The nasi lemak factor in election success

Urbanites chatter about controversies and scandals, but a more basic factor might be affecting voter sentiment.

Arshad Sahimi, Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: While political observers dissect the power play and politicians capture headlines with talk about scandals — or each other — a much more fundamental discipline might determine the outcome of the general election.

It boils down to a question of what you had for breakfast.

Or rather a matter of boiled rice, coconut milk, rendang (crispy or not), anchovies and egg.

Yes, nasi lemak.

That’s the metaphor used by multi-disciplinary expert Dr Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore-based Pacific Research Centre to describe how the election will turn.

Dr Oh, a Sabahan, was a one-time political secretary to prime minister Najib Razak. He told the Singapore Straits Times this week: “While voters will decide with their pockets, the question remains — which party will ensure their nasi is always lemak-ed?”

Dr Oh’s remark is a reflection on the federal government’s much-vaunted programmes at alleviating poverty and low incomes, ranging from the social security payments under BR1M to public housing programmes and subsidised public transport. However, subsidies on a range of items have been cut and the Goods and Services Tax introduced – but with zero-ratings on a host of essential items.

Opposition politicians have hammered away at “the rising cost of living” and on issues such as corruption, 1MDB, the ringgit’s foreign exchange value and wastage in government spending.

Barisan Nasional supporters have turned the questions back on the opposition by raising issues about Penang’s proposed multi-billion tunnel and road schemes, and on Selangor’s land deals.

Through the talk of doom and gloom, however, foreign reports have consistently highlighted Malaysia’s positive economic standings. Bloomberg this week described Malaysia’s stock exchange as home to the world’s longest bull market run.

And BN bloggers such as Raja Petra Kamarudin have asked why sales of higher-end cars continue to rise despite opposition talk of the people being worse off under the Barisan Nasional government.

It is against this backdrop that the general election is being held, with the opposition desperately trying to breakout of their urban strongholds to capture crucial ground in the rural heartland.

That is the role demanded of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his PPBM — to create the “Malay tsunami”. This week, he brushed off criticism that his party was failing in its role by taunting his critics with a “wait, you’ll see” show of defiance.

After two elections in which the urban ground swung decisively to the opposition, with 51 per cent of all votes cast going against the BN in 2013, the task of breaking out has become even more crucial.

But their battle may yet fail because of changes in seat boundaries that give the BN the edge and a possible 10 extra seats without any effort.

One think-tank official has already speculated that a popular vote of 35 per cent would be enough to give BN a parliamentary majority.

If that comes about, BN could well “bungkus” the election. With kacang. Just like your nasi lemak.