Want to contest? Got money or not?

The main reason for the dispute over seats among political parties is that there are more candidates than seats.

The quarrels over seats from both sides occur before every election and at times, it can be so intense that those jostling for seats would unashamedly, stupidly even, bring their quarrels into the public sphere.

It is as if they want the public to judge who is right or wrong. Little do these quarrelsome politicians realise that people are laughing or even sneering at them for their silly public displays of greed for power.

If you want more seats for your party, irrespective of whether you deserve or are worthy of them, isn’t that greed for power?

Leaders of political parties must realise the public, in general, have had enough of such quarrels over seats. They had seen and heard enough during past elections. Sadly, this is now happening again in the run-up to GE14.

I was involved in seat talks among the opposition parties in Sarawak during the 1996 state election and the 1999 general election for the then Barisan Alternatif coalition. I can vouch here that it was not a very pleasant task.

I can recall the many times I asked myself: “What the heck am I doing here when others come to the negotiating table with conditions? A negotiation has to start with a clean slate.”

You see, there is always the political animal within us. We can agree today but after sleeping on it, we change our mind tomorrow. And we would be ready with all kinds of reasons or excuses for our U-turn.

Such indiscipline among politicians must be nipped in the bud.

Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised to see multi-cornered fights in many seats come GE14 because there are people who are adamant on contesting as they think they are the better candidate. Personal glorification is a normal human reaction perhaps, but one that is totally selfish and lacking the team spirit.  

Now, let me be blunt and ask all these wannabe candidates: So you want to contest? Do you have the money?

I make no apology for bringing up the subject of money. Can any serious candidate honestly tell me that they do not need funds, and lots of it, for the elections?

Gone are the days when politicians could win by riding on their popularity and charisma alone. These days, no money, no talk.

Malaysiakini reader Sinan Belawan seemed to agree with me. In his comment on my earlier article on election funding, he wrote: "Money is the mother's milk of politics. It must keep flowing. Without the financial and human resources, don’t even consider being a candidate for GE14.”

'Cari makan'

And here is another take which lends weight to the importance of money in fighting in the elections.

Some three months ago, I had a chat with two Umno members from Terengganu. They told me they were in town to attend a party event in Shah Alam.

When I enquired, they were honest enough to tell me that it was an all-expenses-paid trip which included pocket money.

“We have to ‘cari makan’ (survive),” they said while claiming the opposition was doing the same thing.

“If Pakatan Harapan pays us to attend their functions, we will also come,” one of them added.

So much for party loyalty! But why blame them? A general election is like a once-in-five-year carnival with free flow of cash (and alcohol surely) and only a “bloody fool” (a term made popular by House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia) will not queue for the dough.

Let’s get real about GE14. We can expect it to be the dirtiest but we also know it will be the most expensive.  

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that he would be able to win a clean election “but Najib will play dirty”.

For the “cash is king” prime minister, we have to believe that for his and BN’s war chest, the sky is the limit. Why not? As the sitting head of government, Najib has an abundance of resources at his disposal.

The prime minister must be a bloody fool (to borrow from Pandikar again) if he does not make use of his power, government machinery and resources for GE14.

Those eyeing Najib in Pekan had better be prepared to cough up several million in campaign funds. I doubt whether RM10 million is sufficient to secure victory over the PM in his home base in Pahang.

Aha! Perhaps Harapan should persuade billionaire Robert Kuok to contest in Pekan. Then, Najib will have a real, serious opponent who is able to match him ringgit for ringgit. That’s wishful thinking, of course.

And should Mahathir finally decide to contest in Langkawi, expect Najib to hit the “nuclear button” against the grand old man of Harapan. Najib must ensure that Mahathir is defeated.

Najib’s “nuclear arsenal” will likely come in the form of billions worth of development projects for Langkawi. Voters in the resort island can also expect an early “duit raya” windfall.

Pekan and Langkawi are two clear scenarios of what I meant when I argue that only those with money should be fielded, particularly in Umno-held constituencies. 

GE14 is not the time for Harapan candidates or anyone else to offer token resistance in BN’s strongholds. You go in to win, not to lose.

So if you cannot afford to spend like a duke as a candidate, then I suggest you hold back your political adventure for another time.

GE14 is too crucial for anyone to just file their nomination papers and then hope for luck to carry them through. 

Be realistic. Don’t be a spoiler candidate.

---

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com -Mkini