Umno once again fails to understand their defeat in the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election. Their arrogance and warlord-like behaviour and responses continue even after the results were slapped on their face. Once again, the Umno middle-rank leadership launches their ‘blame game’ saying elements of sabotage and ‘not working hard enough’ were the causes of the defeat.

Even the former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad took the opportunity to take a swipe at his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saying the defeat was a vote of no-confidence in the latter. Such is the culture of finger-pointing and blaming - the only natural reaction of Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Once again, they are only being able to look inward to party functions and structural issues or budget allocations and not at themselves as the government that is ruling this nation. Wake up, Umno and Barisan Nasional. Listen to the people outside of your party ranks and you will know why you are becoming a very unpopular political establishment in Malaysia.

Malaysian electoral politics is indeed simple if one observes the voting sentiments. It’s either that the people vote for the government of the day or they are against it. One is also be able to draw reference from the defeat suffered by PAS in Terengganu in the 2004 general election when the people rejected them as the government.

Umno and BN are to be blamed since they always portray BN as a government merely collecting it’s already assumed fresh mandate from the people through their entire governmental and non- governmental machinery.

Umno and BN must not ignore the fact that their rule of the nation is built and based upon fear and threat. Beyond all the development and economical rhetoric, fear and scare-mongering has always been the strategy of Umno/BN’s elections and rule. This fear ranging from fear of violence, the Internal Security Act and arbitrary police action to fear of losing budget allocations and government funding.

Fear has been well-placed to consolidate support for the ruling party which touts itself as the only ‘saviour’ to lead the people to betterment and peace. The enforcement of fear by the BN regime through its machinery has bred oppression, arbitrary action, injustice and discrimination. The fear factor of BN has failed to listen to the voices of its victims who will speak sooner if not later in the election process.

The defeat suffered by Umno in the recent general election and in the other subsequent by- elections have got nothing to do with leadership personalities or their skills as election directors or politicians. Be it Pak Lah, Najib or even Muhyiddin, it has got nothing to do with who is leading the Umno/BN election charge.

When the internal culture is corrupt and oppressive, one knows that whoever the individual is, he or she will either adapt to the system or will not survive long in it. The declining support and the recent losses suffered by the Umno/BN regime is all about a ruling government that is simply corrupt, partial and oppressive and one that serves political masters rather then the people.

Its about time that BN accepts that their failure is not because they didn't campaign well or due to the Umno internal matters. Kuala Terenganu is another signal that the people have once again rejected the notion of governance and rule by Umno/BN and are fed up with all its machinery right from the judiciary, to Election Commission to the police.

If BN leaders are reading this, do you think that the thousands of people who suffered being detained without trail under the ISA and Emergency Ordinance are going to vote for you? Will the victims’ family and friends, who also suffered the same agony, be able to vote for you with a clear mind?

Will young university students who regularly face harassment from the police ever vote for a government that has instilled fear and prevented them from reporting injustice and wrongdoing? Let’s not forget also all the small and medium business people who have lost money with all the monopolies and cronyism being practiced by the government. The list goes on.

It is now inevitable that BN as the ruling government will lose in the next general election should it fail to bring about any significant and credible reform. Any window dressing will only worsen the scepticism and cynicism that’s already dominating the minds of the people. Hope and change are not for political games and the people are well aware of such ploys thanks to the Internet.

Will Umno and BN dare look into the real issues of the people and make the changes required? Will the BN government ever be human rights and democracy-friendly and stand up against injustice even though it touches at their very core of their leadership?

Will the current government ever stand magnanimous in the light of problems or crises faced by the people and the country?

Will there be change or will it be just a mere installation of party positions? The question now is what will be the form of change we are looking at both on part of Umno/BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

The danger here is that change cannot be left to politicians and political parties alone. Civil society too must speak out and stand up for the principles of equality and social justice which are the true aspirations of the people.