BN’s dilemma: To fight or not to fight

Instead of picking a PKR assemblymen in Penang, Anwar has decided to force a by-election to allow his former political secretary Dr Mansor Osman to contest, win and automatically become deputy Chief Minister 1.

By BARADAN KUPPUSAMY, The Star

IT is a tough call for the Barisan Nasional whether to contest against the Pakatan Rakyat in the upcoming Penanti by-election in Penang or give a walkover.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has said that yet another by-election in a country weary of non-stop politicking is a sheer waste of time, energy and resources that can be better used to help improve the economy which today is the key worry of most Malay-sians.

But Pakatan leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not to be put off and has engineered yet another vacancy by forcing the PKR incumbent and former deputy Penang Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin to resign.

His ally Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is not happy with the haughty way Anwar had handled the issue like keeping Lim in the dark for days after Fairus had submitted his resignation letter to the PKR supremo.

“I only learnt about it in the media,” said Lim, peeved over the episode – especially with Barisan Nasional leaders criticising him as politically impotent and waiting on Anwar to decide a replacement for Fairus.

“The whole (by-election) operation was planned by Anwar. I don’t know what is happening and neither do the PKR members themselves,” Lim told reporters on Sunday.

Instead of picking a PKR assemblymen in Penang, Anwar has decided to force a by-election to allow his former political secretary Dr Mansor Osman to contest, win and automatically become deputy Chief Minister 1.

Dr Mansor is a man of strong views, PKR sources said, and would not be as amenable as Fairus was.

“PKR would have a strong presence in the state government with Dr Mansor as deputy Chief Minister,” a senior PKR leader said. “Our Penang PKR was sidelined for want of a strong and capable leader but now we have that candidate in Dr Mansor.”

With Deputy Chief Minister 2 Dr Ramasamy – another man who holds firm views, – and Lim, it would be a case of three big tigers on one small hill.

Considering these circumstances and also the fact that the Penanti seat is one of three in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary held by Anwar, the PKR adviser is keen for another by-election battle which he is confident of winning.

He has the best of both worlds – a by-election victory to thumb his nose at the Barisan and his man at the top levels of the Penang government.

In addition, as Opposition leader, Anwar has the licence to criticise, blame and attack the Government over the slowing economy and turn the by-election into a referendum of the Government’s handling of the economy.

However, for the Government, fighting another by-election – the sixth since the March 8, 2008 general election – is a hassle as it will divert national attention away from Najib and his reform plans and take the focus away from the ailing economy back to divisive politics.

For these reasons, Najib and other Barisan Nasional leaders are toying with the idea of giving a walkover – with MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat saying a walkover would effectively cool the country’s rising political temperature.

But other Barisan leaders like MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad argue that the Barisan must fight, win or lose, not only to offer voters an alternative but also to keep the Barisan flag flying.

The Penanti seat is small with 15,000 voters and Fairus won it by a 2,219 vote majority with the Barisan’s Abdul Jalil garnering 5,127 votes.

Those who want to do battle say the seat is winnable especially with recent by-election results showing a 5% to 10% rise in Malays returning to Umno.

While Tun Mahathir is enjoying a comeback and is naturally spoiling for a fight especially with his archrival Anwar, it is Najib – as the Barisan chairman and Prime Minister – who will have to carry the burden.

As Pekan MP, he has fought many election battles and as deputy Prime Minister he has led the Barisan into many other battles. So it is not a question of experience or of shying away from a contest.

Nor is it a question of fearing defeat.

The Barisan wants to reform and deliver to win back support and that takes time. By-elections are a major distraction for them.

Therefore there is genuine advantage in avoiding another confrontation with the Pakatan whose leader Anwar wants just such a showdown to advance his agenda.

Not contesting would be not playing to his tune.

It would also pull the plug out of the Pakatan election bandwagon which is emotive with members bonding and thriving with each by-election battle.

But for veterans like Tun Mahathir it is anathema to give their political opponents a walkover and face charges of cowardice.

It is not in their blood to give up without a good fight, all the clever arguments notwithstanding.

Perhaps, as they argue, joining in battle is best as there is no loss of honour even if defeated.