HALF A YEAR has passed since GE13, Najib has not taken Malaysia forward but BACKWARDS

The GE13 is now half a year behind us and since then we have also seen two by-elections. However, it appears that neither BN nor Pakatan has been able to deliver itself from the "election setback."

Although BN has succeeded in holding to power, it has failed badly in urban constituencies while receiving only 47% of all popular votes, while the opposition pact has failed to wrestle the federal administration, and lost the state of Kedah as well.

In view of this, it is imperative that both should do something about their own weaknesses instead of beating around the bush again.

Umno still in crisis

The Kuala Besut and Sungai Limau by-elections have both seen straight fights between BN and PAS. Although the majority held by BN in Kuala Besut has improved by 158 votes, and the majority of PAS in Sungai Limau has been halved, the crisis within Umno is yet to be over.

Thanks to its fundamental support base, Umno performed better in GE13 than five years ago although the overall performance of the ruling coalition was sliding. The "Chinese tsunami" and "ungratefulness" remarks rampant after the May 2013 elections have sparked fears of political retaliation.

The rightists within Umno have firmly held on to their power during the recent party elections, allowing the government to further consolidate its bumi empowerment policy. The prime minister subsequently announced to put the bumi agenda as the national agenda while tabling the 2014 Budget, and as such, it is difficult for the government to shift its economic focus from bumi agenda to a national agenda.

Regression

Over the past six months,we have also seen a regression in BN's transformation program, including the return of arrest without trial. In the meantime, leaking of classified government information could lead to a civil servant being fined up to RM1 million, and this contravenes the government 's pledge of enhancing administrative transparency.

Meanwhile, the government's anti-corruption initiative has not seen much improvement, and the annual effort of the Attorney General has gone down the drain.

Economically, the government's move to abolish and reduce subsidies in a bid to trim budgetary deficits has sparked yet another round of inflation.Measures to check property speculation have come a little too late and there is no certainty that such measures will effectively lower house prices.

In addition, government departments continue to be lagging in financial prudence while plans to enhance urban public transportation has yet to produce the desired result, as crime rate continues to escalate.

The stagnation of reform effort will not help win back the hearts of urban voters. With living costs fast rising, corruption, education, crime, housing, public transportation and management of country all becoming key issues urban voters are concerned about, it is had for BN to recapture their hearts if it keeps overlook these problems while engrossing itself in populist measures, helping bumiputras and civil servants.Such a tactic of only caring about the fundamental support base will not help the ruling coalition to really go into the urban areas come the 14th general elections.

Zero political reform seen in BN, Pakatan too needs to improve

Umno has not done well in its political reforms while other BN component parties are in fact much worse off.

BN can only count on its edge in the existing electoral system to defend its administration through delineating more rural constituencies, and will face its true challenge if the next by-election takes place in an urban constituency.

As for Pakatan Rakyat, we have yet to see it strengthening its leadership, rural organization and resolving its internal conflicts.

PAS' lackluster performance in the general elections has brought negative impact to the party. The recent consolidation of the Islamic regulations by the Kelantan state government, including the removal of hair saloon model posters by Kota Bharu municipal council, etc. is a bad precursor.

If the clerics faction wins the month-end party elections, it is very likely that the party will step up its Islamic policies, using religious card to offset Umno's race card. This is not going to do the party any good in retaining non-Muslim ballots.

DAP, meanwhile, is currently experiencing personnel problems, with conflicts in the states of Johor, Melaka, Kedah and Sabah all emerging from under the table, putting a severe test on the party's leadership and communication skills.

As for PKR, the party remains plagued by its old problems, namely resignation of its elected reps from the party.

As a matter of fact, all the three component parties of Pakatan Rakyat should further integrate their political stands and allay their conflicts. They have to try to convince Chinese voters with solid results that they indeed have the capacity to lead the federal government after the next general elections, or will see the swing votes drifting back to the fold of BN.

To Chinese voters, they will only benefit from two powerful opposing camps. Sungai Limau serves as a good instance. As Umno needs the 1,800 odd votes of Chinese residents there, it has to allocate RM2.05 million to assist the three Chinese primary schools within the constituency. As a result, Chinese Malaysians need not be that pessimistic at all under the two-party system.

180 days have lapsed, and we are still awaiting an opportunity for Malaysian politics to break the current deadlock.

mysinchew