By Hussein Hamid

“It will have an effect in the sense that the spirit of the machinery is very high and I feel that there will come a time, a tipping point, where you will see the realization of our members that UMNO has to change and will change and is in the process of changing”. DIN

That is what Din said yesterday after the opening of the University Tun Razak campus building at Capital Square. My friends there are two words in the above statement that we must take note of:

“TIPPING POINT” – it means the level of change at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.

UMNO is still talking about trying to reach their “tipping point”. We reached ours in the General Election of March 8th 2008. From that day we had the critical mass to ensure that the momentum towards change is self-sustaining and will, by itself, fuels further growth from within.

• That is why we have won 7 of the past 8 by- elections. That is why Zaid and Chua Jui Meng are in our midst.

• That is why we have the IGP reappointed to a third term. That is why Pak Lah is no longer Prime Minister.

• That is why Isa, a convicted corrupt UMNO leader, is UMNO’s representative in Bagan Pinang.

• And that is also why an old man in Adelaide started steadyaku47(sorry guys jut had to add that in…)

All this and many many more ‘happenings’ are the manifestation of that “tipping point” that Din talked about. But here again he has got it wrong. While UMNO thinks that Bagan Pinang will be their “tipping point” I know that by choosing Isa UMNO have already lost in Bagan Pinang.

While they have already lost in Bagan Pinang we are already talking about how we should manage our momentum to peak at the next General Election.

Pakatan Rakyat are focused on consolidating their coalition into a potent force that will meet the aspirations and needs of our people.

Pakatan Rakyat are now in the throes of galvanizing DAP, Keadilan and PAS into the realization that practical politics requires ‘delicate’ adjustments and considerations of each other sensibilities for them to move relentlessly forward. Failure is not an option.

Pakatan Rakyat is grappling with the realization that without the 3M’s to win in Bagan Pinang it will be difficult – not impossible – but difficult. What are the 3M’s?

• Money : UMNO has that in almost unlimited amounts and they are not shy to throw it around and consider it as one of their “strength”.

• Media: The print media, the electronic media and the interpersonal departments such as Jabatan Penerangan – are all control and used by UMNO for UMNO’s own purposes – however self serving it will be.

• Machinery: Such as the Election Commission, PDRM, AG’s Department, ACA etc – All these are Rakyat machineries used for UMNO’s purposes.

We have a reigning Government that shamelessly uses all means at their disposal to win. They no longer try to cloak or disguise their misuse of their power to the people. They trumpet Isa’s visit to the Army Camps. They announce a slew of concessions, financial rewards and so called ‘development’ projects for the constituents of Bagan Pinang. All in the name of development and government ‘rewards’ for the people in Bagan Pinang to bribe them into giving their support to Isa. And when they are done with all these announcements they actually pass around envelopes with cash inside them for distribution to the people of Bagan Pinang. But this is par for the course for UMNO.

But as I have said earlier we have reached our “tipping Point” in March 2008. UMNO have not. We have the momentum to move relentless towards the next General elections. UMNO has not. We have the numbers and these numbers will continue to swell IF we do not forget our goal. And our goal is to bring change. Out with the corrupt, the arrogant and the deceitful UMNO and in it’s place we, the people, will chose Pakatan Rakyat.

Do not forget my friends. Not profit not plunder. Not greed not arrogance. We want a government that we can trust and believe in. That government is not UMNO.