Yesterday, pollster Merdeka Centre reported that Barisan Nasioal has recovered from its low approval ratings previously caused by the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the revelation of the 1MDB affair.
Its programme director Ibrahim Suffian presented data that showed sentiments towards the incumbent federal government had improved, with approval ratings increasing to 39 percent generally and to 47 percent among the Malays.
Ibahim said this was enough for BN to extend its hold on power in the 14th general election (GE14).
His graphs showed that back in 2015 when the GST was introduced and the 1MDB affair first came to light, general satisfaction with the direction of the country dropped drastically to 16 percent.
I do not accept fully the Merdeka Centre findings but it is a salutary reminder that the battle to defeat UMNO/BN in the 14th General Election is not going to be an easy one, although it is not impossible.
But we can take heart from recent developments where pollsters were proved wrong, most famously in Brexit in United Kingdom and Donald Trump’s surprise US presidential victory.
Malaysians can create an upset in the May 9 general elections by proving wrong the pollsters who predict a Barisan Nasional victory.
Despite adverse Merdeka Centre findings, 15 million Malaysian voters can create a Brexit-like upset and replace UMNO/BN with Pakatan Harapan Federal Government in 14GE
To do this, Pakatan Harapan must aim to win 120 Parliamentary seats.
This is achievable although it is a very tall order, but this is the first opportunity in 61 years to bring about a change of Malaysian government through the ballot box, for if we miss this opportunity, a similar opportunity is unlikely to present itself for next two decades.
(Speech when opening the DAP Ayer Keroh election centre in Malacca on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 2 pm)