Back to the by-election circus
Two more tetchy political battles are in the works with the coming polls in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.
ALONG THE WATCHTOWER BY VEERA PANDIYAN, The Star
GET ready, folks, the Malaysian political circus is all set to roll again.
Watch out for the usual bunch of clowns, tight-rope walkers, dagger throwers and fire breathers, but expect much attention to be on the four infamous frogs, even if they are not anywhere near the rings.
Yes, two more by-elections are on the cards – one resulting from the untimely death of a Perak PAS MP and the other by a furore caused over a Kedah state exco member’s second wife.
The timing of the polls couldn’t be more poignant for Pakatan Rakyat and more nerve-wracking for Barisan Nasional.
Political acrimony is at its highest after Barisan’s coup in wresting the Perak government from Pakatan with the crossover of four assembly representatives.
Pakatan leaders are banking on the simmering anger of the people over the collapse of their 11-month old government and festering disgust against the political frogs to retain the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat by a bigger majority.
The late PAS MP Roslan Shaharom beat Barisan’s Datuk Azim Zabidi by a 1,566-vote majority in the March 8, 2008, general election.
Barisan is equally upbeat, claiming that it was infighting within Umno, choice of candidate and failure to solve local issues which cost the coalition to lose its grip on its former stronghold.
As for Bukit Selambau, the comfortable majority scored by former assemblyman V. Arumugam over Kedah MIC secretary S. Krishnan the last time around and current sentiments on the ground are indicators that it certainly won’t be an easy fight for Barisan.
But it is not hard to foretell that the thrust of Barisan attacks will be aimed at Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
After all, the amazing glue of a guy who holds Pakatan together, has already been struck by “friendly fire” from the likes of DAP veteran Karpal Singh and the country’s most famous blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin.
A day after Karpal Singh squarely blamed Anwar for the troubles in Pakatan and told him to quit heading the coalition, Raja Petra went further by also calling for the ousters of DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang.
But it was Karpal Singh’s lashing out against Kit Siang and his son Lim Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, for not supporting him on the issue of party-hopping and hudud laws, that jolted most DAP members.
It was the first time the party chairman had ever spoken out openly against Kit Siang and Guan Eng, indicating that he had been harbouring deep frustrations for quite a while.
Guan Eng has since reiterated the party’s support for Anwar as Opposition Leader. Both he and his father have also appealed to Karpal Singh to use “internal party channels” to change policies or criticise any leadership weaknesses.
Not all agree, though, as seen by postings in Kit Siang’s blog responses.
One reader wrote: “Karpal has been consistent on anti-hopping from Day 1. The rest of us, seduced by the scent of power, conveniently ignored him.
“We may not agree with him asking Anwar to step down, but do you not agree that Anwar deserves a big kick on his backside for being arrogant and naive?
“Why can’t we do it the proper democratic way by focusing on winning one by-election at a time until the big one in GE13?
“I believe the momentum will still be on our side as long as we can preserve our moral high ground.”
Most of the Pakatan faithfuls, however, have been busy spewing venom on Karpal Singh and Raja Petra for rocking the boat in this crucial hour.
Understandably, DAP leaders who have tasted power for the first time in their lives have every reason to be grateful to Anwar, whether or not they are convinced of his credibility or his leadership credentials.
They have also come to realise that there is a big difference between being a part of an Opposition coalition and being part of a ruling one.
It was easier to talk about ideologies and principles when they were not in charge of a government.
It wasn’t too long ago when DAP leaders mocked MCA elected representatives for wearing the songkok during ceremonial functions and were joking about them hiding under Umno’s sarong.
Or poking fun at non-Malay Barisan representatives, referring to them as mere yes men, yar (in Hokkien, coconut), and botol (Malay for bottle, which rhymes with betul or correct).
They may not like it, but they now have to face their own moments of holding up their coconuts and bottles in the expediency of the bigger prize at stake – winning the Federal Government.
But shouldn’t PKR and PAS accept that they have to be clear on such issues as the highly divisive hudud laws instead of always putting these on the back burner or giving hazy answers, depending on the audience?
At the very least, their die-hard supporters shouldn’t get livid if there are people like Karpal Singh who dare to risk their popularity to question the ethics and principles of leaders within their own fold.
Regrettably, many such supporters, prominent bloggers included, tend to conveniently adopt George W. Bush’s ridiculous doctrine – “If you are not for us, you are against us” – each time anyone is vaguely critical of Anwar.
Come on, lah, whatever happened to championing freedom of expression?
