THERE has been a fair amount of unpleasant political posturing unfolding in Malaysia recently, although this time it's not related to the massive financial scandal involving state-backed firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad that has dogged the country for over two years.

This one has Malaysia's old-style "campaigning" written all over it as the country prepares for what is deemed to be the most rancorous general election some time this year. The election date is anybody's guess but already, the goading and racially-divisive rhetoric among political rivals to marshal votes, is becoming l'ordre du jour.

Recently, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor suggested that the opposition-led state Penang be turned into a federal territory directly controlled by the government. This, the minister said, would help the Malays who are neglected by the state government there. He later clarified that this was his "wish" and one that would benefit all the state's urban poor.