By Kee Thuan Chye
A LARGE part of politics hinges on perception. And the public perception of Pakatan Rakyat, especially of its component party PKR, is currently negative or one of scepticism. This is due in part to Pakatan’s own doing – as is evident in recent instances of major in-fighting among party members – and in part to merciless mainstream media spin.
Pakatan itself cannot counter the spin. It does not have a well-organised spin machinery of its own, and it does not have its own newspapers, radio and TV stations that reach out nationwide. Countering spin is also something that needs to be done on a daily basis. If a spin is not nipped in the bud and is allowed to grow instead, it will be that much harder to debunk it later.
In Selangor, Pakatan has been bringing out Selangorkini, a weekly rag in Bahasa Malaysia that is supposed to provide some profile to the Pakatan-led state government’s activities and achievements, but this is not well-distributed. Many Selangorians are not even aware of its existence. In late November, the English-language Selangor Times was launched, but its target readership is mainly urbanites. Pakatan needs more than the votes of the urban areas to win the next general election. In fact, it needs a lot more to win the next general election. As it is, it cannot match what the BN Government is touting – a brighter future, a Malaysia with high-income status by 2020, through projects under the Economic Transformation Programme. Never mind that this is actually still a dream, an illusion; BN has been selling it on a grand scale to make it seem real. And the irony is, people are actually buying it.
As we know, the key to persuading buyers is marketing. It is just as important in politics as public relations, and BN is savvy about this. That’s how it manages to hoodwink the masses into buying its product. Pakatan, on the other hand, hasn’t done much by way of marketing and public relations. And that’s putting it mildly. When the last general election came around, the electorate was faced with a BN government that was bereft of marketing ideas to take the country forward, and allegations were flying about of BN corruption and malpractices. As a result, many gave their votes to Pakatan. Even though BN is still associated with corruption and malpractices, Pakatan cannot merely bank on this again at the next general election. This time, the electorate will also want to see Pakatan’s performance record.
Talk to anyone with sense in their heads and they’ll say they want to see Pakatan fulfil the promises they made prior to March 8, 2008. Quite a number will say some of these promises have so far not been made good. Just the other day, someone said to me he was unhappy about the low number of scholarships given out by the educational arm of the Selangor government to non-Malays. He felt the Pakatan-led government was no different from its predecessor. I had to ask him why he was emphasising the issue so much when non-Malays by and large had not got federal government scholarships for decades. Why make a big case of this now just because it happens to involve the Pakatan-led Selangor government when the BN-led federal government has been doing it for far much longer?
I also had to point out that we should cease looking at the issue from the perspective of race, and that the overriding criterion for giving out a scholarship, apart from scholastic merit, should be need. It doesn’t matter which race the recipient of the scholarship belongs to as long as he or she needs financial help to attain further education. This does not deviate from the economic agenda that Pakatan has been proposing, which, admittedly, is a logical and sensible one. Only a person who is deliberately contrarian would say it’s not.
But is Pakatan going around explaining to the disgruntled that they should not be harping on an issue that has actually been with us for decades and instead accept that we should look at needs rather than race when it comes to welfare considerations? If it is, how effectively is it doing so? Is its counter-spin done in a concerted manner?
There may not be much time left before the next general election is called. Until then, Pakatan not only has to undo the damage wrought by its internal bickering and the allegations of PKR’s party elections fraud; it also has to make the public feel confident that it is first of all effective and united as an alternative political coalition, and, more importantly, that it has the ability to govern the nation. So what can it do to pull this off in the short time it has? It is not in a position to hawk dreams and illusions like BN can because it doesn’t have a whole government machinery behind it to launch massive programmes and public relations exercises. It doesn’t have the mass media as an ally. It cannot tell Malaysians how efficient it can be as the next government and what its policies will be. What are its options?
Basically, it needs to learn from the wars in history in which the Davids managed to defeat the Goliaths. It needs to learn from the North Vietnamese who brought the mighty Americans almost to their knees. Its political tactics may have to be of the guerilla type – working hard on the ground, using unconventional methods to influence the voters, unleashing attacks that hit the enemy with surprise.
For starters, it needs to penetrate the rural masses, especially the Malay heartland, to disabuse the readers of Utusan Malaysia and viewers of TV1 and TV3 of the BN propaganda they are getting relentlessly on a daily basis. These are the people who will need to be won over if Pakatan hopes to conquer Putrajaya. And it will not be easy because they have long been indoctrinated by the BN-controlled media.
Since Pakatan does not have its own media outlet, and since the rural electorate is not well-connected to the online media which provides alternative news and views, one thing Pakatan could do is organise its own “guerilla media”. This could be in the form of daily news sheets that serve as Pakatan’s print alternative to the mainstream media. They would counter accusations against it by BN; give the alternative spin to news in the mainstream media that glorifies BN’s actions and supports the BN cause; expose the shenanigans and corrupt practices of BN politicians. To be effective, these news sheets would have to be distributed to as many rural households as possible. And with lightning speed.
The whole operation would call for highly organised planning and execution, and the guerilla media would have to be manned by professionals who know what they are doing and can do it well. It calls for funding, but, above all, it calls for the will to get it done. Pakatan needs to find that will, if it doesn’t have it already. We have seen how media spin, marketing and public relations have worked wonderfully for BN. If Pakatan doesn’t get down to playing that game to enhance its own cause – and with immediate effect – half the battle for Putrajaya could be lost.
#1 by dawsheng on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 5:19 pm
We now know that GE13 will happen within 18 months but that also mean it can be 90 days or 180 days from today. There are many factors for Najib to take into consideration, domestically and globally. However, it is obvious Najib’s consideration hinged on narrow personal agenda, and it might as well be the reason for his downfall. Even so, this does not mean internal and external factors have no influences on the date of general election.
Najib has anticipated and prioritized his personal agenda by postponing any possible challenge to his leadership, this is done with the consent of UMNO supreme council of course who saw it fit to avoid any surprises, reflecting insecurity, uneasiness and weakness in dealing with internal issues, particularly the issue of leadership. Having done so, they have set the clock ticking.
Pakatan Rakyat is out of time, but if they play the game right there are many advantages on their side. PR also need all the help it can get, this is crucial of they want to topple BN. And I repeat here that the Third Force is answer.
#2 by a-malaysian on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 5:21 pm
Many of us had been telling PR about what is happening on the ground but sad to say they still wanted to think that they are doing the right things, building castle in the air, just listening to their right hand man and acts like they are indisposable.
As of today Putrajaya is not within reach for PR but our only hope is to deny umno the two third.
Malaysia For All
#3 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 5:28 pm
Urban Malaysians can see the 1 BLUFF called 1Malaysia and all other bluff propaganda.
Kee is right: do the rural folks see through the 1 Bluff perpetrated by Malaysia’s 1 and only 1 Najib.
Hey, Pakatan Rakyat, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Just do it RIGHT! Remember: the ends do not justify the means. Don’t make the same mistake as that former mamak PM and now everybody sees thru his 1 BLUFF too. So this bluffing business is not new. Tell that to Najib. Mahathir have been bluffing the nation all along. “Mlaysian Maverick” author is right.
So Pakatan, if you want to win, win in style – don’t cheat and bluff and drop your pants like some party chief. Finally the world will know even the few hairs you have left, you see?
#4 by Winston on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 6:23 pm
Yeah, Kee is right.
Galvanise everybody and use all channels at the PR’s disposal to awaken the people about the deceptions of the BN.
With the abundant material about BN’s malevolent deeds, it shouldn’t be too difficult a task; in fact they have been doing the PR a great favour.
As for me, I don’t even bother with anything they say!
Only one thing matters – put the PR in Putrajaya!
#5 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 6:48 pm
I have some weird ideas. To spread the name of PR, perhaps PR can come up with some cheap handy gifts such as pencils or paper bags printed with PR slogans and website (e.g. PR cares for you, PR is great!) and distribute them to school teachers and shoppers. One should not underestimate what these little gifts could do to promote PR.
#6 by monsterball on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 7:04 pm
It does not mean offending by defending is the right move.
PR have made so many right moves by keeping quiet and sitting still…making offenders … go mad.
I am sure..PR leaders know what is the right moves to counter fight..lies and half truths to win votes…by BN.
#7 by monsterball on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 7:11 pm
However…13th GE is near and UMNO B must appear to be champion of the Malays again plus keep churning out all sorts of nonsense against Khalid and the keDAILan Selangor Govt.
The want Selangor back… at all cost.
PR needs a Kong Ming master-minder. Go search for him like Lui Pei dd to fight a Dictator.
#8 by Thor on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 8:42 pm
You better watch out!
No! Santa Claus is not coming to town.
It’s BNUmno who’s planning something big to cheat in the next GE.
Better for PR to be well prepared and seek international observers to monitor the coming GE process.
#9 by rubini on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 - 9:24 pm
At the end of the we the Rakyat must have the courage to make the changes required.
Malaysians have a mentality of leaving it to others.What can an individual do? so often the question asked? Every change starts with the individual. We the rakyat MUST participate by encouraging everyone else.
VOTE IN – PR – Perpaduan Rakyat
VOTE OUT – BN – BUANG NAJIS
#10 by raven77 on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 12:48 am
The PR should have focused and consolidatd its hold on the 5 states it held instead of dreaming of Putrajaya…learn to walk before you run they say…..
The key weaknesses in PR states is administration. You need to learn how to administer first. And whinning that there is no money will not help either…because you have this one shot only and you have to make it count. Selangor, especially…the richest state in the nation and under the PR failed to create jobs, failed to be an economic model and buck the entire Malaysian trend of a slowing economy…
Selangor needed talent badly to turn the tide. But Khalid and the PKR chose not to be bold and maintained the status quo keeping and trying to appease UMNO moles in almost every department in Selangor. They may yet live to regret it…for they may never ever get this chance again….
Its always the economy…
#11 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 1:59 am
Whilst its Ok for Pakatan to “go guerilla” by tactics such as disseminating “ daily news sheets” to rural electorate, I am not too sure its so Ok to “go guerilla” by such as that put forward by ex Perak MB and present Perak Pakatan leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin when he urged (in his speech at the Perak budget 2011 state assembly sitting on Dec 1st ) Premier Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor to dress the Islamic way to reflect Umno’s stand as an Islamic party (Ref – Malaysiakini Report by Humayun Kabir of 1st Dec under caption “Nizar: Rosmah should dress the Islamic way”).
Is it consistent with Pakatan’s “New Politics” for Nizar to say such a thing???
#12 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 2:16 am
///Its (Pakatan) political tactics may have to be of the guerilla type – working hard on the ground, using unconventional methods to influence the voters, unleashing attacks that hit the enemy with surprise./// – Kee Thuan Chye.
It was reported in Malaysiakini that “PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim proposed that Lim (Kit Siang) be appointed as deputy prime minister if the opposition pact were to win (the election) and it seems that PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would endorse such appointment if and when the opposition pact leads the country through the 13th general election on grounds that it “should not contradict the conditions stipulated in the national policy and Islamic policy.”
Does this qualify as one of such guerilla “unconventional methods to influence the (Non malay) voters, unleashing attacks that hit the enemy (BN that has no Chinese DPM) with surprise”????
I am curious and wonder whether Mr Kee Thuan Chye would also recommend disseminating this stand by Anwar/Nik Aziz in his guerilla method of “news sheets that serve as Pakatan’s print alternative to the mainstream media” to be distributed to rural households???
#13 by Comrade on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 8:44 am
What Umno/BN has done is a shame
Try to beat them at their own game
Disseminate the truth to rural Malaysia
Through the suggested “guerilla media”
PR must go on the peaceful offensive
In order to achieve your objective
Little time left to inform the rural people
PR must take action as soon as possible
#14 by dagen on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 9:34 am
Spread the word. Umno the devil must be destroyed come GE13.
#15 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 10:34 am
Even guerilla need strategic ideas to work with. I say Wan Azizah has just given PR a new lease of life with her breakthrough attack on Ketuanan Melayu. What the troops have to sell is Ketuanan Melayu’ menghambakan minda kepada UMNO, Ketuanan Rakyat membebaskan orang Melayu.
#16 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 10:44 am
Talking about guerilla spin, the latest from some Umno leaders is that they have linked PKR’s promotion of Ketuanan Rakyat (supremacy of the people) as hurting the constitutional monarchy system. As I stated in my post in preceding thread (*under prolonged moderation) our Colonial Master Britain that bequeathed our Constitution also shares the same system of Constitutional Monarchy. No one can say that their political system is not based on sovereignty (supremacy) of the people exercised via representatives in the House of Commons.
Per The MalaysianInsider Report by Clara Chooi, Minister/lawyer Nazri Aziz told PKR leaders that “ketuanan Rakyat” did not grant the people full power to decide their government leaders reminding them that the Malay Rulers still reigned supreme in Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy system. Nazri cited the examples of the year-long constitutional impasse in Perak pointing out that Perak Ruler made the call on who was MB as in the cases of Terengganu & Perlis the respective Rulers rejected UMNO’s candidate of MB.
“The word ‘on the advice’ in our Constitution is not the same as in Britain In Britain the Queen dissolves the Parliament on the advice of the prime minister but here ‘advice’ is more a directive. “In Malaysia we are different If the Agong says it is unnecessary to dissolve Parliament then there will be no dissolution” he said.
Looking at this issue, it must be pointed out that the powers of Constitutional Monarch (as distinct from absolute monarchs) vary from country to country according to history and tradition. Even if what Nazri says its true – that our Rulers are more powerful than the British Queen in respects he cited – and I surmise probably less powerful than (say) Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, it does not contradict the basic fact that ours is still a representative form of government – of the people, for the people and by the people (via ballot and representation in Parliament) as Abraham Lincoln would have it (though the USA is a republic without Monarch or His representative Governor General).
Ketuanan Rakyat is not in the first place put forth as an argument to test and measure the relative absoluteness / strength of sovereignty of the people via representative government under constitutional monarchy as against sovereignty of Rulers, with the view to establishing whose sovereignty is greater. To argue so is to distort and “spin” a big one against Pakatan Rakyat’s motto! Ketuanan Rakyat is a call for return to the people of the power and sovereignty hitherto usurped by their representatives holding office as incumbent government who are perceived as not acting in the people’s interest – the very people who voted them in! It is a call in address of the class issue/conflict between ordinary people as against their elected political/govt elites – not one between the people and hereditary rulers as UMNOputras have skewed it, forgetting that they were the ones who have amended the constitution to make sure bills become law after a time period even without Royal Assent and also the Constitutional Court to try any Ruler in criminal offences!
Constitutional Monarchs world over have varying differences of power/influence depending on people’s love of their tradition and hereditary rulers. Rulers themselves do give good advice even, in the case of Britain in World War II to PM Churchill, and in peacetimes take a pragmatic course of self-preservation to avoid political confrontation and controversy with elected government representatives. This does not affect an iota the principle of sovereignty of people (“Ketuanan Rakyat”) in a Constitutional Monarchy!
#17 by Winston on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 10:45 am
I think that as a rallying call, the PR can use “Put PR in Putrajaya!”.
How’s that?
#18 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 10:57 am
If Nazri’s argument were correct then in view of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand being most powerful of constitutional monarchs, we cannot call Thailand’s system of government a representative govt based on sovereignty/supremacy of people exercised via their elected representatives in Thai parliament!
The fact that a system is a constitutional monarchy and not absolute monarchy already attests to the sovereignty of the people / rakyat (Ketuanan Rakyat) evinced through an representative parliamnt/lgislature and in turn executive/ government.
The relative greater and lesser powers of Constitutional Monarchs under different system, depending on local tradition and history, does not change this equation.
Talking about ultimate sovereignty, I am sure that the Minister is not suggesting that (hypothetically) with 100% support of Ruling Coalition and 100% support of Opposition Coalition in Parliament, the Constitution cannot be changed by 100% majority in Parliament to make Malaysia a Republic!
#19 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 11:00 am
In summation, and on the basis of the above, the concept of Ketuanan Rakyat or sovereignty of people is consistent with the concept of sovereignty of Constitutional Monarchy.
#20 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 11:34 am
It is curiously “selective” to argue that in view of our Rulers being (constitutionally) more “powerful” in terms of appointment of Menteri Besars (MBs) than (say) the British Constitutional Monarch, Ketuanan Rakyat (or Sovereignty of People is of greater applicability in England than under Malaysia’s Constitutional Monarchies.
Let me just say that the Law Minister’s “more powerful” argument of our Constitutional Rulers over Britain’s does not hold if I take (selectively) the other counterpoints:
(1) In Malaysia, by constitutional amendment under TDM’s administration, if Royal Assent is not extended within 30 days of presentation, the Bill passed by Parliament automatically becomes law! In England the Queen is not subject to such limitation. This does not mean that the Queen would withhold royal assent.The last time the monarch refused to give Royal Assent was in 1707 with Queen Anne! It is all but impossible to imagine a situation whereby the Queen of England would refuse to give Royal Assent to a bill that has gone through such a thorough examination and passd in Parliament.
(2) Also the British Constitutional Monarch is not subject to a Constitutional court (unlike here) to try him/her for criminal offences.
Do not these 2 examples contradict and show that the British Constitutional Monarch is actually more “powerful” than our Constitutional Rulers, that Ketuanan Rakyat should apply here more than in England – than what the Honourable Minister said, citing our Rulers’ right to reject MBs as proof our Rulers being more powerful than British Monarch, and therefore Ketuanan Rakyat applies less here?
We have to compare like to like and not unlikes: don’t forget that there are no menteri besars in the United Kingdom for the Queen there to veto their appointments by the elected governments. Also UK has no parallel to our federalism of Federal and State governments!
#21 by waterfrontcoolie on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 1:14 pm
I totally agree with Kee, PR must take the iniative to expose the half-truths insinuated by the BN media. Use all the electronic media to do it; this is one sector BN has no total control and the people are the younger set. The talk by Nazri is again an attempt on the art of confusinf the Raayat! They will talk in rhetorics but never dare to talk about costs of projects in comparison with other countries.
You can hardly beat them in rhetorics as they control the main media so let us tell the people hard facts of costs by comparing them with ours. Let them do the explanation; they can hardly do!
#22 by boh-liao on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 7:38 pm
PR shld make full use of their members (be they PAS, PKR or DAP members) in small towns, rural areas n remote towns 2 educate voters there
Give their members mobile internet tools, laptop, printers, Fax machines, photocopiers – so dat they can download or receive documents (with information dat can counter BN’s lies), print them, n distribute them 2 folks in small towns, rural areas n remote towns
Use the right technology 2 counter d lies spread by UmnoB/BN through their msm
Also get college/university students, when they are back in their home towns, 2 persuade their parents n relatives 2 vote 4 PR by exposing d corrupt practices n lies of UmnoB/BN
Act smart, time is running out b4 d next GE
#23 by House Victim on Thursday, 2 December 2010 - 10:43 pm
Does PK Government tell the truth about a Wrongly issued Title?
http://hannahyeoh.blogspot.com/2010/03/mb-releases-classified-information-on.html
Why JPK, RA, and Adun are emphasizing that the Title is “correct” and need to be Gazetted when it should be a Town Park since 1970’s?
When no Title should be issued for Reserved Land?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-61NfdJLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FStOwOH6dnk
If PK (PKR/DAP/PAS Government cannot handle properly according to what should be even for Subang Jaya, can they convince People that they can work in Putra Jaya??
The matters had been present to Hannah and Ronnie Liu in 2008!!
#24 by spthang123 on Friday, 3 December 2010 - 9:21 am
I am not a member of any political party. I volunteer to distribute your daily news sheets. A win for Pakatan Rakyat is the win for the good of the nation. I will start with the local market, then the kampungs. Just tell me when.
#25 by Ray on Friday, 3 December 2010 - 10:46 am
PR…>> Please be Prudence and discipline yr party coalition well ….Be Fair and Equal to all Human beings.<<
Never ever try or smell the temptation of the BN Instant Millionaire minister luring mindset…by all means,back or front doors persuasion.
Today in Malaysia , Umnopurtas only practise their Umnoism which also known as Deceitful Politics …We must catch this serpent Snake by the head first rather the tail get kill by them.
Disseminated and fully exposed their BN Umno Money talk and their past and present sinful deeds to all Malaysians regardless of races, religion and creeds.
Its every Ketuanan Rakyat responsible to Vote PR into Putrajaya.
Cheers