Fixated on numbers?

Many Malaysian voters are still gullible and can be easily swayed, many of them are lazy to get informed in regards to the current issues.

COMMENT

It is now five months since the Bersih 3.0 event on April 28. Lest we forget, of the Bersih’s eight demands, only the use of indelible ink has been agreed upon by the Election Commission (EC). But still we cannot be too sure of it as in the previous general election the use of indelible ink was withdrawn at the 11th hour.

There is still no news in regards to the cleaning of the electoral roll. This is very irresponsible and unbecoming of a federal government who is always harping on ‘transformation’, whatever that means.

BN leaders have mocked Pakatan Rakyat’s tagline of ‘Change’ by saying that by choosing Pakatan, the rakyat would have chosen change for the worse.

Certainly transparency, accountability and responsibility do not rank highly in the current government’s code of governance. Otherwise, how else can you explain the EC’s reluctance to clean up the electoral roll?

They should remember the Spiderman movie tagline ‘With great power comes great responsibility’.

There are too many discrepancies in the electoral roll. PAS Pokok Sena MP, Mahfuz Omar has compiled a few thick files on irregularities in the electoral roll but the relevant authorities have not shown any interest at all in the matter despite his efforts in highlighting the same.

Instead the BN leaders are more interested in showing numerical superiority.

Two examples highlighted involve a Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Open House function in Putrajaya and an event in Pekan, Pahang. There are allegations that the crowd pictures have been manipulated to make the crowds seem larger.

Does this reveal a very desperate move to project a false image of popularity?

Hopefully, someone can come forward with solid evidence to prove that the allegations are false. Simple mere denials do not count. This is very important as our image in the world arena is at stake!

However, it must be noted that ever since Bersih 3.0, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has constantly sought to portray that BN’s events are more popular than ‘Duduk Bantah’ on April 28.

One thing for sure, BN can never beat Bersih 3.0!

‘Immatured and petty-minded’

The ‘Himpunan Jutaan Belia’ gathering in Putrajaya organised by BN in May this year seems to have drawn in millions in numbers. But it was an event spread over a few days unlike ‘Duduk Bantah’ wherein a concentration and mass convergence of people was required in just two hours from 2 pm to 4 pm.

“The constant obsession to display numerical superiority shows that BN leaders are envious of a people’s movement. They are incensed that a people’s movement can prove to be so very popular. This shows that these leaders are insecure, immatured and petty-minded,” commented PAS Kuala Selangor MP, Dzulkefly Ahmad.

This brings to mind the prime minister’s statement that he intends to defend Putrajaya at all cost and his reluctance to answer the question of whether there will be a smooth transition of power in the event Pakatan wins the 13th general election.

Instead the BN leaders have accused Pakatan of wanting to create chaos if Pakatan loses.

“Well, the opposition has always been losing but do you see any chaos?” asked Mahfuz dryly.

Anyway if Pakatan wins, the BN leaders have to pack up and leave Putrajaya. There is certainly no question of them barricading themselves in and staying put. This is not the Middle Ages and Putrajaya is not a castle.

“Are they the resident evil that they want to stay on in Putrajaya till the end of time?” questioned Dzulkefly.

At the end of the day, although there are many who support Pakatan, this columnist thinks that BN can still win at the polls, albeit by a simple majority and by a smaller margin compared to the previous polls.

One has to consider these facts: many Malaysian voters are still gullible and can be easily swayed, many Malaysian voters are lazy to get oneself informed in regards to the current issues and of course the biggest factor of all: the dubious electoral roll. All these factors will enable BN to win.

A metaphysics practitioner who is a relative of this columnist is of the view that the Water Dragon has gone back to the depths after rising temporarily on April 28. Will it rise again before the year ends?

One thing for sure is that the Water Snake of 2013 will slowly start to slither in at the end of December.

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist.