ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR: BN out to show that it cares
It is obvious that the BN is banking on its track record, as a government capable of bringing meaningful development and helping the people, to retain the Kuala Terengganu seat on Jan 17.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, New Straits Times
KERAJAAN Cakna Rakyat or, loosely translated, a government that cares, is shaping up to be the Barisan Nasional's main campaign theme in Kuala Terengganu.
Recognising the local focus of the by-election, BN's main strategy is to put more substance into the coalition's usual rhetoric on development. The message is that the development carried out by the BN government is people-centric.
Driving around in the parliamentary constituency, the BN's blue-hued billboards, posters and banners are hard to miss.
People-friendly slogans accompany pictures of government leaders with the rakyat. At strategic locations are hoardings showing how much the state government has spent to build and repair houses for the hardcore poor.
There is also information on the number of impoverished homes whose rusting zinc roofs had been replaced, courtesy of the state.
Another eye-catching billboard reads: Kerajaan Cakna — Harga Minyak Dah Turun (A caring government — fuel prices are down).
It is obvious that the BN is banking on its track record, as a government capable of bringing meaningful development and helping the people, to retain the Kuala Terengganu seat on Jan 17.
BN leaders, especially Datuk Ahmad Said, the menteri besar and Terengganu BN chief, has been saying at many public events that development projects were aimed at sharing the state's wealth with the people, eradicating poverty, providing better education and creating economic opportunities.
He wants party workers in the constituency to help him persuade the 80,299 voters that they should return the BN for continuity.
"We want them to see what the BN government has done and can do for the people and the state."
Ahmad said this when explaining the rationale behind the many projects initiated by the government, for example in education, where it is committed to making all its citizens literate in information technology.
A programme to give laptop computers to 25,000 Year Five pupils has been well received.
Similarly, the promises to replace zinc roofs of houses of poor families and grant 4ha of land to anyone wanting to grow padi have also been popular.
The opposition, however, feels this BN strategy may backfire.
"The explanation of issues in these billboards and banners reflects that poverty remains and is an election issue," said Pas Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub.
Political scientist Mohammad Agus Yusoff of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia felt the retelling of BN's good works would not be of much use.
"Politics is always about hope and the hopes that BN offer are cliches."
Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Pangkor assemblyman who is campaigning in Kuala Terengganu, does not agree.
He insisted that the billboards were an effective means of letting people know what the government had done for them.
"They are important tools to send messages across to the masses, especially on local issues which are the core of this campaign."
The state legislative assembly recently approved a RM1.8 billion budget for 2009, with RM230.9 million allocated for poverty eradication and RM149 million for educational programmes.
The menteri besar has given his assurance that the budget would be fully utilised despite the threat of recession, and this, according to local Umno leaders, speaks volumes for the BN's determination to meet the people's needs.
