COMMENT Being underdogs, Parti Amanah Negara candidates will have to fight a tough battle in the two by-elections scheduled in Sungei Besar and Kuala Kangsar.
The contest is essentially between Amanah and BN or Umno, whereas PAS will merely function to spoil the votes for Amanah or divert the votes for the ultimate victory of BN.
The two by-elections will see a fierce contest where race and religions would be used to the maximum, both by PAS and Umno.
PAS, with its long history of opposition to Umno, has been reduced shamelessly to allegedly being a mere appendage of the latter.
PAS is supporting Umno’s alleged religious fanaticism and racism from outside. PAS, which portrayed or pretended to be an Islamic party, has finally shown its true colours by becoming a Malay party. The lines of demarcation between both of them have become blurred.
While PAS will be undermined by its indecisiveness on questions of race and religion, it is the BN or Umno that is giving out goodies to the people in both the constituencies to transform the outcome of the by-elections.
Millions of ringgit are being poured in the name of development and progress by BN to the voters in both these constituencies. MCA, MIC and Gerakan leaders have been by-passed in the deliverance of the goodies. Najib Abdul Razak has personally appeared on the political scene to deliver the development goods to the voters.
Malaysians are known to have short memories. Materialism combined with propaganda will have the powerful effect of assisting the BN candidates. In short the elections are not about what the candidates can do or no, it is about ensuring the longevity of the Najib administration, an administration that is caught the quagmire of scandals and corruption.
The two by-elections are perfect examples of how race and religion are used not just to install fear and anxieties amongst the voters but also conjure an image that without the BN in command, the country will be doomed.
It would be major struggle for Amanah candidates to win the elections, but they should not be disappointed if they lose for they have to prepare for the big one later. Amanah, as an equal partner in Pakatan Harapan, must see the bigger picture for the well-being of the country as a whole.
For Pakatan Harapan or Amanah, it would be truly ‘by-elections’. But unfortunately for PAS, it would be ‘bye’-elections as the party, whether it likes or not, must face up the reality of its eventual demise from the political scene. It has committed too many deadly political mistakes and the last one that broke the camel’s back was its dependence on Umno to amend the Syariah law.
For BN/Umno, like the other by-elections, they have to some extent succeeded in ‘buying’ the voters with material goods and promises. Chances are great that their candidates might win in the two by-elections. The ‘buying’ power of BN is too great to be underestimated.
So much for the ‘radiance’ of Malaysian politics.
P RAMASAMY is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and DAP Perai assemblyperson. -Mkini
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