The 2008 General Election saw a “political tsunami” which saw UMNO/BN coalition losing power in five states – retaining power in Kelantan as well as capturing Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.
The 2013 General Election was meant to be a political watershed event, bringing about for the first time in the nation’s history a change of Federal government in Putrajaya.
But there was national disappointment all round, as Datuk Seri Najib Razak was able to clinch on to power as the first minority Prime Minister in the country through gerrymandering and a most unfair and undemocratic electoral system.
With 47% of the electoral vote, Najib secured 60% of the parliamentary seats although the majority of the voters voted against Najib and the UMNO/BN coalition with the Pakatan Rakyat at the time winning 53% of the popular vote.
Following the break-up of Pakatan Rakyat in June 2015 because of the refusal of the Hadi leadership of PAS to honour the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework and the Pakatan Rakyat’s consensus operational principle, Malaysians experienced the worst political disappointment in the nation’s history. As a result many Malaysians lost hope in the possibility of bringing about political change through the electoral process.
What then does the 14th General Election, which will be held in the next 10 months, hold in store for Malaysians?
PAS President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang said the next general election will be PAS’ greatest electoral outing, winning 40 parliamentary seats and capturing five state governments, viz: Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.
I have my doubts as I think PAS’ greatest test in the 14GE is whether it could retain power in Kelantan State Government, which it won 27 years ago under the leadership of Tok Guru, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
What is in store for Pakatan Harapan comprising PKR, Amanah, Pribumi Bersatu and DAP?
Pakatan Harapan must firstly reignite hopes of Malaysian voters that it is still possible to achieve political change through the electoral process.
I will go even further and ask Malaysian voters not to lose hope and to work hard to achieve even better results than the 2008 and 2013 General Elections.
Never before had voters in Malaysia achieved a double whammy in a general election – a change of state government as well as Federal government in one general election.
The voters of Kelantan are capable of achieving such a “double whammy” in the 14th General Election – a change of Kelantan State Government as well as Federal Government in Putrajaya in one go.
This should be Pakatan Harapan’s 14th General Election objective – for five states, namely Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johore to achieve a “double whammy” in effecting a change of state and federal government in one go, while retaining the Pakatan Harapan state governments in Penang and Selangor.
Let the 14th General Election achieve such a “political miracle” – which will see greater political breakthroughs and inroads than the 2008 and 2013 General Elections.
[Speech by DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang at the DAP kopitiam dialogue at Jalan Sri Cemerlang, Kota Bharu on Friday, 30th June 2017 at 9 am]