In the 13th General Election in 2013 three years ago, Malaysians regardless of race and religion were never so united in wanting to bring about a change of Federal Government, which would be regarded as unthinkable and impossible just five years earlier before the “political tsunami” of the 12th General Election in 2008.
Although the majority of voters voted for change of Federal Government, the undemocratic and unfair electoral system allowed Datuk Seri Najib Razak to become the first minority Prime Minister in the country because he won some 60 per cent of the parliamentary seats with only some 47% of the popular vote.
Many Malaysians have become disappointed, disenchanted and given up hope that there is a possibility of democratic change in Malaysia, and have voted with their feet with a surge of migration in the past three years.
The greatest challenge in Malaysia today is to ensure that Malaysians can hope again that change of Federal Government, which was within a whisker of achievement in the 13GE, is still possible and realizable in the 14th General Election even if it is held in July/August next year.
The past three years of the second term of Najib’s premiership marked Malaysia plumbing to the depths of international image and esteem, with the world looking askance at Malaysia in achieving a new status as a globally corrupt nation making regular world news for the nation’s first global financial scandals – the RM55 billion 1MDB and Najib’s RM4.2 billion “donation” twin mega scandals – despite repeatedly attempts to deny or suppress such disclosures by a panoply of laws inside the country.
Never has there been so much hatred and divisiveness in Malaysia which are disseminated with impunity, such as categorizing Malaysians into “kafir harbi” and “kafir zimmi”, which is not only against the very concept of Malaysian nation-building and the fundamental features of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and 1963 Malaysia Agreement, but what is most unprecedented, an usage which is defended by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The UMNO propagandists and their cybertroopers are doing their worst to incite hatred and divisiveness among Malaysians, generating distrust among the diverse races and religions in the country.
Such irresponsible tactics reflect on their desperation and not on their confidence that they are the sure winners in the 14th General Election.
If we can debunk the lies and falsehoods that the future and fate of Malays are inextricably tied to the victory of UMNO in general elections; that the claim that if UMNO loses in the 14GE,the Malays will lose political power in Malaysia is a blatant falsehood; then the conditions are there for a change of Federal Government and for Malaysia to become a normal democratic country where the people can change governments without national catastrophes or disasters.
(Speech at the Bercham DAP Dinner in Bercham, Ipoh on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 8.30 pm)
#1 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 17 July 2016 - 4:25 pm
Truth is the No. 1 issue is PAS playing spoiler, not with DAP but with Amanah and PKR. Even losing all the votes it has gotten while it was with Pakatan, PAS still plays spoiler. Hence only way PH can win if it can win enough votes from UMNO that negate PAS as spoiler. It means PKR-Amanah-Mahathir has to win half of traditional UMNO votes. Frankly, if it was possible, Najib would be out as UMNO president.
PKR- Amanah- Mahathir really has to convince the Malays, Najib is destroying their future or unIslamic. Frankly, Najib IS present and clear threat to the country and Malays but get them to realize it? It’s well, it’s a too challenging to their audience.
#2 by boh-liao on Sunday, 17 July 2016 - 6:46 pm
Sorry, Pakatan MISSed d boat in d 13GE
Too late now for a victory in d 14GE
Esp d opposition is in disarray n SOdOmising each other
3 or more corner fights will ensure UmnoB/BN win more seats
Voters, even d younger new voters, still love UmnoB/BN, hooked like drug addicts
Race n religion still d key issues, NOT corruption, inefficiency, bankruptcy
MMK n his new party R EX-UmnoB crooks, still hv UmnoB’s DNA – fighting 4 their own self benefits n $$$$
#3 by boh-liao on Monday, 18 July 2016 - 4:09 am
Do rakyat think Malays CARE whether AhCheat n UmnoB/BN r destroying dis 1derful land?
Most of them hv dis attitide: WHAT Me Worry?
No lah, Gua give Them, They give Gua – happy, happy Carry On voting UmnoB/BN
Better beware of d Pakatan/Harapan devils, so d brainwashing goes
MMK should know best how HE engineered n manipulated d entire system 2 ensure UmnoB rule forever
His protégé is doing a much better job than him
More daring, much bigger appetite, n kicked his @.ss
Green coming out of Blue n better than Blue 青出于蓝而胜于蓝
#4 by Bigjoe on Monday, 18 July 2016 - 8:03 am
Here is my biggest problem with Mahathir’s new party. Why don’t t they just join Amanah? Because they want to save UMNO? Because Amanah is religo- based and UMNO supposedly not? Because they want to lead or able to fully make their impact? None of these reasons, even if they are legitimate, which some are dubious, is not enough a realisation what it takes to undo UMNO and even just Najib.
Fact is PAS will lose Kelantan and do badly in next GE. The likes of Tuan Ibrahim and Selangor PAS knows it. Still they will not admit their wrong. AND they will not admit their wrong EVEN after PAS impending disaster in GE 14. Worst, the likes of PKR and Mahathir party is counting on PAS changing. It’s not going to happen. The stubbornness of IS and Taliban, is not so strange to the likes of PAS and UMNO and Najib is not so dedensnot keep the situation going for a very very long time.
#5 by drngsc on Monday, 18 July 2016 - 2:33 pm
Much water have flowed under the bridge, since May 5th 2013 till today. The minority government has behaved very badly and deserved to be kicked out. But sad to say, the alternative have also not behaved that well. I am sure that the spirit of change is still in many of us Malaysians, but what are we changing to? Kicking out PAS is correct. Those are “religious snakes”, but surely Malaysians deserve a better alternative. P Harapan must do some very serious soul searching. They seemed to have lost their way. Until and unless they find their marbles, they find their way, all of us will be sick and tired of waiting. The fire is still burning in the belly, but what is on offer on the table needs a very serious make over. Malaysians deserve better.
#6 by good coolie on Monday, 18 July 2016 - 7:52 pm
Only the East Malaysians can save this country!
#7 by tmc on Tuesday, 19 July 2016 - 3:05 pm
Is DAP such a dunggu to even entertain the idea of snap polls when GE14 is just another 2 years or less away?
Does it realise when snap polls are called, the DAP Govt must resign en bloc and turn over authority to an independent party?
By so doing, how confident is DAP that a form of emergency rule wont be imposed by you know who to rule Penang? Once power is given away, DAP cannot take it back under unhealthy conditions.
Don’t gift Penang away to the opposition under any circumstances, DAP must hold on and wait patiently for GE14. As long as elections are not called, DAP is the ruling government in Penang.
So, don’t be stupid DAP and be influenced by emotions.