By Stanley Koh - Free Malaysia TodayCOMMENT If you are an urban dweller, you can almost smell the euphoria blown into the air by Pakatan Rakyat’s recent electoral victory in Sibu, which came soon after an impressive performance in Hulu Selangor.
That says a lot about how unpopular Barisan Nasional is among urbanites, many of whom like to equate the ruling regime with the mafia.
Can the euphoria last? It is perhaps appropriate to remind Pakatan Rakyat not to be too complacent.
Chinese wisdom warns us that life is a rollercoaster, that we should be especially careful after an unusual series of lucky breaks, for misfortune might just be lurking around the corner.
Despite Pakatan's popular appeal, it continues to face an uphill battle against a powerful and ruthless enemy. It must recognise that the story of contemporary Malaysian politics is a script for a Hollywood gangster movie, a tale of conspiracy, betrayal and sabotage.
While PKR can shrug off the ongoing exodus from its ranks as a cleansing process and a weeding out of hypocrites and other scumbags, many opposition supporters are worried that it may be letting its guard down.
Indeed, every component party in Pakatan is vulnerable in the battle of political wills with the powerful ruling regime, which is bent on destroying the goodwill within the opposition coalition. Especially since the political tsunami of 2008, BN has been relentless in trying to drive its wedges into the rival coalition to weaken and eventually destroy its collective strength. It has shown remarkable obedience to Lenin’s notorious dictum: “In politics here is no morality, only expediency.”
However, the ballot can do more damage than the bullet. It is possible for conscientious and awakened Malaysians to throw out the BN government in the next round.
Strengthening the solidarity
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Now more and more Chinese Malaysians are saying they have had enough of politicians taking the nation to the brink of insanity.
Perhaps Pakatan should work out a campaign strategy that concentrates on major issues and ignores all side issues. What would be the impact if Malaysians choose to vote only on those issues closest to their hearts? Now more and more Chinese Malaysians are saying they have had enough of politicians taking the nation to the brink of insanity.
For example, Pakatan can ask voters whether they agree with BN’s bullying tactics, not only against the opposition parties, but also against the general public, and whether they want to see an end to such villainy. Or, when addressing urban voters, it can ask whether they feel BN has improved on public transportation.
The answers to such questions will be obvious.
At the same time, Pakatan must continue to strengthen the solidarity within the coalition. It must be able to withstand more and stronger onslaughts from the Umno-BN hegemony.
PKR is particularly vulnerable. Having selected its 2008 election candidates almost randomly, it is dangerously susceptible to sudden frog jumping.
The political future of its adviser, Anwar Ibrahim, is uncertain. The sword of Damocles is hanging over his head. The government has put him on trial again, but many feel it is Malaysia that is on trial.
“Justice will not come as a gift; we must fight for it,” Anwar declared in 1998 following his sacking from government.
On Sept 4 of that year, while addressing a mammoth crowd, he directed these sharp questions at the architect of his downfall: “For how long do you want power? For how long do you want to monopolize wealth? How much longer do you want to cheat the people?”
Little has changed since then. Anwar continues to direct the same questions to those in power. And he has kept the promises he made 12 years ago: to fight back, to take his struggle to the people, and to launch a movement to eliminate corruption and repression.
In his role as prime mover, he has cemented together a credible opposition front. This was no mean feat, given the past differences between DAP and PAS.
Ghafar Baba's bold but wrong insight
Nevertheless, the success is not his alone. Credit is also due to the likes of DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, PAS’s Nik Abdul Aziz and, of course, Malaysians who have had enough of the BN hegemony and want to see the emergence of a two-party system.BN used to describe the opposition coalition as parties “sharing the same bed but dreaming different dreams.” The joke is no longer funny, for the tables have turned, with MCA and Gerakan constantly questioning Umno’s erratic policies and the bigotry of its leaders.
There is a Chinese saying that warns young people against laughing at those with crooked fingers, for they too will grow old. MCA never heeded those words of wisdom. It has awakened in the same bed that Umno has been sleeping it, but they have had different nightmares. Now more and more Chinese Malaysians are saying they have had enough of politicians taking the nation to the brink of insanity.
In 1998, Asiaweek ran an interview with former deputy prime minister Abdul Ghafar Baba.
Ghafar said: “I don’t think the sacking (of Anwar) will divide the Malay community. I meet grassroots people every day, and I know they back Mahathir and Umno and that Anwar doesn’t have any support. Anwar may well form a new group, but he will fail because the majority of Malays are with Umno.”
We now know how far off the track he was.
Stankey Koh, a former head of research at MCA, is a Free Malaysia Today contributor.
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