Where have all the ballots gone?
Pakatan should also be aware that its image is on the slide. Many supporters are utterly frustrated with the countless internal conflicts and infighting taking place on an almost weekly basis.
By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily
PAS won. Wait a minute, by only 65 votes compared to 1,352 last time.
Where have all the ballots gone?
The PAS leadership should perhaps take a deep breath, and then touch its back and see whether it is drenched and chill.
If not because of the extremely high turnout, if not because Muhyiddin said something wrong that has offended the fishmongers, if not because Nik Aziz has fought with all his life, if not because… In short, just that little bit more and BN would have celebrated its triumph in Manik Urai.
Even though BN did not eventually win the election, its morale has been boosted, and its prospects significantly brighter. Both Najib and Muhyiddin are well aware that if even a formidable PAS fortress is almost crushed, it only shows that they have taken the right move.
As long as the issues of UMNO-PAS dialog and Malay unity continue to be played up, PAS will split from its core, and its supporters will be softened.
This will then be followed by some of BN's track records in governance, and the Malay voters will throw themselves towards UMNO.
The Indians' attitude may also swing. Even the Chinese ballots will drift back to BN.
Moreover, BN has more than three years to recoup its lost terrain. Manik Urai is just the beginning.
Meanwhile, has PAS sensed something going wrong? How about the opposition pact?
| "Politics is all about competition. A political party must constantly outdo its rivals in its quest for broader electoral support, and then put up a good show running the government… Any party unable to do this should just step aside." |
I'm not going to overestimate the wisdom of PAS leaders, or should I say, the internal conflicts of the party as well as the recalcitrance and ill intentions of some of its leaders have dissolved the ability of some people to sense the crisis.
Nevertheless, if they still have some sensibility and alertness, they should be aware that politics must be clear-cut. No ambiguity or versatility.
No political parties could win public support without a clear direction and well defined policies.
PAS has had its own stand blurred, its direction obliterated, and its integrity shattered–with its intention of holding dialog and forming a unity government with archrival UMNO.
We simply cannot have an ally cum opponent, or a partner cum rival at the same time. Can we?
If you want dialogue, Malay unity or coalition government, then disband yourself and join UMNO!
Although Nik Aziz is aged, he still sees this clearly. But don't expect Hadi Awang and his followers to understand this.
Pakatan should also be aware that its image is on the slide. Many supporters are utterly frustrated with the countless internal conflicts and infighting taking place on an almost weekly basis.
If this is allowed to go on, the entire opposition pact will fall apart.
Najib has shown some results after taking over the helm of government. And this is exactly what the rakyat want to see.
Politics is all about competition. A political party must constantly outdo its rivals in its quest for broader electoral support, and then put up a good show running the government.
Any party unable to do this should just step aside.
