Muhyiddin suffers from a malaise that inflicts many in BN, particularly UMNO.
It’s called arrogantitis.
No, don’t bother looking up the medical encyclopedia.
Comes from being in power for too long.
Lording it over a people long accustomed to being docile, submissive even.
In Muhyiddin’s case, along with a whole bunch of the others in UMNO, one classic symptom of the in-breeding that Dr M spoke of in his ‘Malay Dilemma’ is also showing through.
You know which symptom I’m referring to, right?
According to Malaysiakini, Muhyiddin reckons that RPK’s ripping into the Pakatan leadership at the dialogue session with Anwar, Tunku Abdul Aziz and Tian Chua in London last Saturday and his threat to pull out his support for Pakatan at the Galas by-election is evidence of waning support and confidence in Pakatan, and PKR in particular.
He is reported to have said that “more and more PKR members at the higher as well as the grassroot level had realised the wrong choice they made and left the party” and then offered this advice to the rakyat.
“… we hope the people will learn from this and think carefully”
This blog has been kicking PKR and its leaders in the head, in the groin, and in the butt the last few months or so and late last year, not because I have given up on PKR, but because I think there is still hope.
Hope that PKR will reform as it needs to.
Hope that it will begin to listen to, and heed, the voices of the rakyat.
Hope that, together with its partners in Pakatan, they will collectively turn their focus on what it will take to begin the restoration of our vital institutions of state, if they reach Putrajaya, rather than individually pursuing position and power and, to that end, indulging in self-serving intrigues.
Hope that Pakatan will work swiftly to get its act together and then, working closely with the many rakyat who are today committed to bring about the changes needed in this country, bury BN at the 13th General Election.
This is what, for the rakyat, separates Pakatan from BN today.
Hope.
Arrogantitis does not allow Muhyiddin to see this.
Many of us hoped we’d see BN out on its backside after the last general election.
It didn’t happen.
We hoped then that at least UMNO and BN would take some hard lessons from the loss of its 2/3 majority in parliament and another 5 state governments to the opposition, and begin the process of reform to be relevant to the needs of the rakyat.
That, too, didn’t happen.
Instead, they gave us Zaki in the Federal Court.
They gave us the Perak crisis.
They gave us NFA on the VK Lingam RCI recommendations.
They gave us renewed terms of Musa Hasaan.
They gave us Kugan and Teo Beng Hock.
They gave us AminulRasyid.
UMNO and BN cannot see this.
Arrogantitis.
BN must be buried, come the 13th GE.
What, though, if those hopes we now place on Pakatan turn out to be misplaced?
What if PKR, too, will not reform, and Pakatan cannot get its act together?
Unlike some of you who have commented in this blog, I do not see myself as limited in my choice to either Pakatan or BN.
I do not see that if Pakatan flounders, I am compelled to give my vote to BN.
I have a third choice.
It is a third choice, though, that is not presented to me on a silver platter.
It is a third choice that I have to carve out for myself, if I have to.
And I will, if I have to.
In my constituency.
You want a third choice in your constituency too, if the need arises?
If Pakatan doesn’t measure up to your expectations?
You want it on a silver platter, without your having to lift a finger?
Dream on.
There is much talk now of a third force, both in this blog and elsewhere.
You want a third force, that might afford you a third choice in your constituency?
You want to be a part of that third force, or merely cheer from the sidelines?
In the coming days, friends and I will meet to deliberate on this idea of a third force.
Where this will go, if anywhere at all, and how far, I cannot say.
What I can say is that if BN still reigns after the 13th GE, I will be able to look my children in their eyes and say, ‘I tried. I gave it my all’.
Can you?
Jong
October 6, 2010
If we stay united and focused, no ifs no buts we CAN and we WILL and let’s do it together to give it ‘..the final push’!
wandererAUS
October 6, 2010
Bro Haris it is more appropriate to refer to our PKR studs as arrogantitis and Moohyddin and likes as suffering deranged Cuntratis! (Forgive me, not meant to use an expletive)…this terminology fits perfectly, for the lowest of the lows!
tan, tanjong bungah
October 6, 2010
Hi everyone,
The time is not opportune to establish a third force for the next GE. UMNO and BN is waiting in anticipated glee for this third force to materialise, and come the next GE, the third force would serve to confuse the electorates and pave the way for BN to pull through! Just focuss on getting the people to go for a 2-party system. Only when the electorates mature further, a third force would then be feasible!
This does not mean that the people doesn’t have a choice, just join PKR or any other component party in PR to articulate your views, influence the thinking and stand in PR, and exercise your vote from within. Just help to weed out the ‘lalang’ within PR and make PR stronger!
Navi
October 6, 2010
Let every member of PKR vote in the coming PKR elections and be wise with their choice. Do not be led by the nose to vote in fading leaders who still want to cling on. Let us vote those whom we know will not deviate from the peoples agenda.
Much needs to be done at the top if the aspiration of the people are to be met. Politiking to stay on by non performers are holding back the party. Vote them out.
Change if it has not occurred through the incumbents is bound to happen if new faces are voted in.
hurricaneMax
October 6, 2010
Bro Haris, I SOKONG U!
A hung parliament ala Oz recently, can give Independents the clout to do collective good for the Rakyak. BUT then again, these Independents must not be the umno-styled corrupted kataks.
After an apanama 2decades of corrupted regime filtering down to almost all level of our society , do we now have enough gentlemen-of-honour?
matthew francis
October 6, 2010
i’m sorry to say. pr is goner. anwar is actually satan and azmin his son. better we just let bn rule forever and better still let mahathir family rule. at least we know the grizzly bear who gnashed us, better than the strange devil we don’t know. and mahathir never let us down. he was a well-meaning daddy who belted us too hard, becoz he loved us too much.
Bob
October 6, 2010
Never let us down? He loved us, so he bashed us?
R u kiddin?
Who authorized the constitution to be changed so many times?
Who reduced the powers of the Royalty?
The Malaysian judiciary was spoken of in the same category as the UK and Oz/Canadian judiciary a long time ago. Now, I shall not comment. Ask Haris or Imtiaz if you need clarification.
Malaysia was in the same economic and football playing field with Japan, Tokyo, Taiwan & S’pore. Then we were relegated to Brazil, Russia, India, China, Thailand.
Now we are not in the same league as Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam (bloody Vietnam & Cambodia are playing in a higher league than us).
Soon becoz of that Great Indian Prime Minister of ours, we will be champions with Myanmar, Zimbabwe. The new Economic and Soccer League of MZM. Chavez has started his country down the same road, so we might have a South American compadre.
Everyone who is not a vocal supporter, will be PERKOSA-ed until they die or become a supporter of the new regime like that S46 gentleman from Negeri Sembilan. Have you read his thesis whilst in the wilderness with Ku Li?
Yes, we need a 3rd force, with Ku Li, Zaid, Sam, RPK, Imtiaz. PKR is too entranched with ex Amno people. Unfortunately I too am tarnished due to my association with the Great Malaysian party of GERAKAN. In concept it was the embodiment of MALAYA and the merged countries of MALAYSIA (Four independent countries came together as Malaysia, one was asked to leave after 2 years). That spit drooling gent destroyed the party, of course now blames the PeaceMaker.
Matthew Francis, wake up and take a whiff. It sure aint roses buddy. By the time IWK is finished with it, it can be used for growing plants.
anonymo
October 6, 2010
yes,im waiting fr the third force to emerge!!!DAP n PKR!!!my middle finger to u guys….total dissappoinment…i was so proud to see DAP rocket standing tall in BUNTONG ROUNDABOUT…now,stupidity reckons in them in perak,u know wht i mean…PKR,very good showing ur stupidity by the problms,havoc in ur elections goinon..even u won to destabilise my confidence in u guys..!!i wont vote BN,i need the third force,for now,i see HRP as my third choise…
Paul Warren
October 6, 2010
My feel is that the third force is inevitable. But what exactly is the third force? What exactly is its place in the political landscape?
So far the third force has not really been defined, has it? Everyone has a a certain view of what it might be. PR’s worst nightmare is the third force contributing towards a three way fight. In that situation the third force is viewed as being pro BN as any division of votes will be a gain to BN. But then again we all know that.
The debacle that is going around in PKR with keen contests for divisional and supreme council seats makes one wonder what its all about. I bet, not so long ago, The PKR leadership would have gone around pleading with individuals to fill up positions. Why is it all so different now?
Hey, maybe its the vote bank that many of us constitute? We are a block and we do vote as a block. And as we showed in the last GE, we will vote a donkey if that was what was pitched against the BN candidate.
Do the PKR leader wannabe’s think we, the vote bank, are a sure thing? So that all that they need to do is to make sure they are noticed when it comes to candidate selection when the next GE happens?
Hey, I am now thinking like one of those voters who is most definitely not voting BN. Why should it be that it is not in my power to determine who the PR selects to be candidate in my constituency? At the very least, why is it that it is the party leadership that decides who qualifies to be the candidate without any thought given to what my criteria might be as a voter about who will best represent me? How do I know if the candidate might not be better off leading some NGO maybe. Or maybe his interests and concerns might be better served if he belonged to a local council maybe. Does he know what his role is as an MP or an Adun?
Even more important, now that I know and have adopted the People’s Declaration, as a comprehensive document listing my wishes and aspirations as a voter does the PR candidate for my constituency know it and has adopted it and is committed to it?
Now, lets say he does know and swears by it. Does it mean that he will now be able to stand out there and demonstrate to me that he is someone I can trust? Or maybe, there is someone better!!
Show me!!
sampalee
October 6, 2010
I am keeping my finger crossed as bn is confirmed to be unjust and corrupt and recents events have proven pkr and dap to be far worse.I do not believe in beating a dead horse.I will wait for a fresh stead[third force] to arrive.
Baskaren
October 6, 2010
we need a distributed organization. read “a starfish & a spider”. we need to be united based on vision and values. one such person, who can walk his talk, is enough – one who is dedicated to the vision of a truly free and strong malaysia. it is always a majority of a one. we have the blessings of technology – the internet and blogs to quickly replicate. the test is, is there one such person, whose very being is malaysia – like gandhi was india, and mandela was south africa ?
Kee Thuan Chye
October 6, 2010
Haris,
If there is to be a third force, it must work with PR so as not to split the votes. How else can we get rid of BN?
You want getting rid of BN as your ultimate aim. Would it not joeparidse PR’s chances of winning the next GE if people like RPK and you (whom people listen to) keep running down PR and even threaten to withdraw support from it? Once the perception sinks in that PR is just as band as BN, that’s the end. The rakyat might just go back to BN.
That will scuttle your hope of kicking out BN.
So I hope you will reconsider being so hard on PR and also urge the setting-up of a third force that can make the rakyat feel PR is not to be trusted.
You know me, bro, I say all this in sincerity. I’m not a member of any political party. I, too, like you, want to see BN kicked out.
Let’s do it!
Susan Toh
October 6, 2010
Haris
You guys were a group of influential bloggers (RPK, Zorro etc etc) who played a huge part in the last GE. Therefore you all also have a responsibility to continue with what you do best. Whack PR by all means but while you all are doing that remember that there are people who wavering in their thoughts, fence sitters and impressionable ones who will be influenced by your remarks and start getting confused. They will be asking themselves who do they support now? A third force? Can I assume it is another political party? Will it not split the votes? Do you have enough time to build a third force? I thought the idea was to have a two party system? What happens if there is a hung parliament? Back to square one?
Navinda
October 6, 2010
Those ********* asking for the return of Mahathir are obviously sick in the head or have made a fortune at the peoples expense. They do not see the havoc caused by Mahathir – widespread corruption of the government agencies and the destruction of the social fabric, the judiciary and the dream of a united Malaysia.
On another note, the third force should be a people oriented group waiting to move in if PR does not fulfill its obligations to the people. The group to nominate independent candidates for the election fully backed by the people for the people.
shakuntala
October 6, 2010
Haris, are we to imagine or think that a Third Force, need not necessarily be a political party, which might split votes for PKR, if the latter’s candidates are honestly good and politically conscious individuals who would work for the common good of the Ra’ayat.
Rather would the Third force, be an intelligent disinterested group of persons who would put pressure on PKR candidates who do not shape up and encourage them to do so with the knowledge that one of them could step in as a potential substitute?
You and persons like Zaid Ibrahim need to explain further, for a better understanding of the concept of a Third Force, which at first impression sounds formidable, but reasonable, if as you say, there is need for reform and change.
Some of us may still be confused. So can you please explain further?
shakuntala,
The 3rd force I envisage is not another political party.
Would a posting I did earlier on 9th August answer the rest of your queries and uncertainties?
The link to that post is below.
https://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/do-we-go-with-a-third-force-let-me-walk-you-through-this/
shakuntala
October 7, 2010
Many thanks Haris….you’ve done a brilliant post, have read it again, just now…oops! my memory must have fallen short, or that I wrote without giving it, much thought.
Do hope those of us, who are in doubt read that post of yours, again. Your ‘walk through’ clears any doubts, one might have…you do try so hard, to inform.
For my part, do hope Pakatan takes notice, of the fact that they can mature and cast away their old baggage, to give birth to a fresh outlook for the sake of the People and Malaysia.
Maslina
October 7, 2010
Haris,
William Leong, PKR MP for Selayang has accused people like you as agents of BN.
I quote, “Those who proposed the formation of a third force on the excuse that Keadilan and Pakatan are weak or ineffective or are purporting to expose its weaknesses to champion the formation of a third force are in fact employing the same tactics used against PBS. These tactics are part of political manipulation. This tactic is commonly referred to as creating a “controlled opposition”. This is where the opposition to a party is infiltrated and manipulated until it is taken over and used as a foil to the benefit of the subverting party. It operates either by making a caricature of the opposing party through antics and scandals or by channeling popular opposition to an ultimately futile and demoralising direction.”
Your comments, please?
Full link as follows: http://lite.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/who-is-evelyn-salt-in-pkr-william-leong
Long Lim
October 7, 2010
Bro Haris,
I sincerely hope you will re-consider your decision to set up a third force. A third force will only split the anti-BN votes and ruin what ever hope there is of a change of government. No amount of pressure of a third force in Parliament will make the BN change their ways.
Only when it is shown that the government can be removed by the vote will any sitting government be more responsible in their actions. Fear of facing an unfriendly incoming government with its vast federal powers will make all polititians less inclined to be corrupt.
A third force at this time will not serve the above purpose of changing the government. I hope you will not have to answer to your children that you were the one responsible for destroying the chance for the change of government to happen.
anobrainer
October 11, 2010
Heard it from the grapevine that Federal Hill (Bukit Persekutuan) in Kuala Lumpur is being carved up by umno to their cronies as they do not expect to be in government for long.
SatuLawanSatu
October 12, 2010
Keep it simple. Satu Lawan Satu.