The victory will be the people’s

This electoral war is a war of the poor, needy, angry and offended Malaysians against a handful of BN warlords.

COMMENT

The 13th general election is a war being fought to rescue either the opposition Pakatan Rakyat or the ruling Barisan Nasional, and the outcome will have a long-term effect on both coalitions.

In reality, this war is a struggle between the average, needy citizens and the filthy rich, with the latter battling hard to keep its authoritarian rule at all cost.

BN is said to be overspending with the three Ms in its favour: money, machinery and media (controlled by the BN) on its side and this, some say, is sufficient to show that BN has the edge and is winning.

Lately, the BN machinery has been using its age-old tactic of making wild promises while it swept the people’s grouses under the carpet, hoping that the ugly truth will be hidden away.

The same tactic was used in 2008 at a time when the BN had a bigger economic progress record to show off, but this was blotted out by ugly elements that brought down the BN in five states.

The story goes that the excesses of the boys at the fourth floor of the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya were the real cause of the people’s discontent against the BN, resulting in prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi losing his post to Najib Tun Razak.

Today, the fourth floor excesses are replaced by other excesses including that of a first lady accused of all the ills that have afflicted the BN since Najib took power. From super expensive jewellery to a disgruntled carpet seller and rumours of meddling in the BN candidates’ list, Rosmah Mansor has seen it all.

In this war can the opposition pull off the same feat or fare even better than in 2008? Or will the opposition sink and go back to the drawing board?

The situation in 2013 is far different from 2008, when Pakatan did not have much to show, with the exception of a struggling Kelantan state government run by PAS with a slim majority. Then there was Anwar Ibrahim haranguing the crowds cross-country.

In 2008, the crowds were still shy – many were still sitting on the fences – but they were definitely larger at Pakatan ceramah than those at BN rallies. The writings were on the wall that a sweeping change was in the making and so it was: a tsunami struck BN.

In 2013, Pakatan has more than double its advantage with its efficient control of the four states, the rise of new faces within its ranks, its uncovering of a number of fraudulent and corrupt cases and, above all, its pro-people language and rhetoric.

The difference with BN this time is that it is even more adamant: it still refuses to listen to the voices of the people who want change. It even drew up a manifesto which is a carbon copy of the Pakatan manifesto, and this blatant act has turned more people against the Najib administration.

Feeling the tremor

This time around, there is no forgetting the things that BN did, especially its violent crackdown on the Bersih rally and the “cowgate” scandal, among others.

Simply put, BN is not talking in the people’s language. The BN warlords are big shots with billions in their pockets, who look with disdain at Pakatan and believe the people will vote them back to power.

In the aftermath of the 2008 election, I wrote in a news portal that Anwar Ibrahim was on his way to sink Umno, and I was not far off the mark. Anwar now has the force of the people behind him to sink Umno.

This can clearly be seen in ballooning crowds at Pakatan rallies across the country and the sparse crowds – unless they are “bribed” – at BN venues.

This election is not only about Anwar’s ability to dent the BN-Umno shield, but also about the people’s longing for change.

It is not fortuitous that Najib has mentioned on Bloomberg, after belittling Pakatan, that his government will accept defeat if Pakatan were to beat BN in the GE13, indicating that he is a believer in the democratic process.

From the ground below to the boardrooms of Umno-linked companies, government-linked companies and civil servants, there is a tremor being felt of a bigger tsunami that could wipe out BN.

Even BN is feeling the tremor despite the advantage of its three Ms.

Come May 5, there is nothing BN can do if the results show that the people have wiped out BN and handed Pakatan a massive victory.

This electoral war is a war of the poor, needy, angry and offended Malaysians against a handful of BN warlords.

If BN keeps its winning ways, it will still have to face the wrath of a larger number of angry people with their many grouses, which it will be impossible to settle.

And if Pakatan wins, it will have to deliver on its promises but, more importantly, it will have to toe the line of the rakyat – something that BN will never be able to do unless its ego is crushed by a sound defeat at the GE13.

Ali Cordoba writes extensively on local politics.