BN convention to set stage for snap polls

Observers say Najib will be keen to seek a stronger mandate for himself and his coalition. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) will sharpen its swords at a key convention today as it moves into what is seen as its final stages of preparation for the 13th general election, expected to be held early next year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will lead BN leaders to tie up loose ends and further strengthen the once-fractured links between component parties in the discussions at the closed-door meet in Wisma MCA here.

Today is the first time the 13 coalition partners in BN are coming together in a convention since the ruling pact suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat in Election 2008, particularly in the Malay peninsula. The allies last met in 2001.

As such, the outcome of today’s meeting will be crucial in charting BN’s election strategies in the months ahead and in ensuring that the coalition maintains a strong footing before it enters into its toughest battle yet.

In the next polls, BN will be not only be facing a more discerning electorate but also its foes in Pakatan Rakyat (PR), considered its strongest opposition yet in the country’s political history.

Themed “1 People, 1 Nation, 1 Vision”, the convention will see the top BN leadership force blinkers on all member parties and, with its unity agenda as its propeller, seek to place them on a single pathway to electoral victory. It also the prime minister’s move to seek his own mandate with an emphatic win and a possible two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Over the past few months, Najib has moved from damage-control to strike-mode and is believed today to have finally hoisted the broken BN of 2008 back on its feet.

Leaders across the political divide here have agreed that the ruling coalition is presently on its best footing yet to face snap polls, further bolstered by reports of the continuous infighting within its enemies’ ranks and a gradual economic recovery.

In recent interviews with The Malaysian Insider, politicians have cautiously expressed optimism in BN’s standing with the electorate, particularly with the Indian and Malay communities.

While they admitted that recapturing DAP’s stronghold of Penang would be a Herculean feat for now, they also expressed confidence in BN wresting the wealthy state of Selangor, Kedah and even loosening PAS’s grasp over Kelantan despite its two-decade rule.

Najib’s administration has received Dr Mahathir’s nod.

Najib has also earned praise from the critical Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the nation’s longest-serving premier, who described the present administration as a “vast improvement” over the previous rule under Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In a recent Bloomberg interview, Dr Mahathir had also predicted that while BN would likely fail to regain its two-thirds parliamentary majority, it may recapture several states currently held by PR.

PR presently holds on to four states — Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan. It had lost Perak to BN during last year’s infamous power grab.

Political leaders, both from BN and PR, have also agreed that the Indian community, which had abandoned the ruling coalition in Election 2008, was now returning to their fold.

PR leaders had gone as far as to predict losing 60 per cent of Indian support to its BN foes, admitting that Najib’s brainchild of 1 Malaysia, his transformative policies and promises of inclusiveness had successfully impressed the electorate.

Additionally, the exit of MIC’s longest-serving president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu from the party’s helm this coming week has also been lauded by the community which is now said to be more hopeful that BN is finally hearing their cries to be noticed.

Najib has made significant moves to directly engage with the community by zeroing on the major problems afflicting them like social ills, poverty, education issues and a longstanding need to boost their socioeconomic status.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk SK Devamany had earlier told The Malaysian Insider that aside from Najib’s inclusive policies, the premier had also strategically reached out to the community’s hearts and minds by channelling more funds to Tamil schools.

Najib has also been precariously balancing himself on the tight-rope that separates the Malay community, by appealing to the liberals with his calls to reform affirmative action and move away from the decades of patronage and rent-seeking plaguing the economy, while at the same time assuring the right-wing Malay leaders from groups like Perkasa that his initiatives would not disturb status quo and hamper Malay rights.

Opposition leaders have accused Najib of being weak and “neither here nor there” but the leader is clearly wary that a complete revamp of the system would rob him off a large portion of the ruling Umno’s traditional vote bank among the Malays, particularly those in the rural areas and Felda communities.

The Chinese electorate continue to be critical of Najib’s reform promises but a more united front in MCA under its hard-hitting president, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, could help make a minor turnaround for BN in the coming polls.

Despite this, however, it is believed that the ruling coalition has heaped its hopes on regaining more Malay ground and completely robbing PR of its Indian community support.

Najib’s administration has received Dr Mahathir’s nod.

With that in sight, observers have predicted that Najib has taken stock of his options and believe that now is the best time to seek a new mandate and further strengthen his standing in government.

Last month, The Malaysian Insider reported that BN has ordered the media outlets it owns to play up “feel good” and “positive” reports and to find flaws with its political foes in the coming months leading to the likely federal elections.

Umno owns and controls both the country’s largest media group, Media Prima Berhad (MPB) which owns English and Bahasa Malaysia newspapers, television and radio stations; and the Utusan Group, which publishes both Utusan Malaysia and the Kosmo tabloid. MCA now directly owns The Star and several radio stations and magazines while MIC owns the Tamil Nesan.

Key editorial executives had informed The Malaysian Insider that they expect the general election to be held within the first quarter of 2011, with Najib now confident of regaining the customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Sources have also told The Malaysian Insider that the administration was also pressing its corporate supporters for funding, believed to be for its general election machinery war chest.

Najib also finished launching his policy planks when he revealed his New Economic Model 2 on Friday, with promises to right-size the public sector to lower wage expenditure, to deregulate and liberalise the economy, re-engineer GLCs so they support the private sector and to ensure government contracts reserved for Bumiputeras would be awarded to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

But in the clearest sign yet of likely snap polls, Najib had last month announced that Umno would put off its party elections, scheduled for next year, by 18 months, claiming that this was to strengthen the party.

Bernama reported yesterday that other BN component parties like Gerakan and MCA could follow in Umno’s footsteps and put off its respective party polls, noting that doing so would help minimise infighting.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said that the Gerakan leadership would meet this December 18 to discuss the matter.

Another supporting factor is the recent amendment of BN’s charter to introduce direct associate and affiliate memberships, signifying the coalition’s attempt to lure in more non-partisan support into BN.

During today’s convention, over 2,100 BN delegates are expected to vote on the charter which will later be handed over to the prime minister.

BN leaders have continued to keep mum on the likelihood of snap polls but admitted that the convention today would be a good platform for the coalition to form a more cohesive front in the event of such polls.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas told The Malaysian Insiderlast night that today’s meeting would be a good opportunity for BN member parties to get to know one another and find common ground.

“It has been a long time since we had such a meeting. Usually, each party organises its own respective AGMs so this convention will offer a good chance for us to mix with one another and help ensure a BN victory in the next polls,” he said.

He added that the convention was expected to give members the opportunity to thrash out their differences and underscore issues plaguing the community and come up with solutions in line with the 1 Malaysia concept.

The closed-door BN convention goes on from 9am to 5pm today and will see leaders from 10 component parties be given the opportunity to debate on separate topics like the 1 Malaysia vision, welfare, the economy, development, law and order and public safety. - Malaysian Insider