“The writing is on the wall. BN will win the next GE. It’s now a matter of whether it will be a landslide. At the very least, BN should win back its two-thirds majority” – my friend, Kee Thuan Chye, sharing his thoughts on the implications of the Galas and Batu Sapi by-election results, as reported in Malaysiakini.
In less than a month, Linda Tsen went from being an obscure part-time music teacher and wife, to that of a widow and then a Member of Parliament.
In that process, she scalped two men who fancied themselves as political big-wigs.
By a majority larger than that garnered by her late husband in 2008.
Sympathy votes?
Sure, but not all 6,000.
Money politics and election goodies?
With BN in the contention, this goes without saying.
Would these, alone, account for Linda’s stellar performance, given that at the outset of campaigning immediately after nomination day, reports from the ground suggested that she was trailing and that SAPP’s Yong was in with a shot at causing an upset?
And, yet, Yong finally ended up polling the least number of votes?
If there was any truth in those initial reports, what happened between then and polling day?
On 21st October, after negotiations between PKR and SAPP to try and get one to withdraw from the contest to facilitate a straight BN / PKR or SAPP contest, broke down, at a press conference at which William Leong for PKR and Yaong for SAPP were in attendance, assurances were given that their respective candidates would not attack each other during the campaign period. Malaysiakini has the report HERE.
However, two days into the 8-day campaign period and this pact was in tatters.
According to Malaysiakini, Yong drew first blood, alluding to the infighting that the PKR party elections has thrown up, and equating a vote for Pakatan as a vote for BN, both being semenanjung ‘sombong’ parties.
That same Malaysiakini report narrates PKR’s Ansari countering that between SAPP and PKR Sabah, the former had lost 4 elected reps or senior leaders through crossovers since the 2008 elections,whilst the latter had not suffered such a calamity.
Ansari seems to have forgotten that the majority of defecting reps that brought down the Pakatan government in Perak were from PKR.
However, if Ansari’s retort seemed mindless, Chua Jui Meng’s won hands down for sheer stupidity.
Chua, Malaysiakini reports, questioned Yong’s track record in politics, and the latter’s having stuck with BN for 16 years.
“I ask Yong to look at his own record when he was chief minister. During his term, did he implement the reform he talks about, especially the autonomy of Sabah? I never heard of him talking about autonomy when he was chief minister”, Chua is reported to have said.
To the thinking voter in Batu Sapi, these idiotic swipes only served to spotlight the can of worms that PKR is increasingly showing itself to be, and raised questions in the minds of these voters, the answers to which are self-evident to anyone who has kept reasonably abreast of the development of politics in the country.
Yong’s 16 years in BN?
Yong’s achievements as chief minister?
How long was Chua in BN?
What did he achieve as Health Minister when he held that portfolio?
Worse, how long was Anwar in UMNO and BN?
What did Anwar do for the nation, as Deputy Prime Minister, that PKR can brag of now?
Obviously no-one told Chua that as you judge, so shall you be judged.
DAP, too, got in on the action.
Their Kota Kinabalu MP and DAP Sabah chief, Hiew King Cheu, launched a whisper campaign to the effect that Yong would lead SAPP back into the BN fold if he won this by-election.
Yong, so the whisper campaign went, would betray the voters yet again, as he did in the past.
Unwittingly, or otherwise, Hiew had reminded the voters of Batu Sapi that some 16 years ago, the Ketua Umum of PKR, then Dr M’s right-hand man, had instigated and induced the very betrayal that Hiew now spoke of.
Was DAP obliquely spotlighting the fish rotting from the head in PKR?
If so, to what end?
It must be asked whether DAP was in Batu Sapi to aid Ansari, or its own agenda?
Again, many a thinking voter in Batu Sapi must have been bewildered that the ‘opposition’ parties were at each others throats, displaying each others sordid past and belittling each others promises, whilst Linda waltzed through past the finishing line.
Faced with this, who would you have voted for?
As I read the results of the Batu Sapi by-election coming through last night, my thoughts went back to the PKR-SAPP negotiations of 21st October.
As each side endeavoured to persuade the other to make way for their candidate, I wondered what was uppermost in their minds?
To liberate the people of Batu Sapi from a long-time oppressor, even if it meant giving way to the other, or to stand their ground, the focus on calculated political mileage to be gained in contesting, and little else?
I could not help but compare the situation at that PKR-SAPP negotiation with the biblical account of the disputation between two prostitutes over an infant that the good King Solomon was called upon to adjudicate over.
Both claimed to be the biological mother of the child, and sought Solomon’s order of custody.
1 Kings 3 : 16-3 : 28 of the Holy Bible narrates what then happened :
“Then the king said, ‘Bring me a sword’. So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: ‘Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other’.
The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, ‘Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!’.
But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
Then the king gave his ruling: ‘Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother’.”
It seems to me that at that negotiation on 21st October, and on the days that followed, none of the political whores in both PKR and SAPP cared for the oppressed in Batu Sapi enough to say to the other, “Go on, set the people of Batu Sapi free”.
Like the heartless harlot before Solomon, if one wasn’t going to get the seat, then neither was the other.
Thuan Chye is right.
The writing is on the wall.
The People's Parliament 
sampalee
November 5, 2010
Tuah Haris,now that we know the identity of the harlot,can we ask the rakyat to support them as the government or that in waiting.It is birthing time for the third force and nothing can stop it if it is GOD’s will.Before 308,the rakyat is willing to trade in their faulty bn[proton]for a model that pr only show in catalogue.Now that the pr prototype are out and running,many actually REGRETTED on the trade in.The pr model is style and no value.Bn model have less style,but still have value[even though of inferior type]The Third force will be the people’s car.
ALOYSIUS FRANCIS PINTO
November 5, 2010
Do not despair my friend. If that comment came from a politician (current/retired)I would really worry. One observation I have made is that Politics and logic are not synonymous!
Non-politicians since Tsunami 2008 have over-valued their political commentaries, based on their logic.
These 2 losses could be a blessing in disguise.
Hah?
As in any new marriage, at last PR will now really know that their long-drawn honeymoon has ended. At first, the initial ecstasy was so overwhelming that PR lost Perak without even admitting their shortcomings, and continued to blame everything on BN. Politics is also the skill to maintain your victory through an intricate array of skills,talent and shrewdness, which the BN displayed in Perak.
PR continued to romanticize about taking Putra Jaya without acknowledging their weakness in governing,lack of ideological re-training for former UMNO/MIC/MCA and other BN members who have joined PAKATAN especially PKR. For almost a year PKR did not even publish their new constitution. Many have not even read the constitution,the HARAPAN BARU UNTUK MALAYSIA manifesto, DSAI’s 17 Core Principles. Secretariats of wakil2 rakyat for the most are un-organized and many still are. Those that had some structure were dis-organize when it came to implementation of the GE12 Elections Promises..how could they, when even leaders have not read them, let alone share and train the substance part of the “perjuangan”. REFORMASI as a battle cry can be very powerful when you are in opposition.
As the ruling Government in Selangor, many wakil-wakil rakyat, especially the MPs and many ADUNs could not dust off their ‘opposition image’ and learn to govern the state well. PR MPs in PR states even intensified their ‘opposition-mindedness’ and were of no use to the Selangor/PR state governments. With so much energy still focused in politicking and manipulating ‘perceptions’ – that they will only bring real change after they take Putra Jaya, without exhibiting any substance of what would the PAKATAN CABINET could look like at state level. What alternative economic plans to implement the REFORMASI battle cry?
Hopefully, now, the PR leaders will really begin to listen to concerned citizens, professionals and civil society leaders when they offer their expertise, comments, suggestions and even ‘free’ services. The elimination the the NGOs and professionals councilors in Selangor was the final blow. Someone in the blogs commented that the usual ‘independent bloggers’ were missing in Galas and Sapi.
PR’s greater fear should be the lost of support from Civil Society including NGOS, professionals and concerned citizens. Just their decision to remain ‘silent’ and ‘neutral’ could tilt things in favour of BN who control the MSMedia.
On the positive side, recognizing the power and network of Civil Society, PR leaders should now engage seriously with them.
Yes, the writing is on the wall. It can still be re-written. Over to you Hadi, DSAI, LKS!
“STILL HOPEFUL”
dafasd
November 5, 2010
Hahahahha, suit all of YOU! “I told you so~” hahahhaha. Told you that we would switch to BN already. lalalala…. have fun reflecting on the back of your body
Ahmad Syafiq
November 5, 2010
Indeed. Oh well, I have nothing exciting to look forward to in politics nowadays. I guess it’s back to good ole BN with its proven corruption and whatnots. NOT!
I’ll never lose hope and faith. Victory and defeat are just part and parcel of life. It’s a matter of how you bounce back from it.
Parli-Man
November 5, 2010
I shall be a host of an informal unofficial meeting which i hope you and the powers that be will attend TQ
Parli-Man,
Date, time and place, please
richardpoon
November 5, 2010
Divided they fall!
Joe
November 5, 2010
Money talks and it talks loud and clear!
Join the crowd, make the best of it and watch the country go … Zimbabwe.
Who cares … spend all the EPF money and by the time we withdraw it , the ringgit may or may not be worth anything. Lucky those who works in Singapore and get to withdraw Sing dollars when they retire.
It would be the workers especially those faithful govt servants who would lose the most. Businessmen would just raise prices as inflation goes up. No loss.
Lets join the fun hehehehhe
A chinaman
Shawn Tan
November 5, 2010
Something about the devil you know? The same cloth?
Any other viable alternatives?
laughing
November 5, 2010
Both losers deserve the outcome and you are absolutely right using the King Solomon’s analogy. PKR should have given up contesting Batu Sapi and focus their energies on supporting PAS in Galas.
don
November 5, 2010
Dear Haris,
The leaders of the so called “Pakatan Rakyat” is not about the rakyat. It’s about them, the so called annointed leaders. They only speak of the rakyat and try hard to impress them when their vote counts to make them an MP or adun. Then when that is done they immediatelly forget. The win by BN is Sapi was because the opposition was having a boxing match amongst theselves. The people had no choice but to reject both pretenders from the opposition. Haris if this is the calibre of candidates from PR then what else is there……And with Anwar fronting the Malay Agenda while Nurul sings another song. Is it not better to have the known devil than the semmingly unknown angel…Dah bosan dengan jangi jangi Anwar..
AgreeToDisagree
November 6, 2010
Not ALL leaders. Just some. Remove those and keep going, PAS and DAP are more stable and can lead temporarily even if some PKR leaders fall. 2nd liners may replace fallen leaders as well. But stick to the below 3 items to ensure dominance of minority votes :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy.
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution.
MCA/MIC/Gerakan/PPP cannot feed everyone, but Pakatan can feed the minorities EQUALITY, something BN is incapable of doing because they want to keep parasiting all the races..
shakuntala
November 5, 2010
Why should we forecast the future via illegally managed, dishonest and personality promoting by-elections. They are not true mirrors to tell the future.
By-elections in this country, are a waste of time and effort when gauged against the quality of the individuals contesting..remember the unworthy MB of Negri Sembilan who got voted despite having squandered money? What a joke by-election!
Sympathy voting is also a fore gone conclusion…we are looking at indiviudals,who are able to evoke emotions in individuals. We are forgetting the broader picture ie, the party and its worth. this is what is happening all the time.
Let’s not get overly rattled….it’s up to PKR,to now stop bickering one against the other, eat humble pie and work hard to re-vamp its former image of a party which had earned the Ra’ayat’s trust and admiration.
Go on PKR …you can do it and come a winner at GE13.
matthew francis
November 6, 2010
as i said earlier, forget pr. bn is the only option. and so is mahathirism. isa is good for discipline. if u don’t agree, just quit malaysia and be singaporean, aussie, brit, us or israel etc. cheerio.
A
November 9, 2010
They, too, have ISA.
shamara
November 6, 2010
I still say we must not despair. Give PKR a chance, let their internal elections be over and you will find a unifying 2nd leader next to Anwar. How can we ever contemplate going to a really corrupt, swindling, abusive, ultra-racist regime in the form of UMNO/BN? Anwar is not coping excellently ‘cos he has too many things in his plate, courtesy of Najib. I will not give up. We must kick out UMNO/BN with or without PKR in great condition or we may miss the boat for another 52 years. PR is the only alternative we have now. Be very critical but also give our support. PR branch set-ups in Selangor are normally much better off than the typical PR set-ups elsewhere. Support does not mean sitting on our butts and yelling like a spectator. Go and see the PR operators, help them financially ‘cos they are really short of it everywhere. Join committees that help the Rakyat, join NGOs, offer your help at PR’s Pusat Khidmats. Engage with the ADUNs and MPs and give ideas. Hello, whining via email alone doesn’t help the casue of PR. PLEASE sincerely ask yourself, what have you contributed to PR’s cause since 308? Sincerely have you done anything worth anything to other Rakyat? Wake up, be involved then complain, it is more effective.TQ
ansari
November 6, 2010
azmin can win pkr election but he will lose the general election
azmin,fuziah, shamsul ketot, zuraida, ansari can say goodbye to putrajaya
Pat
November 7, 2010
I am late to this, Haris, and am only here because of the heads-up from a dear friend.
A brilliant piece, as usual. And the questions you ask are those I have been asking for so long – but no one has even a half-decent answer for me.
The writing’s on the wall? So be it.
But what do we the voters do then – at the soon-to-come GE? I think I’ll stay home after all. I can’t bring myself to vote for either side, that’s why. My brain just won’t let me.