Does Ali Biju think Krian voters are stupid?

 

There are things that should not be publicly retorted by politicians, particularly statements giving the impression that politics is all about “me, myself and I”.

Unfortunately, Saratok MP Ali Biju (above) has crossed the red line by demanding that he should be given the right to defend his parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15) by the ruling GPS Sarawak state government.

In other words, Ali has declared to the world that it is his God-given right to a seat as if it is his “personal possession” and that Saratok is his fiefdom.

To me, Ali has committed a political mortal sin and I’m not sure whether a political frog, as Ali is now known as one for his role in the Sheraton putsch, is able to comprehend what a political mortal sin is.

In the first place, who is Ali to make that demand? Is he requesting that the Saratok seat must be included in any agreement or understanding between GPS and Bersatu, of which Ali is a member?

It is all about “Ali, Ali, Ali”, isn’t it? Is he taking a cue from that big guy who floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee?

This is how I understand his statement at the press conference held at his Saratok service centre on Dec 10: “I have now given up Krian to GPS and I want Saratok and it must be given to me in return for my sacrifice”.

What? Does Ali think that the voters in Krian and Saratok are so paloi (stupid) that they must only vote for him (Ali) and no one else?

Surely, the Krian voters are able to evaluate the candidates soliciting their support. Of all people, Ali should not take his fellow Saratokians for granted.

In the 2018 election, Ali won by only a slim majority of 989 votes. He polled 11,848 votes while his BN opponent garnered 10,859.

Never forget, Ali. More than 10,000 voters did not vote for you. So, let me suggest that if you want to make demands next time, quietly ask your party president, Muhyiddin Yassin, to have a word with GPS boss and Sarawak caretaker chief minister Abang Johari Openg.

Don’t call a press conference making absurd demands, making a fool of yourself in the process. I doubt Abang Jo and his GPS colleagues think much of people calling a press conference to make silly ‘threats’. 

From left: Bersatu members Rashid Hasnon, Ali Biju and Azmin Ali at a press conference 

Perhaps Ali thinks that he is a big guy now as he is also a deputy minister. I don’t remember his portfolio because it’s irrelevant. It’s also because I don’t think much of deputy ministers, or even ministers (some of them, at least), as I believe many were appointed just to make the numbers.

And who were with Ali at Friday’s press conference? The biggest frog of them all – Azmin Ali – flanked by another of the same mould, Rashid Hasnon.

One is a minister and the other, the notoriously famous deputy speaker of Parliament. These are fellas I would avoid like a plague if I were a politician in order to dodge another “Et Tu Brutus” episode. You’ll never see that knife coming behind you.

Azmin, arguably Malaysia’s most vilified politician today, and Rashid are from Bersatu, a party that was almost wiped out at the recent Malacca election.

What are Bersatu leaders doing in S'wak?

I wonder what Azmin and Rashid are doing in Sarawak when Bersatu is not contesting. I’m not sure how they could be of help to GPS if they were in Sarawak to campaign for their ally?

To begin with, Bersatu has almost zero support in Sarawak. Their leaders, Azmin and even Muhyiddin, are neither popular nor respected by Sarawakians.

They could not even help their own party in Malacca; what can they do in Sarawak?

Here, I am reminded of what Abang Jo has repeatedly made clear and that is “Malayan political parties should stay out of the Sarawak election because they are not welcomed”.

“Stay out of the state election. Leave Sarawak to us. We Sarawakians know how to run the state. We don’t want Malaya politics to end up in Sarawak,” he was quoted in the media as saying.

Coincidentally, I happened to broach the subject after I bumped into Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang of PKR at a coffee shop in Kuching last night while he was on a campaign round.

Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang (right)

As if in jest, I told Chang that if I were the chief minister of Sarawak, I would bar all Malayan politicians, including the prime minister, from the state during this election.

"Why?" Chang asked.

Because we, in Sarawak, already have too many political issues to resolve with so many contesting parties this time, we don’t wish Malayan politicians to add more.

Frog allergies 

To Ali, also remember to keep your Malayan frogs away from Sarawak. Don’t invite them to our homeland.

I believe many Sarawakians (and I am one of them) have developed a distinct allergy against ‘frogs’ and we just cannot stand the sight of them.

Many voters in Krian and Saratok probably share the same froggy allergy.

To be honest, Ali, had you not withdrawn from the Krian race, I doubt you would also be able to retain the seat.

Political frogs will pay for their treachery and betrayal. Some will be punished earlier, others later. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of “Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan”. Obtain autographed copies from sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.