Double standard, one-sided, 7.25%

The double-standard practice and one-sided action seen during the current tenure of the incumbent government should be put to a stop.

COMMENT

It cannot be denied that the political temperature has gone up a notch after the recent Merdeka Day celebrations.

In taking a swipe at Pakatan Rakyat, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently mentioned that Barisan Nasional has fulfilled more than 87% of its promises since the first parliamentary election in 1959 when it was known as the Alliance.

From the first parliamentary election till now, it has been 12 terms that BN has been in power.

“Take 87% divide 12 terms and you get 7.25%. This means that for each term BN only managed to fulfil 7.25% of its promises,” said Mahfuz Omar, PAS MP for Pokok Sena in Kedah.

Zahid had also mentioned that Pakatan has fulfilled less than 15% of its promises.

Countered Mahfuz: “We still win hands down. Fulfilling 14% of our promises per one parliamentary term is still more than BN’s 7.25% per term. That is if Zahid still wants to play with figures.”

This is a clear indication that BN leaders are poor in maths. This is evident when Umno leaders also like to tell their Malay constituents that DAP wants to control the nation after the coming 13th general election.

How can DAP control the nation when it is contesting only 50 parliamentary seats? There are a total of 222 parliamentary seats and even if DAP were to win all its 50 seats, it is not even one-third of the total. Does this not show the mathematical skills of BN leaders?

To-date, BN has continued to harp on its “Janji Ditepati” (Promises Fulfilled) theme. This theme sounds foolish when there is still a lack of basic amenities, for instance, a regular supply of clean tap water in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak.

This problem also exists in Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s home state of Pahang, especially in the Jengka areas as reported by a local Malay daily.

Sabah and Sarawak are also lacking in good roads, especially in the rural and interior areas.

Another example is good bus transport; for instance, in the 1990s there was regular bus service for the Taman Bukit Maluri, Kepong-KL route. Now there is no bus service for this route. Promises by the government to improve the bus service are nothing to shout about.

What about the oil royalty payments to the Kelantan government? Till today, there is absolute silence about making the payments except the setting up of an Oil Royalty Payments Committee.

“Is the committee nothing but an eyewash to dupe the Kelantan voters in view of the coming general election?” asked Dzulkefly Ahmad, the PAS Kuala Selangor MP.

Selective prosecution

On the promise of transparency in open tenders, this promise has not been kept. The National Feedlot Corporation contract is one such example.

“The mainstream media has blanked out the government’s misdeeds, mistakes and failures in keeping promises. Therefore, the majority of the people especially those in the rural areas are kept in the dark. This is done with the intention of keeping them ignorant so that they will continue to vote for the incumbent government,” said Dzulkefly.

One-sided media coverage during BN’s tenure is one thing. Another thing is the misdeed of the current government in using its lackeys to bully opposition leaders.

These lackeys delivered “shit-cakes” to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as well as holding a mock funeral rite for him and stepping on his posters, yet these are not highlighted by the mainstream media.

In a recent incident earlier this month, another group of lackeys threw a shoe into a mosque in Kedah when Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was giving a religious talk. Besides, the lights and loudspeaker were repeatedly switched off and when Anwar started to speak using a loudhailer, the mosque’s siren was suddenly activated.

These lackeys seem to be above the law. Are they entitled to ride roughshod over the rakyat?

“No action is taken on these goons as they are the devil’s own. Selective prosecution seems to be the order of the day but if the opposition makes a mistake, the government-controlled media will go to town over it,” said Dzulkefly.

Finally, there is also the broken promise regarding the cleaning of the voter rolls. This issue needs no further elaboration.

November polls?

With regard to the polls, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has strongly hinted that it may be held in November. This is good. He should not later backtrack by saying that the polls will be held in October due to the SPM and STPM examinations in November.

As prime minister, Najib should know when these examinations are held.

The prime minister should give the opposition advance notice of the general election instead of relying on the strategy of “the secret date” to catch the opposition unaware.

Added Dzulkefly: “Hopefully, the prime minister will keep his promise in regard to the November polls as everyone is looking forward to it.”

The double-standard practice and one-sided action seen during the current tenure of the incumbent government should be put to a stop.

Many are waiting to put an end to this unhealthy practice by voting in the next general election.

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist.