No cause for celebration on the alternative front
Anwar has gained a massive victory during the 2008 general election, but today he is having a rough path in front of him as the sodomy case is still very far away from being settled. As he is facing a criminal charge, can he continue to lead the Pakatan Rakyat to do battle for Putrajaya?
LIM SUE GOAN, SIN CHEW DAILY
Late in the night of 8 March 2008, news of the fall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) state governments in Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Perak spread like wildfire throughout the nation.
The three major opposition parties in the peninsula – the DAP, PKR and PAS –.were in jubilant mood, with rousing celebrations by members and supporters all over the country, especially at the 24-hour coffee shops, pubs and eating places, where they had gathered to watch the live televised announcement of the election results.
That was the height of happiness for the opposition parties three years ago. But, today, there is a totally different scenario, with nary a sound of triumphant expression in the alternative coalition camp, more so after its defeat at two recent state by-elections.
On 8 March this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak confidently unveiled nine new entry point projects under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) at the Securities Commission Malaysia.
The government and the ETP are gaining political points for the BN, and revamping the unpopular image of inefficiency during the administration of Tun Abdullah Badawi into one the people are beginning to feel happy about.
Najib has managed to reverse the BN’s disadvantaged situation three years ago, and has be able to gradually turn the Pakatan Rakyat dream of taking over Putrajaya into an illusionary nightmare.
On the same day, a High Court has allowed alternative coalition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s application to exclude three items, viz a toothbrush, a towel and a mineral water bottle, from being tendered as exhibits in his sodomy trial.
Anwar has gained a massive victory during the 2008 general election, but today he is having a rough path in front of him as the sodomy case is still very far away from being settled. As he is facing a criminal charge, can he continue to lead the Pakatan Rakyat to do battle for Putrajaya?
Also on 8 March, it seemed like former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not want the people to forget about him. He launched his memoirs, and made some explosive revelations on Anwar, and other related political issues.
The 2008 political tsunami was related to Mahathir and it looks like he can still play role in fighting for Malay votes in the next general election.
Surprisingly, no celebration was held for the third anniversary in states ruled by the Pakatan Rakyat. Instead, many Pakatan Rakyat state assembly members had distributed roses at markets to celebrate Women’s Day. The Petaling Jaya City Council had also taken action to demolish illegal buildings and a man even tried to set himself on fire to stop the authority from demolishing his unapproved commercial building.
The date of 8 March should actually be remembered by all Pakatan Rakyat members. However, the DAP had continued criticizing the Kelantan PAS state government for banning the sales of lottery tickets in the state.
PAS used to be ambitious and wanted to seize the central power in the past. Thus, it did not talk about its Islamic state agenda. However, to gain votes today, it suggested again that there should be no Valentine’s Day celebration for Muslims, Muslims should not be allowed to work in entertainment outlets serving liquor and gambling should be banned.
Non-Malay votes in the 2008 general election had encouraged PAS to take a line of moderate and openness. However, after the continuous defeats in by-elections and the loss of Malay votes, PAS has shown signs of turning back. If PAS again mentions about theocracy, it would only cause a split within the Pakatan Rakyat. It should not forget about the bitter lessons learned from the past in which the DAP had withdrawn from the alternative front to make a clear cut with the PAS Islamic state agenda.
The PAS attempt to ban gambling by using excuses like no single religion allows its followers to gamble and for the people’s good has actually exposed the blind spot of the party.
The date 8 March 2008 marked the beginning of the two-party system. However, only a trace in our hearts is left three years after that remarkable day.
