I’m no political analyst, but I do have some things to say about the Malaysian Election of 8 March 2008. The nation is still in shock, I think, at the results. Five states fallen to opposition hands! Including Selangor!!
If this isn’t God’s Almighty hand then I don’t know what is! Even the opposition parties are themselves staggered at the results. I guess even they did not realize the extent of the electorate’s frustrations. BN component parties speak of doing postmortems and I wonder if they would first take a good look at themselves instead of finger pointing. Let me say my piece to the parties concerned.
To MCA – I actually was quite impressed with the way the leadership and the party was evolving and moving on to new things – like lifelong learning, UTAR, commitment to Chinese schools and generally your efforts to reach the Chinese people to serve them. Your leadership was strong (despite the Chua Soi Lek saga). The only trouble was, you saw yourself as being subservient to UMNO, not as a partner in BN. You wanted to keep the peace I guess and felt that the best way to serve the Chinese was by not rocking the boat. But because the people were tired of putting up with of the arrogance of UMNO, the corruption and high handedness, you were identified with them at the elections. The electorate did not see the BN logo – they only saw UMNO.
To Gerakan, I guess the same applies to you. You had your share of problems trying to please the electorate in Penang, but you generally did a good job. But you too saw yourself as being subservient to UMNO. Appeasing them was an ongoing agenda it seemed. Again in the electorate’s mind, voting BN was tantamount to voting into government the same UMNO arrogance and corruption. I actually feel sorry for Gerakan.
To MIC – what is there to say to you? The BN logo only represented that clown Samy Velu, who saw himself as God’s gift to the Indians. Its common knowledge that he rules MIC with gangsters. Added to that was the government’s shameful treatment of HINDRAF. MIC candidates did not stand a chance. When Sothinathan tried to speak on behalf of the Indians in parliament, (concerning entrance into Medical Colleges overseas) he was punished for it and branded as a traitor to BN. Wasn’t it only because it did not suit UMNO? What is parliament about then? Is an MP’s loyalty to party above his loyalty to raise the people’s issues? When Sothinathan was “demoted” for 3 months, MIC just accepted it. You too see yourself as subservient to UMNO.
The PM’s handling of the Indians in HINDRAF, I really think lead to his downfall. It was with arrogance rather than genuine advice that you told the Indians to show their discontent at the polls. Well sir – they did!! Now you want a postmortem? The Indians had taken enough from Mahatir. From places deprived in public universities, to job opportunities for migrant estate workers, or even jobs in the civil service, or nursing or teaching. Not forgetting of course Mahatir’s treatment of the first two Malaysians (Indians) to reach the summit of Mt Everest. But things did not get any better under Abdullah Badawi. I am proud of the brave HINDRAF leaders and demonstrators. They were peaceful mind you. They had no other way to be heard. But BN’s strong arm tactics were used – their offices were searched and the leaders thrown in under ISA. To think that Samy Velu actually believed he would be elected!
I wish Palanivel had won, so that at least some semblance of leadership would have remained in MIC. Having lost by 198 votes is agonizing, especially when there were about 1,400 spoilt votes. But then again, if he had just continued as a Samy Velu puppet, it would have served no purpose.
To PKR, congratulations. But you are yet to be tested. Anwar Ibrahim, many of the things you did as DPM, will follow you, so your credibility will be closely watched. You can’t deny your high-handedness and arrogance as DPM. The question in the people’s minds is – has he really changed? But I like the racial composition of the party. Your work has just begun, and you have to prove yourself.
To DAP, you have fought hard and long. Now you have the chance to prove yourself. Please do it, for the people’s sake. And I mean ALL people.
To UMNO, you have an uphill task to even gain the confidence of the Malays. The Sungei Petani BN candidate Zainuddin Maidin was quoted as saying “It’s not that they love PKR or PAS that they voted against me.” No, they just wanted you out. PKR, DAP and PAS will have to prove themselves, but the people are willing to take that chance.You had your chance. That people actually stood guard at State Secretariat buildings to prevent BN officials (UMNO actually) from removing or destroying files shows the extent of the people’s distrust of you. Yes, you need to do a postmortem. Look within and look honestly. Take stock of the likes of keris wielding Hishamuddin, Khairy (btw did he win through postal votes?), Ali Rustam (the man who told PPP “UMNO doesn’t need you”), Khir Toyo and other leaders whose arrogance and greed is becoming a byword. Do a postmortem.
Winds of change can be frightening, but sometimes they are necessary. This change was needed, and we need to pray for those now in leadership – that they would be wiser and men and women of integrity. Malaysia will come through. The dust is slowly settling.
Remember there is a God who is Sovereign and He still rules.
My Two Cents Worth – Malaysian Elections 2008
March 11, 2008I’m no political analyst, but I do have some things to say about the Malaysian Election of 8 March 2008. The nation is still in shock, I think, at the results. Five states fallen to opposition hands! Including Selangor!!
If this isn’t God’s Almighty hand then I don’t know what is! Even the opposition parties are themselves staggered at the results. I guess even they did not realize the extent of the electorate’s frustrations. BN component parties speak of doing postmortems and I wonder if they would first take a good look at themselves instead of finger pointing. Let me say my piece to the parties concerned.
To MCA – I actually was quite impressed with the way the leadership and the party was evolving and moving on to new things – like lifelong learning, UTAR, commitment to Chinese schools and generally your efforts to reach the Chinese people to serve them. Your leadership was strong (despite the Chua Soi Lek saga). The only trouble was, you saw yourself as being subservient to UMNO, not as a partner in BN. You wanted to keep the peace I guess and felt that the best way to serve the Chinese was by not rocking the boat. But because the people were tired of putting up with of the arrogance of UMNO, the corruption and high handedness, you were identified with them at the elections. The electorate did not see the BN logo – they only saw UMNO.
To Gerakan, I guess the same applies to you. You had your share of problems trying to please the electorate in Penang, but you generally did a good job. But you too saw yourself as being subservient to UMNO. Appeasing them was an ongoing agenda it seemed. Again in the electorate’s mind, voting BN was tantamount to voting into government the same UMNO arrogance and corruption. I actually feel sorry for Gerakan.
To MIC – what is there to say to you? The BN logo only represented that clown Samy Velu, who saw himself as God’s gift to the Indians. Its common knowledge that he rules MIC with gangsters. Added to that was the government’s shameful treatment of HINDRAF. MIC candidates did not stand a chance. When Sothinathan tried to speak on behalf of the Indians in parliament, (concerning entrance into Medical Colleges overseas) he was punished for it and branded as a traitor to BN. Wasn’t it only because it did not suit UMNO? What is parliament about then? Is an MP’s loyalty to party above his loyalty to raise the people’s issues? When Sothinathan was “demoted” for 3 months, MIC just accepted it. You too see yourself as subservient to UMNO.
The PM’s handling of the Indians in HINDRAF, I really think lead to his downfall. It was with arrogance rather than genuine advice that you told the Indians to show their discontent at the polls. Well sir – they did!! Now you want a postmortem? The Indians had taken enough from Mahatir. From places deprived in public universities, to job opportunities for migrant estate workers, or even jobs in the civil service, or nursing or teaching. Not forgetting of course Mahatir’s treatment of the first two Malaysians (Indians) to reach the summit of Mt Everest. But things did not get any better under Abdullah Badawi. I am proud of the brave HINDRAF leaders and demonstrators. They were peaceful mind you. They had no other way to be heard. But BN’s strong arm tactics were used – their offices were searched and the leaders thrown in under ISA. To think that Samy Velu actually believed he would be elected!
I wish Palanivel had won, so that at least some semblance of leadership would have remained in MIC. Having lost by 198 votes is agonizing, especially when there were about 1,400 spoilt votes. But then again, if he had just continued as a Samy Velu puppet, it would have served no purpose.
To PKR, congratulations. But you are yet to be tested. Anwar Ibrahim, many of the things you did as DPM, will follow you, so your credibility will be closely watched. You can’t deny your high-handedness and arrogance as DPM. The question in the people’s minds is – has he really changed? But I like the racial composition of the party. Your work has just begun, and you have to prove yourself.
To DAP, you have fought hard and long. Now you have the chance to prove yourself. Please do it, for the people’s sake. And I mean ALL people.
To UMNO, you have an uphill task to even gain the confidence of the Malays. The Sungei Petani BN candidate Zainuddin Maidin was quoted as saying “It’s not that they love PKR or PAS that they voted against me.” No, they just wanted you out. PKR, DAP and PAS will have to prove themselves, but the people are willing to take that chance. You had your chance. That people actually stood guard at State Secretariat buildings to prevent BN officials (UMNO actually) from removing or destroying files shows the extent of the people’s distrust of you. Yes, you need to do a postmortem. Look within and look honestly. Take stock of the likes of keris wielding Hishamuddin, Khairy (btw did he win through postal votes?), Ali Rustam (the man who told PPP “UMNO doesn’t need you”), Khir Toyo and other leaders whose arrogance and greed is becoming a byword. Do a postmortem.
Winds of change can be frightening, but sometimes they are necessary. This change was needed, and we need to pray for those now in leadership – that they would be wiser and men and women of integrity. Malaysia will come through. The dust is slowly settling.
Remember there is a God who is Sovereign and He still rules.
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