“The Kajang Move”
Visnu Natesan
The ‘Kajang Move’ as part of PKR’s holistic strategy has invited criticism from all walks of life. Opposition supporters have voiced their dissatisfaction over the move. PKR loyalists are backing the move as a strategy to capture Putrajaya. The public are in dilemma if the story explained by PKR leaders is half truth or the ultimate truth. Only time could tell the real motive behind the ‘Kajang Move’.
Politics is a deception game. The game is organized in such a way that the subjects are often confused. In game of chess, a good player wants the opponent to ‘move’ exactly the way he wants it. A weak chess player will make the ‘move’ as desired by the stronger player. In our case, the ‘Kajang Move’ is for us to ‘believe’ that it is part of a bigger strategy to capture Putrajaya and aligning a ‘move’ for UMNO’s internal crisis.
The ‘Kajang Move’ has been hailed as the game changer in Malaysian politics. PKR has explained to the public on the necessity for the Kajang by-election via forums, blogs, etc. The public’s intelligence is at stake. We can choose to believe or not to believe PKR’s leadership. What is the actual reason for ‘Kajang Move’? On that note, the writer chooses not believe PKR leadership.
“Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli
The by-election increases the public expenditure. The official and non-official cost of the by-election will fetch into hundreds of millions. PKR and BN are aware of the expenditure for the Kajang by-election. Pakatan Rakyat leadership condemns BN’s governance cost. PKR Strategic Director has been very vocal in the past on BN’s cost management. Despite being aware of the unnecessary spending, PKR has initiated a strategy that will cost the tax payers. The ‘Kajang Move’ is not a cost effective strategy.
The election campaign team has used the ‘heroism’ campaign strategy. PKR De Facto Leader has been branded as risking his political career by contesting in Kajang by-election. The public has sacrificed more than PKR’s leadership since 1998 to challenge the status quo of Malaysian politics. The ‘Kajang Move’ is definitely an insult to public’s intelligence. PKR leadership has not been honest with their key agenda. Politicking based on Anwar’s image as a reformation hero has lost its essence. We need statesman not politician in Selangor. The strategy does not benefit the people of Selangor.
The by-election is a designed strategy to serve the political masters. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Khalid Ibrahim will be removed as Menteri Besar to make way for Anwar Ibrahim to become the Menteri Besar. It is a tragic truth that PKR leadership has failed to explain to the public. Rafizi Ramli maneuvered the public with sympathy strategy to obtain support from the voters. The public did not buy his story and he paid the price for lying to the public. As a political strategist, Rafizi Ramli has failed to design a strategy that would produce results for them.
PKR survival in Malaysian politics is purely because of the public’s intelligence to balance the power between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. The public realizes of having a strong opposition means the ‘check and balance’ of the ruling party is managed prudently. Malaysian politicians functions on character assassination strategy. That kindergarten level of mentality among Malaysian politicians is a winning formula for the public to keep the politicians continuously working and serving them. Politicians always thought that they are smarter than the public, who is smarter now? PKR should always align their strategy in favor of the people.
“He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed”
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
Echoing on the above quote, PKR leadership should not insult public’s intelligence with lies and deception. From the writer’s point of view, ‘The Kajang Move’ is a political suicide strategy. Anwar Ibrahim will win the election because of the Selangor people’s sympathy vote to keep Pakatan Rakyat in power. In long term, the ‘Kajang Move’ will create doubt among fence sitting voters in other states because of the deception strategy formulated by PKR to remove Khalid Ibrahim. On that note, the ‘Kajang Move’ will reduce the popularity of PKR in the next general election.
It is still not too late for PKR to control the damage. Come out clean with the public on the real agenda for the ‘Kajang Move’. The public will forgive PKR leadership if they come forward and apologise. Truth is the only strategy that PKR has in this situation. Truth alone will prevail. Khalid Ibrahim might not be a good politician but he is a good statesman. PKR leadership needs to decide if they are in favor of politician or statesman.
