LAHAD DATU STANDOFF BN ADVANTAGE?

Dear Editor,

IT IS DIFFICULT to use the Opposition’s argument that the Lahad Datu Standoff is a self-inflicted complications created by the Barisan Government. This is because the simple reason that Malaysia brokered the peace treaty between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government.

Even though several more issue still need to be hammered out peace is something that can be seen forming in Southern Philippines. After nearly more than 4 decades of fighting and bloodshed, it was something that the people in Mindanao can look forward to.

Unfortunately, there are some factions that felt themselves as being left out of the peace process. Namely, Nur Misuari former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and who still have influence with the members of the MNLF and the self-styled “Sultan of Sulu”.

Instead of working together bringing the peace process to conclusion, they instead conspire to reject the peace process. In order to bring international attention to their self-pride and selfishness they sent an armed terrorist group to Lahad Datu.

At the same time, the Opposition Parties namely Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Malaysia find difficulty in penetrating the Muslim seats in Sabah. As an added insurance policy to ensure their smooth path to PUTRAJAYA is unhindered the Sulu terrorist intrusion was the opposition gambit that would have broken the camel’s back in Sabah, unfortunately it backfired.

As the result of this opposition miss-adventure the government decided to create the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) a 500 km frontline that faces the Sulu Sea. The ESSZONE include 10 districts – Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau covering an area of 47,734 kilometer square which can fit in the whole of West Cost of Peninsular Malaysia.

The interesting point is not just the sheer size of the ESSZONE but the political advantage it created for the government in facing the coming 13th General Election.

The whole area under the ESSZONE is declared as an Emergency Area. Perhaps not many people understand the political implication of ESSZONE. Let’s take a good look at the attached Map:

This Map implies that 30 Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri comes under its jurisdiction which means BN/UMNO already secure 30 ADUN seats even before the Dewan Undangan Negeri is dissolve.

Therefore, after the establishment of the ESSZONE, Anwar can sing all he wants about “Tanya sama Najib” but at the end of the day, Anwar is the one who is giving the advantage to Najib in as far as Sabah is concern. Once Sabah is still maintained by BN/UMNO, Sarawak will follow suit.

This means that Anwar and PR may as well forget about getting any seats from Sabah and Sarawak. In the event that there is a “hung parliament” in Malaya (Semenenjung Malaysia), PR will 'kempunan' PUTRAJAYA – so instead of “Ini Kali Lah!!” – it is the case of “Memang MampusLah”.

Best Regards,

ABU NAWAS

(Abu Nawas currently busy inventing a new robot named ATOM to be mobilized as a fighting machine in ESSZONE)