK LAH ASKING FOR FRESH MANDATE

NAJIB AND ABULLAH

In asking the people for a fresh mandate, the Prime Minister said his Government was just in the process of implementing almost all the programmes it promised. The programmes would take years to show results, he said.

Four years as Prime Minister, Abdullah said he is just starting to implement what he had promised the Rakyat in 2004 Election. No wonder the rakyat called him the 'sleeping PM', he's just got up.

“These are things that are not easy and take time to accomplish,” he said, adding that the programmes were not only confined to five-year plans in the 9th Malaysia Plan. They included development programmes, vision plans and national economic policies that took as long as 30 years, he said."

This is an open admission by the PM that he has been an ineffective leader. He went further and also admitted that his poor leadership will cost him votes at the next General Election.

"On whether Barisan would receive the same overwhelming mandate as in the 2004 election, he said he did not think so. “If I get it, I will be very happy. But I am being very, very practical,” he said.

He again acknowledged his failures “There was expectation that this or that has to be done" but unfortunately "we cannot change, I cannot change everything."

The PM's frank admission of incompetence has just made it more difficult for UMNO and BN leaders to convince voters to continue supporting them. It also means that MCA, UMNO and others BN component parties have to spend more money this time around to buy votes.

Therefore, you VOTERS out there - think out carefully of the consequences for voting your representatives in the next election, since the Prime Minister is admitting incompetency in his government. VOTE WISELY

YOUR CHOICE = YOUR FUTURE, YOUR CHILDREN FUTURE AND THEIR GENERATION FUTURE!

Ucapan Dato Seri Anwar di Johor

MALAYSIA HEALTH MINISTER: THE MAN IN SEX VIDEO

BERNAMA, January 01, 2008 17:34 PM

Chua Soi Lek Says He's The Man In Sex Video

LABIS, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- "I am the man in the tape," said Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, the Health Minister and MCA vice-president, as he admitted to be the person captured on a videotape while engaging in sexual acts with a woman friend.

But despite his admission of guilt over the matter, Dr Chua stressed that he would not resign from his government and party positions.

"I serve at the pleasure of the prime minister," he said. "I will not allow (other) people to jeopardise or obstruct my duties.

"Reading from a prepared statement at a press conference at the Labis MCA office here, the minister said he had met Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya yesterday to explain the matter and personally apologise to the prime minister.

Dr Chua, one of the six vice-presidents in the MCA, said he had also met Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting over the matter.

He described the woman involved as a personal friend.

Copies of the pornographic videotape were widely distributed in Johor in DVD format over the last few days.

"What's most important is that my family, wife and children have accepted my apology," he told the packed news conference, which was also attended by his supporters.

He appealed to the press to allow some space for his family to deal with this difficult time.

Stressing that he did not make the recordings himself, Dr Chua said that who were behind it were not important but their reasons for doing it were obvious.

However, he declined to elaborate.

Dr Chua extended his apology to his colleagues, supporters and fellow Malaysians.

"I would also like to thank them for their concern and support through phone calls and SMSes," he said.

When asked by reporters on his next course of action, Dr Chua said he would leave it to the police to investigate.

"I leave it to the police to investigate. I'm considering the possibility of making a police report but the police have started their own investigation," he said.

Dr Chua said he came to know about the recordings on Sunday when a friend gave him a copy of the video disc.

The minister said it would be business as usual for him and he would continue to perform his duties as a Cabinet minister and in the MCA.

Dr Chua, who appeared calm and composed throughout the press conference, attended a function at the Segamat Hospital prior to meeting the media. He then headed for a meeting with the Indian community in Labis.

At the end of the news conference, Labis MCA chairman Tan Kok Hong said members of the division would continue to support Dr Chua as Labis Member of Parliament.

"We'll continue to support him as the (Barisan Nasional) candidate for Labis (in the general election)," he said.

Dr Chua, who is also Johor MCA chairman, won the Labis parliamentary seat for the BN in the 2004 general election, beating DAP's Tee Gey Yan by a 10,729-vote majority.

Dr Chua garnered 16,469 votes against Tee's 5,740. The Labis parliamentary seat was previously held by former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik. -- BERNAMA