Strategy to win votes

Although the latest Merdeka Center for Opinion Research survey showed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's approval rating has climbed to 69%, from 59% last August, the Prime Minister continues to fight for votes of young, urban, Chinese and swing voters.

Najib has frequently visited Perak and Selangor recently, including Chinese primary schools and Chinese areas, showing that he does not give up Chinese votes.

The government recognises 146 institutions of higher learning in China, forms a special committee to address the shortage of teachers in Chinese schools, and the details about the mutual recognition of university degrees between Malaysia and Taiwan might also be released before the next general election. These can all be seen as moves to win Chinese votes.

Meanwhile, letting Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil step down as the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, setting up a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to study issues related to the Lynas rare earth project are moves trying to eliminate the ill-feeling of young and swing voters.

However, Shahrizat only steps down as a minister but remains the Wanita Umno chief and the authorities have not clarified whether the RM250 million federal loan has been spent.

At the moment, we cannot conclude the effect of the PSC, which might not be joined by the Pakatan Rakyat, but the anti-Lynas organisation said that the PSC is not necessary, and suspected that it is meant to drag the issue. Therefore, they are planning for the Himpunan Hijau 3.0.

The Cabinet might have been inspired from the political effects of the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally. After the rally, the government formed a PSC on electoral reforms and put forward the proposal to reform the electoral system. It has been accepted by the Election Committee and timely met part of the requirements of the public.

The government then tries the same method on the rare-earth refinery plant issue. However, electoral reforms and the rare-earth refinery plant are entirely different issues. The former involves the electoral system which indeed has many drawbacks that need to be corrected. As for the latter, it involves the executive power to approve the investment of Lynas.

Under the parliamentary democracy, the government can set up a PSC to review a national issue. However, the most direct solution for an issue related to government administration would be get back to the administrative system.

Moreover, the purpose of forming the PSC remains unclear. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said that the PSC would have three months to summarise their findings and suggestions. The Prime Minister, however, said that the PSC is formed to help the public understand the issue and eliminate their worries.

How could the PSC be prestigious without the power to decide the fate of the rare-earth refinery plant?

If forming a PSC becomes the ultimate weapon of the government to solve thorny problems, the government's credibility will be affected. Would the same method be used to address the Jalan Sultan land acquisition issue and the oil and gas complex in Pengerang? Isn't it similar to the moves of setting up Cabinet committees to solve problems during the administration of Tun Abdullah Badawi?

It is not necessary to make it so complicated to win swing votes. What they need to do is just change the policy and listen to the public opinion. Fro example, amend the policy related to Chinese primary school to solve the shortage of teachers.

Only persuasive and effective actions can demonstrate sincerity, establish prestige and win back confidence. By then, votes will also return automatically. Otherwise, all efforts will be wasted.

-Sin Chew Daily