BN sending message that it stands for corruption

Barisan is compromising its entire platform of reform by nominating Isa, in the hope it can win this one by-election. It is nominating a known money politician to represent itself to the people of Bagan Pinang and the people of Malaysia. It is basically telling us that Barisan stands for corruption.

By John Lee, The Malaysian Insider

The whole time I was in Malaysia this year, I was constantly bombarded with propaganda — 1 Malaysia this, 1 Malaysia that. Rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan — people first, performance now. But if this is the key plank of Barisan Nasional’s campaign to regain the hearts and minds of Malaysians, why do they so blatantly give lie to it by nominating Tan Sri Isa Samad to contest for them in Bagan Pinang?

To be fair to Barisan and Umno, Isa is a safe choice of sorts. He is popular with the Umno grassroots (who these days increasingly bear little relation to the Malaysian grassroots). The selection of a candidate unpopular with the local party members was another nail in Barisan’s coffin the last time it contested a by-election. Isa is a known quantity; he was the mentri besar of Negri Sembilan, so he has the political chops necessary to contest and lead a campaign.

But still, is Barisan out of its mind? In this case, they have blatantly put the interests of the party ahead of the people, and put political performance ahead of statesmanship. Is this what 1 Malaysia means?

Barisan touts itself as a wiser party, one willing to change and heed the people. Isa is a vote-buyer and carries a history of corruption — corruption so blatant that even Umno could not ignore it, and suspended him from the party. If there’s one thing Malaysians are tired of, it’s corruption — it’s why we voted so strongly in Pak Lah’s favour in 2004, and why we voted so strongly in Pakatan Rakyat’s favour in 2008.

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