COMMENT People love the underdog. There's something magical about a person who, when down in the dumps, is able to rise above all adversities and win the day.
We remember the tragic Spartacus, the Roman gladiator-turned-revolutionary, who died fighting for a cause. At Spartacus' time and age, he was the villain, the opposition, the counter-government, yet history remembers Spartacus and not the Roman government that defeated and killed him.
Spartacus was the underdog and we cheer him on today.
We remember Mahatma Gandhi, the passive resistance fighter who won the independence of India without bloodshed yet it was his blood that was shed in the end. It is the picture of the small frame man, weaving his own clothes that we remember.
Mahatma Gandhi was the underdog and we marvel at his actions today.
And who can forget the students at Tiananmen Square. The poetic image of the lone stranger standing, plastic bags in hand, in front of a tank, stirs deep emotions for those of us watching from afar. The peaceful sit-down was broken up in a hail of bullets and coordinated violence.
The Chinese students were the underdog and we honour their sacrifice.
All is not fair in politics. The above figures paid the ultimate price to challenge the politics of the day. They fought for their principles, lost and stood defeated. Yet, history records their exploits and the underdog came up tops.
Pakatan Rakyat is the underdog in Malaysian politics – a seemingly unfair playing field where the rules of engagement are determined by the establishment of the day. Victories are few and casualties are plenty.
God-send for BN
It seemed worth the effort to throw support for the underdog, yet when the underdog is reduced to biting spells within its own ranks, the underdog has only itself to blame.
The withdrawal of Zaid Ibrahim from the PKR electoral race and his resignation from all party posts did not go unnoticed for those of us in Sarawak, where the only means of information is via mainstream media; any bad press for Pakatan is ammunition for Barisan Nasional to discredit and tear Pakatan's name in Sarawak.
The withdrawal was a god-send for BN, which was already laying down the rules of engagement for the upcoming state election. The media spin itself was good enough to sway the masses in BN's favour.
How can the people of Sarawak throw their vote behind Pakatan when it cannot even conduct proper voting for its own office-bearers? How can Pakatan promise stability to Sarawak when its own boat is rocking in the water?
The people of Sarawak want change – to breathe fresh air after 30-odd years of living in the confines of a Machiavillian rule. We want to see better government, and less corruption, a more caring establishment that listens to the voices of the normal citizens and takes pride in ratifying the problems we have long endured.
Must the people of Sarawak now remind Pakatan that the struggle for change does not mean squabbling over who gets the top seat at the dinner table? What good is Pakatan at leading the charge for change when it cannot even start off the starting block?
It's the tipping point for Pakatan. What happens in the next few weeks will determine the success or failure during the coming political battle called the general election.
Time Pakatan be serious
For Sarawakians, it means the demise of the only significant challenge to the ruling BN and the chance for change to happen in our lifetime. Are we to endure another term of rule from the current establishment? Only to have Pakatan promise us again that change is coming?
Or will the people of Sarawak choose a path that is non-political?
It is evident that politics will not save Sarawak. Politicians will not save Sarawak. It is the people who will save Sarawak.
We need Spartacus, Mahatma Gandhi and the spirit of the Tiananmen students to lead the charge for change.
Yes, it is a long-withdrawn battle and losing is assured, yet history will record that the lay people put up a stand against an establishment bent on manipulating them for personal gains.
With or without Pakatan, the people of Sarawak will mount an ongoing assault for change. This is the legacy we want to leave our children.
This is something Pakatan needs to understand. It is not that Sarawak needs Pakatan to fight its battle. Pakatan needs Sarawakians. And all we ask is that Pakatan put its act together and come along side us.
It is high time Pakatan brought about a change to the political landscape of Malaysia by beating to a different beat from the BN: show the people that it is capable, mature and can overcome internal bickering and work towards fulfilling all its promises.
Barack Obama joins the ranks of the underdogs as someone who rose from the unknown and won the highest seat in government in the United States.
For a nation riven with racial issues, having a president of mixed parentage (his mother was white and father African) is unheard of, yet the people's will cannot be denied.
In Sarawak, change will happen because the people desire it. And neither the BN nor Pakatan can deny them that.
Pakatan, it is time for you to be serious about leading the charge for change.
Maclean Patrick is a webmaster based in Sarawak.
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