Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Pakatan aping BN


From Malaysiakini:

Harapan will lose next GE if it takes its base for granted

by Commander (rtd) S Thayaparan


Why are non-Malay voters becoming disillusioned with Harapan? Is it because their daily lives have not improved under the new government? Or is it because Harapan has not delivered what was promised?

– P Ramasamy

I wonder what P Ramasamy means when he says that “painful and unpopular decisions” have to be made to get the support of the rakyat. The problem with Harapan is that they are a pack of lily-livered politicians who care more about winning over the Umno/PAS crowd than taking care of their mostly non-Malay base.


The non-Malay politicians who claimed to have cajones of steel before assuming federal power, now appear to be fatigued and deflated. They spend their time simpering around Malay powerbrokers and whacking the non-Malay components of BN, and doing everything in their power not to spook the Malays.


It is kind of funny. The stereotype of the Umno voter is a “dedak” eater who votes in kleptocratic politicians for the “tongkat”. Well, in these last three by-elections, the Malays who voted for opposition politicians, did not give a damn about the enticements thrown their way by Pakatan Harapan, but instead voted opposition.

This would mean they did not care if the opposition could not do anything for them. This also means you either have to be really pissed off with the federal government, or you do not care if voting for the opposition disenfranchises you in some way. This was the narrative Harapan was pushing when they were the opposition, right?

If you are Malay, you can be sure the Harapan government isn’t going to marginalise you, even if you do not vote for them.

I know some people in this by-election who voted for the opposition just to troll Harapan. Could this be some sort of bellwether when it comes to the non-Malay vote? Is KJ right when he says Umno could survive in mixed race constituencies? Who knows?


PM-designate Anwar Ibrahim (above, on right, standing) says the Rantau defeat is a reminder to focus on the people’s plight. This is typically what politicians say when they lose an election. What does this mean anyway? Was Harapan not focusing on the people’s plight, which is why the voters in Ranatu rejected the federal government? What a silly excuse to make in the defeat.


Harapan has been doing everything in its power to alienate their non-Malay base and screw over the progressive Malay element in Harapan. Non-Malay operatives have been bending over backwards attempting to project a benign face of Chinese influence in Harapan.


A lot of this has to do with the Bangsa Malaysia, now New Malaysia, nonsense that is seriously impeding Harapan when it comes to engaging with various communities, and instead attempting, in rhetoric at least, a one size fits all approach.

M Kulasegaran (photo) must be embarrassed that there was an Indian swing to Umno. Does this tell us something about the Indians in Rantau, or does this tell us something about the way the Harapan elite deals with the Indian community?


The urban/rural divide is Harapan’s safety net. By safety net I mean enclaves where economics and culture are not beholden to the vagaries of religious, cultural and social diktats of the religious component in Malay power structures. It was like this when Umno/BN ruled supreme, but was supplanted by the various incarnations of what would become Pakatan Harapan led by Anwar Ibrahim.


While all politics is local, what the federal government should be doing is ensuring the Harapan base that voted for them (even when they were losing, but managed to break Umno's two-thirds majority in one of their defeats) is satisfied with their performance.

Instead, what the federal government is doing is attempting to replicate BN-style politics for a base which has no use for it. A base which believed that the reign of Harapan would move them away from the race-based and religion-influenced politics of Umno/BN.

Non-Malay politicians tell me they have to walk on eggshells when it comes to certain issues. They tell me the demonisation of the DAP seems to be working. Well, here’s the thing: if people are going to hate the DAP, they are going to do it regardless of whether the Umno/PAS coalition is in power or not. The narrative that the majority of Malays hate the DAP has always been around, but the DAP has survived, and even thrived. So do not use this excuse when it comes losing out to Umno/PAS.

You know what Harapan should be doing? They should be endorsing those so-called liberal Malays, because there is very little difference between the centre-right and far right when it comes to mainstream Malay politics.

Instead, what the Harapan government does is bend over backwards attacking the very demographic which could change the narrative and encourage a new paradigm of mainstream Malay politics.

A Harapan politician called me after the Rantau defeat and complained that the Harapan government needed more time. This is a red herring.


As I said in a piece warning that Harapan turning into BN was not the problem: “There is this dumb argument floating around that we should give Harapan more time since BN had six decades (or thereabouts) to “destroy” this country. This argument is not only ignorant, but it is also ahistorical. BN had functional policies at various times (just ask the current prime minister) and the opposition had a decade (or thereabouts) in control of certain states to differentiate itself from the federal government.”

It must be embarrassing to lose a by-election when Harapan campaigned “BN style”. It is as if the people rejected the politics Harapan claims it wants to do away with. Which is worse? Losing an election because you tried to ape Umno/BN, or losing an election because the voters rejected your progressive, egalitarian politics that could save Malaysia?

I know which is worse.

Harapan has to decide which is worse.





13 comments:

  1. A lot of Nons have Seen The Light, and now throw their support to UMNOPASMCAMIC.

    The Chinese were willing to support PAS during the Pakatan Rakyat period, and are doing so again......The Moon is In My Heart.

    The Correlation of Forces is now with BNPAS
    Some UMNO people I talked to now consider themselves a Government-In-Waiting.
    Bossku and his legal team should pull every trick in the legal rulebook to delay his trials as long as possible.

    By the time 4 years is over, the new BN government will save him.
    Kautim, as they have always done.

    Malu Apa Bossku ?

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  2. Don't be too harsh on Harapan. Please be fair. For example they have not aped BN on corruption and mismanagement.

    BN signed one-sided deals with SGP on the HSR, the Sabah Gas pipelines and ECRL deals with China etc. Harapan has righted those deals. Malaysians can now breathe a sigh of relief, less taxes for our children and grandchildren.

    The mismanagement of Tabung Haji money has been righted with 10 billion injection. Muslims can continue to receive halal dividends and make their pilgrimage. Felda was on the brink of bankruptcy, now saved with a 6 billion funds. 1MDB court cases have finally started. Yacht sold. The list goes on and on and on.

    Anyway let's see if in Sandakan the Chinese have started to desert Harapan/Warisan or are dissatisfied and moving back to BN (if BN dare to stand).

    Muslim Bumi: 43.9%
    Non-Muslim Bumi: 5.7%
    Chinese: 49%

    But I'm not sure if the Muslim-Bumi are Malays or Suluks......or does it matter?

    ReplyDelete
  3. lge talked abt development as if najib never talk abt the same before he kena kicked out.

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  4. That question of "Which is worse? Losing an election because you tried to ape UMNO/BN, or losing an election because the voters rejected your progressive, egalitarian politics that could save Malaysia?" is also not the main reason of losing by-elections or the shift of eroding support among the base of PH voters.

    The reason is that when you still look for reasons for defeats thru tainted biasness of blinkered eyes of hate, racism, religious bigotry or what an egalitarian society should be (many forms) or thru intimidation of fear of saving a country from all the evils of men , it clouds your judgement of the diversity or homogenousity in thinking and behaviour of the Malaysian electorate in a particular constituency for by-election.

    You just can't win by-elections/battles or a GE/War of minds (modern era battles) by just adopting a central theme/strategy/principle without adopting also themes/strategies/principles of where the battles are to be fought.

    We may think everyone living in the 21st Century should think and behave homogenously like some modern civilised country adopting principles of democracy, human rights, civility, humanity etc but in Malaysia like in ancient times, tribalism is still strong (whether it be promoted thru race, religion, culture, laws, feudalism etc) among the electorate/constituents and this is further amplified by how electoral boundaries which are demarcated by whoever is the ruling Govt. to maintain power thru tribalism superiority as their main theme/strategy/principle.

    Now, a few in which there are many tests to elucidate this reasoning of tribalism in Malaysia would be:

    1. Ask the Malay which comes first, Malay or Islam?
    2. Ask the Chinese which comes first, Chinese or Economics/Education?
    3. Ask the Indians which comes first, Indian or Religion ?
    4. Ask the East Malaysians which comes first, East Malaysian rights or The Federation of Malaysia?
    5. Ask the Malayans, which comes first, Federal Control over all Malaysia or Autonomy for East Malaysian States?
    6. Ask all those who believe in Religions, which comes first, their religion/God/Gods or Country?

    If even signs of blatant, clear and factual corruption, debauchery and evil wrongdoings among Malaysians are tolerated/supported by some Malaysians, does it not show that tribalism is the overiding factor in their thinking?

    It finally boils down to strong leadership at the very top to be able to promote a central theme of governance/strategy/principle of the whole country to go to War/GE irrespective of the myriads of tribalism existing (The Emperor rules Heaven and Earth) and leave the local Generals/Warlords to fight the battles/rebellions/tribal/By-elections who understand better the terrain where battles are fought.

    You just can't fight mind battles without taking into considerations where the environment of tribal thinking is still strong as it is equivalent to a doctor knowing more about a farmers thinking or the fishermen's thinking or a businessman thinking who have tilled the land or fished or have done business for generations.

    So, where is the strong leadership qualities among the PH leaders and their Generals/Warlords to fight the War and all the battles?

    It's no good having an Emperor with lame ducks Generals/Warlords/Advisers/Kakilang/Strategists/masterminds enjoying only the spoils of war and are muted.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Who says Pakatan Harapan is no different from BN ?
    Kathiresan has a good take on this.

    What if BN had won in GE14?
    No 1MDB probe and those who had been critical of it would have found themselves hounded or jailed.
    The Anti-Fake News Law would have been used to go after every critic of the BN government.
    Red Shirts would be strutting about with chests puffed.
    Protests would be met with tear gas and baton charges.

    Right now,
    Dissidents are not being jailed, unlike during the days of BN.
    Sure, some individuals found to have insulted the royalty or some religion have been charged in court, but how many people have been charged for criticising Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad or other ministers or government policies?
    I haven’t heard of any artist or cartoonist being arrested, have you?

    Just see how free people’s comments are these days, whether in print or online. So many people are bravely criticising government initiatives and remarks by ministers on social media.

    Even political analysts are freer with their views today than they were in the past. In fact, when I listen to some of them on television, I can’t help but wonder if these are the same guys who tried so hard to look balanced as they leaned towards BN and its policies for fear of reprisal or to apple polish the then-government leadership.
    ......

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  6. Pakatan aping BN? UMNO and PPBM are related. No-one is a saint.

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  7. "London to host world para swimming after M'sia stripped over Israel"

    Congratulations, London.

    Malaysia is Finished, no longer credible as a bidder to host International Sporting events.

    Maybe International Gasing Competition, or International Wau Bulan flying competition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In addition to the above..

      ("The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index is down 14 per cent from a record in May 2018 and it's the worst major market in the world so far this year, having slipped 3.5 per cent. That's even amid a rally in global equities spurred by the Federal Reserve's dovish pivot and a potential trade deal between the US and China. The gloomy outlook for Malaysian stocks isn't likely to end anytime soon") ~ Samsung Asset Management Co.

      Delete
    2. Go figure...Asian Games 2018...

      QUOTE
      Asian Games bans Israeli athletes again, but Moovit will be official transit app

      This year’s Asian Games hosted by Indonesia will, once again, not allow Israeli athletes to participate, though an Israeli transit app has been chosen by the game’s organizers to provide real-time updates on transit schedules to teams and spectators.

      Moovit, the Israeli-made public transportation smartphone application, has been selected as the official transit app for the 2018 Asian Games, also called the Asiad, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.
      UNQUOTE

      Delete
    3. Israel has been barred from participating in Any Asian Games since 1981. When the Asian Games Federation was reconstituted as the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981, Israel was excluded from membership.

      While I am critical of this, it was done through procedure in the Olympic Council, so there is no unilateral Host Country political ban against Israel involved.

      Delete
  8. Harapan aping BN? Now that’s a red herring.

    Has Toonsie 2.0 “aped” Jibby on this Xmas and New Year shopping spree buying jewellery etc yet?

    QUOTE
    Witness: Millions went through Najib's Ambank accounts

    Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid

    There were at least 10 transactions ranging between RM5 million and RM40 million linked to the Ambank accounts of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, SRC International Sdn Bhd and its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd.

    This for the period between Dec 24, 2014, and Feb 13, 2015.
    UNQUOTE

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    Replies
    1. Harapan aping BN - did I write about Mahathir aping Najib?

      Delete
  9. No you didn’t because Toonsie 2.0 didn’t, that’s my point.

    ReplyDelete