When There Is No More Food On The Dining Table
Some political observers even believe that the success or failure in the three by-elections will have a delicate impact on the PAS party elections in June.
By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily
Despite the 4th Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Survey Report by Merdeka Center is long-winded, it is still having a reference value.
What is noteworthy is that 9% of the respondents believe that “racial inequality” is the most important issue and problem facing by the country today. This reflects a fact: racial issue is still the most sensitive subject in the country. Together with the issues of religious and allegiance to the royal family, they are ranged as the “3R issues”, which are most vulnerable and easy to be manipulated by today's politicians.
Merdeka Center Programme Director Ibrahim Suffian has indirectly confirmed the fact that racial issue still has a very strong political market value in Malaysia. He said in an interview that one year after the political tsunami, although Malay voters have split into two major camps, BN and Pakatan Rakyat, the dispute of Malay Supremacy has made more Malay to support Umno. This is because “when they are told that there is no more food on the dining table, some Malays are worried about their privileges”.
| "Otherwise, the conservative radical group would rise and bring a new challenge to the relationship among PAS, Keadilan and DAP." |
Would the 3R issues continue when there is no more food on the dining table? Would the 3R issue effects outbreak collectively? It is clear that the three by-elections scheduled on 7 April, particularly the election results of Bukit Gantang in Perak and Bukit Selambau in Kedah, carry a great importance and significance in showing the tendency of voters.
Some political observers even believe that the success or failure in the three by-elections will have a delicate impact on the PAS party elections in June. This is another noteworthy “political effect” besides the “no more food on the dining table” effect.
The PAS coming party elections is seen as a major battle between the pro-democracy liberals and conservative radical group. If the pro-democracy liberals continue to dominate PAS, Pakatan Rakyat would be able to maintain the current triangular relationship. Otherwise, the conservative radical group would rise and bring a new challenge to the relationship among PAS, Keadilan and DAP.
“When there is no more food on the dining table”, human will easily expose their weaknesses of greed or even brutality. This is the sorrow of human reality, as well as the the sorrow of Malaysia's political reality!
