Perhaps it is time for opposition leaders to think out of the box for a moment. Afterall, it has been slightly more than 50 years since we had our “independence”. Why the inverted comma’s? Well, we shouldn’t have been colonised by the British, but we did. I will leave that to another story.
For most of Malaysia post-independence history, our oppositions have been using the same old tactics, year in year out. Hang on, in a real world organisation, this would probably have signal something is really wrong. Fact is something major is really wrong. Why would Barisan Nasional year after year except for one term where it loses its 2/3 majority, always been the winner with over 2/3 majority?
Maybe it is time to examine the structure. Let’s take a look at Democrats and Republicans in America. One fights for the people another for the industries. You can argue that best if both can live hand in hand peacefully together. We need both. But yet it is just by this tiny margin, that both managed to co-exist peacefully with either of them winning the congress or the presidency.
And over in australia, the wordings becomes even clearer with Labour and Liberal party. Labour could only mean it is representing the labourers. And Liberal of course a liberal policy which favours employers. Other than that, they are quite equal in all other issues.
Race was never an issue in both countries. Maybe it is subconsciously but never consciously.
Let’s take a look at Malaysia. On one corner of the ring, you have the Barisan Nasional which is constructed by major races of Malaysia. You have UMNO, MCA and MIC with many other smaller component parties.
Opposition? You have a rojak of parties, DAP, a previous subset of PAP (Singapore’s ruling government since independence) which incidentally is one of the few parties that is supposedly multiracial. Frankly, I think even with DAP, they have lost their direction except that they know they are against the government. In some ways, it is like having the inferior complex syndrome. I would feel if they could come up with a better platform like actually pushing for things. Example, better education system for all (especially chinese school - which they have been fighting for quite a bit). PAS which in my personal humble opinion is really a good party has however laid fear in those non-muslim outside of Kelantan for the fear of an Islamic state, not that there is anything wrong with that. For those who has been to Kelantan, they will know PAS might not be a bad option. And Keadilan? Even worse, it resolves itself around one party. Almost a one man party if you ask me.
Perhaps in the next election (not the coming one), oppositions could regroup, form race based parties, DAP for chinese, PAS for malay and a new party for Indian, with keadilan either sideline or taken in for a free ride. Then I believe it will have a better winning chance. Why keep using the same formula year after year. If they have a similar component parties which for all its weaknesses, have worked well for Barisan, they definitely do have a winning chance rather than hoping to erode Barisan’s 2/3.
Really, can the opposition think out of the box?
I’m just a joe in the street browsing through the blogs.
I am not entirely clear of the whole history but I can say one thing.
I understand “Big brother” has control of everything crucial to ensure victory, from the armed forces to the voting administration.
A fresh new government is ONLY possible when there are new faces in the same regime (except Khairy) and the old ministers & datuk are willing to give up power for the sake of the people. Possible? I don’t think so..
I’d say even if everyone voted accordingly if its “rigged” like in those arcade game machines ,the opposition shall still lose.
But “Big brother” is quite cunning, he may offer to lose a few seats for “display of fair election”.
How is it rigged? Well, our votes is supposed to be anonymous right?
Well.. WHY is there a SERIAL NUMBER on the voting slip?? Asking the staff, they said its “procedure”.. don’t blame them, they just help out.
With a number any vote can be tracked. With sufficient data-mining “he” can predict which vote can be “convieniently lost” in the process or “inconvieniently transfer” those past opposition voters to isolated places of the region that they soon give up voting instead.
I heard out of fear.. the millions of civil servants are “forced” to vote for their own sake… Of course, vote for their boss.
Hoax? Just see your voting slip in the coming elections.
Election? I’d say its an interactive movie with a very predictable ending.
Want some popcorn?
Best Regards,
dissapointed joe
thanks for the comment
For a balance government.
For the benefits of all citizens.
There must have enough oppositions to represent the citizens and check on all goverment agenda..
I read your posting. and i must say your article is interesting because your findings about the most basic formula of political party. In the international terms, we called this kind of ” a party for a race/colour skin” - Tribal Politics. It is practiced as a way to secure the way a culture/ race’s survival. it is rather primitive in the political environment. A main stream political party should fight for the believe or we say, ideology, not for colour skin. Malaysia’s political environment started in the wrong way. the first moment it obtained independence, it has been wrong. wronged for the last 50 years. this tribal politics dominated country is the post-effect of colonial segregation policy or ‘ to seperate and rule over’. If you look closer, you find UMNO, MCA, MIC are all the representation of Tribal politics. Basically, crudely saying, the election in malaysia is determined by colour and may i conclude that the more baby u produce for your race, it ensures more power in voting. Sadly, it is the situation in malaysia. that is why the chinese are always concern about 25% populations & the indian, less than 10%. Lets ask this question, if the political parties are all about ideology and thinking, who really cares about the percentage representation of each races? Furthermore, a ideologically-based party will always tending to create a fair & just society, because to win votes from the majority of the citizen and form government, the party needs to concern about its countrymen’s voice. and thus, the born of true democracy! that counts and cares about individual citizen’s needs and concern; not by their particular race. Now, think and look, try to identify those parties that are not tribal in nature and there you shall find the light of democracy..
I would like to raise the issue about the serial number. As far as I concern, when they pass you the voting form, which is with the serial number, are they jotting down anywhere the serial number next to your name? If not, how do they track?
However, if they do jot down the serial number next to your name or in anyway that try to make a match, can we object? It is a serious violation of privacy act!
It’s not about thinking out of the box, it’s about rakyat growing up. With the maturity of the rakyat, the opposition would finally catch up. It may be slow now but once the mindset of the rakyat matured, it would be Malaysia that has the potential of surpassing even maybe Singapore !!!!! with her resources
The winning formula for today’s Malaysia politics is a combination of multi-racial parties system based on ideology. It is no longer a winning formula for a group of component parties that are determined by judging our skin colours and thus segregate us from our counterparts.
From the results, it is not suprise to have a netblogger won a seat in West Malaysia. Because a lot of times Sabah and Sarawak people especially those live in the interiors are only reached by the local television and radio networks and thus rely solely on the BN message passed to them. Therefore, other forms of medias beside netblogging play a crucial role to pass this new idea to many who live below the average.
After the oppositions formed the state governments in West Malaysia, the next thing they should do is to reach many people in the other parts of Malaysia.
I’m from a small country at the most southern end of m’sia.
I have followed closely to the recent m’sia 2008 GE. I’m very surprised with the election results especially with the downfall of Penang and Selangor to the opposition. I thought the outcome of m’sia 2008 GE will be like s’pore GE results - time and again “more predicting and boring”.
Well, m’sia definitely will one day surpass s’pore in view of its vast natural, human and land resources. This day will come sooner if the BN gov can adopt the same ideology as s’pore counterparts. But the problem with the BN gov is, “do they know how to manage their resources and turn the table around to their advantage?”
Sorry to say that if the single majority race in m’sia has the biggest and final say in managing the resources and the country, I doubt m’sia will be anywhere near to s’pore’s current status in the near future, let alone on par or overtaking s’pore.
To overcome all these, BN gov must first recognise that its race, religion and NEP issues are the biggest obstacles for m’sia to progress and move forward before competing with its well-to-do small neighbour.
“Sorry to say that if the single majority race in m’sia has the biggest and final say in managing the resources and the country, I doubt m’sia will be anywhere near to s’pore’s current status in the near future, let alone on par or overtaking s’pore”
I agree. M’sia has so much reasources that it should be well on par with some of the other more progressive nations around. However, sad to say that due to the mentality, tidak apa attitude and corruption, the move towards progress is slower than it should be.
I do not mean to be a racist or to purposefully make racial comments. But I think the single majority race in this country needs to wake up and realise the actual contributions of the other races and agree that with the majority numbers they constitute, they should be accomplishing more than the other races, however they are not and have not and continue to display a level of laziness, stupidity, slowness and uneducatedness which is a disgrace all round. No need to look at the ministers, just look at the lay people, the governtment offices, the policemen, and any other general position mostly filled by this race. What ‘feelings’ and what experiences have all of us had thus far? Unprofessionalism, extremely slow and unfocused responses, lack of integrity and so on. Take the cashiers at retaurants or the waiters for example even. I know I won’t have to say more. Eat at a chinese coffee shop and when u call for the bill, it even comes automatically with change assuming most people don’t have change. Eat in a malay shop, and they spend 3 minits trying to count how much u owe them and then another 5 minutes to bring your change. I mean it is apparant that for progress to happen, the entire mentality and attitude of this single majority race in this country has to change. They need to stop rioting, stop being so close minded, stop thinking they are so great, and really just sit down, face facts and do somethin to improve themselves on an individual level. If they can’t, won’t or don’t know how, (which is usually the case) then the governtment should stop spoiling them with provilidges they are no longer entitled to. They are no longer supressed by the British as they were before, they do not need any preferential treatment moving forward. There is no such thing as positive discrimination. We are a country who discriminates and we need to acknowledge that. We need to move towards an environment where everyone despite race, religion or custom can enjoy the same level of priviliges being called Malaysians. Then the slate is clean, whoever works hard, gets the cake. Those who are lazy can be left behind. Educational opportunities are everywhere these days. If a person wants to get ahead, they can make an effort to do so by any means they can find. They do not need ‘help’ from the govt. They do not need to borrow money and then subsequently not pay back, hence robbing their own govtn who tried to help them get somewhere. The level of English will not need to be lowered to stoop to the level of kampungs. We can then take baby steps to move fwd to becoming a more progressive nation. Currently, we are in denial abt the state we are in, and in denial about what the majority race is and shld have. If this is a country that practices Democracy, then fairness and quality should exist for ALLLLLL.
citygirl..to some extent i agree with you and to another i find you are a closet racist though u may not admit it. Do checkout at any McD if they r that unbearably slow or stupid or whatever you like to fault them…they shldnt be working there right? but then they are and is it becoz they or their mindset? and another thing..who you refer as “we” and “them” in your comments and why such addresses?
SPM 3rd Grader