IPOH: Those visiting Perak executive council (exco) members at the State Secretariat Building here will be subjected to security checks to prevent the possibility of the councillors being accused of corrupt practices.

SEBERANG JAYA, Aug 28 — Just 45 minutes after voting ended at 5pm on Tuesday, Datin Latifah Asmawi knew her husband’s hopes of winning the Permatang Pauh seat were gone.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won a crucial by-election for the parliamentary seat of Pemantang Pauh on Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — It looks like Malaysia-Today is the only target of the government’s sudden crackdown on blogosphere. So far.

(By SEAN YOONG/ AP) - Malaysia has blocked access to a popular news Web site that has often run afoul of authorities for its sensational political reporting, sparking complaints Thursday (28 Aug) that the government has reneged on its pledge to keep cyberspace uncensored.

(Xinhua) - Malaysia's de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will not be the prime minister by Sept. 16, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in Johor Bahru, capital of Malaysian southern Johor state, local media reported on Thursday.

(The Star) - The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia or SKMM) was “only exercising its power” when it ordered the 19 Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to block the Malaysia Today website.

Anwar claims he can persuade enough BN MPs to cross the floor for Pakatan to unseat the BN government. Now that he is ready to take his seat in the Dewan Rakyat (parliament), scheduled for this morning, his credibility will be tested on the record.

The Straits Times Editorial

(The Star) - PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP at 10.05am Thursday in a brief ceremony in Dewan Rakyat here.

(Malaysiakini) - Controversial online portal Malaysia Today had its access blocked by the country’s largest internet service provider (ISP) TMnet.

He will enter Parliament in time to lead opposition in Budget debate

 By Hazlin Hassan, The Straits Times

The question now is whether Mr Anwar can convince 30 MPs from the BN coalition to defect to his side. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

(The Straits Times) Barely had the Permatang Pauh results been announced, fingers were already being pointed at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for failing to stop the advance of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

(NST) GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan has called on the Federal Government to immediately fulfil its promises of reforms to restore the people's confidence and respect for Barisan Nasional.

Barisan Nasional (BN) should not take lightly the victory of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, said Umno Vice-President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has not been able to contact Datuk S. Nallakaruppan who alleged that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had received RM60 million from a gaming firm.

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not get to Putrajaya on Sept 16 as he claims by riding on a wave of defections by Sabah MPs.

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who won the Permatang Pauh by-election on Tuesday, will be sworn in as a Member of Parliament at the Dewan Rakyat today.

(The Star) ALOR STAR: Pakatan Rakyat’s “Permatang Pauh to Putrajaya” campaign slogan for the Permatang Pauh by-election has triggered a possible crossover in Kedah, said Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

By NELSON BENJAMIN, The Star

JOHOR BARU: The loss suffered by the Barisan Nasional in the Permatang Pauh by-election should not be read as an emerging trend for other constituencies.

By NURBAITI HAMDAN and CHEOK LI PENG, The Star

PETALING JAYA: All 21 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country have been ordered by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block the controversial Malaysia Today website, an industry source revealed.

(The Sun) FORMER MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has upped the ante in his media war with party presidential candidate, vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat, with a dare to Ong to repeat to Umno what he told the Chinese press lately -- that MCA may pull out of Barisan Nasional if Umno does not shed its "Ketuanan Melayu" policies.

Leslie Lau

AUG 27— When Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak decided at the height of the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign to swear in a mosque that he had nothing to do with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, it was meant to show up Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a hypocrite for not daring to do the same over the sodomy charges he faces.

Wan Hamidi Hamid 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 - It's the second time in six months Barisan Nasional, in particular Umno, suffered a humiliating electoral defeat. Strong voices within Umno have begun to sound the alarm bell - heads must roll.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar today denied allegations that the DNA Bill tabled in Parliament is aimed at a specific person.

KUALA LUMPUR, WED: A backbencher has called on Umno to expedite its leadership change - before the party elections, if the BN wants to arrest a slide in public confidence and not want to face the possibility of further electoral setbacks in future.

DEWAN RAKYAT, Aug 27, 2008: After the tumultuous yet cruise-controlled victory yesterday at Permatang Pauh, Anwar Ibrahim’s homecoming to the Dewan Rakyat is a tad surreal. Tomorrow, when he re-appears as a bona fide MP for the first time since 1998, the atmospheric pressure inside the House should be bobbing between high tension and restraint euphoria. If you are inside the House while the tension/euphoria is throttling, the Barisan Nasional Government/backbenchers should be curdling with resentment while the Opposition bloc would be practically dancing to MC Hammer’s anthemic number “You can’t touch this!”

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The Malaysian government is likely to announce several populist measures in its 2009 budget on Friday as it tries to tighten its weakening grip on power in the face of economic and political challenges.

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 27 (IANS) Malaysia's controversial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has just won a parliamentary by-election, says he will bring down Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government by mid-September.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is perhaps the only prominent politician in the world today to have been accused of sodomy _ not just once but twice.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Dissidents in Malaysia's ruling party demanded the prime minister's resignation Wednesday after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim returned to Parliament with a sweeping election victory.