Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
| From now on, it’s a Malay vs Malay contest Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:44 PM PST
One Malay leader is pitted against another Malay leader, and each is backed by an assortment of non-Malays. Such a situation, strangely enough, does not encourage racial or religious politics. This goes for Umno as well as the Islamist opposition, PAS. Ooi Kee Bang, Today As Umno general assemblies go, the one held last week was rather tame in its rhetoric. It was certainly memorable for its lack of vitriolic language. And it was expectedly so ― therein lies its significance. Things were quite different back in the days before 2008, when ethnocentric exhortations were run of the mill, and Umno Youth was the amplifier of racial extremist voices. This year, showing party unity was the order of the day. Much of the credit must go to the fact that Malaysia today has a surprisingly stable two-party system in place. As we know, such a competitive structure has a strong moderating effect on extremist voices, be they racial or religious. After all, gaining the middle ground is how electoral victories are won. The fact that the incumbent prime minister, Najib Razak, reportedly cited ― as a warning to his followers ― significant errors made by Republican challenger Mitt Romney in his defeat at the hands of United States President Barack Obama, tells us that even at the highest level, the possibility of the hitherto invincible Umno being toppled is being taken seriously. Indeed, the bipolar Obama-Romney battle is being reflected in the clash between Najib and Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition. What this actually reveals is the most important point that anyone can make today about the dramatic changes that have been taking place in Malaysian politics, not only over the last five years but also over the last decade and a half. Opposition forces within the Malay community have come of age. That is the fundamental difference. We are witnessing a Malay-Malay battle. Despite the rhetoric, the Malay community ― perhaps because of its increased relative size, its comparative youth, its growing urbanity or its heightened educational level ― is showing a political confidence it did not have before. Its questioning of Umno's claim to being the only plausible champion of their interests as a community ― in fact, questioning the limitations of communal politicking ― is an expression of that very maturity. One Malay leader is pitted against another Malay leader, and each is backed by an assortment of non-Malays. Such a situation, strangely enough, does not encourage racial or religious politics. This goes for Umno as well as the Islamist opposition, PAS. Instead, the new issues are about wealth distribution and governance, not those of race against race, or religion against religion. Now, issues of governance are not simple things. They are comprehensive, covering difficult matters such as cronyism, corruption, rule of law, the state of the civil service and the electoral system, among others. What all this boils down to once elections come around is: Who will be the next prime minister of Malaysia, Najib or Anwar? Abdullah Badawi was replaced by Najib in April 2009 in punishment for letting so much support for Barisan Nasional slip away. Najib's job, therefore, is to win back that support. To his mind, the best way to do that is to continue with the reform agenda (he has preferred the term "transformation"). However, should support for his coalition not rise markedly in the coming elections, there is a real risk that he will be replaced in his turn. But why this sudden wish for reform and transformation on BN's part? No doubt, Anwar has a lot to do with it. He was after all the man behind the pivotal Reformasi movement that started in 1998 after his sacking by Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But the fact that Abdullah's impressive electoral victory in 2004 could not bury that movement for good tells us that the forces pushing for change have deep roots in society, and in the times. What Anwar managed to do after his release from prison in 2005 was to become a bridge for the major opposition parties on the one hand, and a lightning rod for general social discontent on the other. And so, although at one level, the fight is between two Malay leaders, the election, whichever way it goes, is at a deeper level about how governance in Malaysia is to develop ― how Malaysia is to develop ― in the coming years. And within that equation, the role of East Malaysia will increase since both coalitions will be fighting to win votes there. Since the racial and religious ― not to mention political ― conditions in Sabah and Sarawak are so markedly different from those found in West Malaysia, the heightened significance of these states is bound to transform the socio-political situation. Predicting Malaysia's political future has become a much harder gambit. * Ooi Kee Beng is the deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
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| Selangor already fallen to BN! Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST
Will recent events concerning the re-drawn boundaries in Selangor indicate that the coming polls is going to be a sham of an election? Selena Tay, FMT Recent reports received from this columnist's friends in PAS have revealed the inevitable – Selangor has already fallen into the hands of BN. Why is this so? Well, besides the dirty voter rolls, recently even the parliamentary and state constituencies in Selangor have had their boundaries re-drawn, said this columnist's friends in the Selangor PAS committee tasked with overseeing the preparations for the 13th general election. Now what is to be done? Of course police reports have been made besides forwarding evidence to the Election Commission (EC) who must remain professional, ethical and honest at all times in carrying out their duties in order to serve the interests of the public by working for the good of the citizens. But will recent events concerning the re-drawn boundaries indicate that the coming polls is going to be a sham of an election? Those who say that Malaysia has a vibrant democracy are merely being economic on the truth. The only thing vibrant is the compliant media's unjust bashing of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the rampant crime and corruption going on. And it bears repeating that the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat state government must only dissolve the State Legislative Assembly in May. Anything before that is disastrous for Pakatan. Looking at the way that BN wants to cling on to power, then is a foretaste of events to come should they lose the 13th general election. BN leaders have said that Pakatan will cause chaos if it loses. But what if it is BN who loses? What is their answer to that question? Have we heard them giving assurances to the rakyat by saying, "We will abide by the rakyat's decision?" Be that as it may, the election must and will go on. The losers must accept the verdict. The opposition have lost 12 consecutive times so for them losing is nothing new but what about those who have never tasted defeat? For the good of the nation and the well-being of the rakyat, the losers of the forthcoming polls should work with the winners to build up the nation. The losers must be magmanimous enough to accept defeat. If they resort to hooliganism and sabotage, then their true colours and greed for power will be revealed and show that their past slogans are empty rhetoric to hoodwink the people. The time has come for Malaysians to move forward towards building a great nation for one and all. Otherwise we will be left far behind – stuck in the age of antiquities. It is high time we march forward to the dawn of a new civilisation of hope, peace and progress. Winning at all cost The case of Selangor highlights the dirty tactics of certain parties who want to win at all cost. "There is just nothing we can do about their dirty tricks as all avenues are closed. We have raised the issue of dubious voters and instant MyKad in Parliament and in our party paper, Harakah. We have brought up the matter with the Election Commission and made the necessary police reports – all to no avail," said PAS Kuala Selangor MP, Dzulkefly Ahmad to this columnist. His PAS colleague and Kuala Krai MP, Hatta Ramli who will be overseeing the PAS election groundwork has informed this columnist that he has requested that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) set up to look into the problem of illegals in Sabah being given MyKad be given an extension of its workscope to include Selangor as well but the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Liew Vui Keong (Sandakan MP) said that the problem does not exist in Selangor! And this reply was given in the recently concluded Parliament session.
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