Dishonesty in Bagan Pinang
When PAS and Umno collide
Whatever their motivations, it seems to make virtually all contests between Umno and PAS degenerate into an orgy of dishonesty and holier-than-thou Islamism. Perhaps this is what Malay-Muslim Malaysian voters want and enjoy, and what non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysians are willing to put up with in their quest to choose the lesser evil.
By Shanon Shah, The Nut Graph
THERE is a ubiquitous campaign billboard in Port Dickson now. It says, “For 63 years, Barisan Nasional (BN) has protected you. Don’t destroy the country’s security.”
The arithmetic is baffling. The BN was officially registered as a coalition in July 1974. As at October 2009, this would make the BN only 35 years old. Yes, the BN is only as old as Posh Spice a.k.a. Mrs David Beckham. Former US President George W Bush is 63 years old, not the BN.
But the number quoted on this billboard is intriguing. Perhaps a cursory look at the BN’s three biggest peninsula-based parties is in order. We can eliminate the MCA from this equation since it was formed in 1949, making it a youthful 60 years old only. Both the MIC and Umno, however, were formed in 1946. Just on a hunch, the billboard is probably not referring to the MIC. No, the billboard’s subliminal message seems to be that Umno is the BN, and voters had better not forget this.
Setting aside the subliminal message, such dishonesty is only a small part of the BN’s Bagan Pinang by-election campaign rhetoric. Take BN candidate Tan Sri Isa Samad‘s campaign trail. He piggybacks incessantly on government functions as part of his campaign platform.
For example, on 4 Oct 2009, he attended a function at Politeknik Port Dickson and delivered a campaign speech. The event was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry’s entrepreneur funding body, Tekun.
The minister was there, as well as the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar. But when journalists asked Isa if his appearance at the function was an abuse of power and an election offence, he said no. “I am actually part of the agricultural development council for the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency, so I have a role to play here, too,” he explained calmly.
READ MORE HERE: http://www.thenutgraph.com/
