The significance of the Bukit Gantang by-election
A certain blogger has it that the Bukit Gantang by-election is really a contest between Anwar and the Sultan.
Clearly, this blogger, whilst steeped in experience in the media industry, having served UMNO-owned and controlled newspapers for a long, long time, does not quite appreciate the divisions of power within our constitutional set up.
Or maybe this blogger suffered a lapse of memory, thinking he was still writing for the UMNO-owned newspapers.
No, the Bukit Gantang by-election is not a contest between Anwar and the Sultan.
Simply, its about people power.
You see, a little over a year ago, Malaysians went to the polls and inflicted a painful lesson on BN such as it had never suffered before.
The loss of its otherwise seemingly invincible 2/3 majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah joined Kelantan as state governments now under Pakatan Rakyat control.
Why?
What brought about this result?
Malaysians, for some time now better informed of what was being done to the nation by inept, self-serving and corrupt politicians, thanks to the alternative media, and tired of being lied to and constantly deceived, wanted change.
The people of Perak, too, wanted change.
And through that power that the constitution bestows on the people to determine who shall govern, the majority of the people of Perak decided that they had had enough of BN and voted for change.
And so, the Pakatan Rakyat state government of Perak was born by the will of the majority of the people of Perak.
Not by the prerogative of the Sultan, but the will of the people.
Read more at: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/the-significance-of-the-bukit-gantang-by-election/
