Pakatan the underdog

comment Contrary to statistical analysis, Pakatan Rakyat is the real underdog in Hulu Selangor. We must realise that what is felt in the cities are not necessarily shared in a semi-rural constituency like Hulu Selangor. Moreover, all three state constituencies voted for the BN. Pakatan therefore has to win hearts and minds like never before if it wants to win here.

Umno is obviously leading the charge. All the big guns have come down to the field to make mincemeat of their former cabinet colleague. Zaid Ibrahim (left with songkok) is indeed a different type of Malay. The question is whether or not the Malays in Hulu Selangor can accept him and give him the platform to spread his ideas in Parliament.

Both the BN and Pakatan have a myriad of moral issues to highlight. Anwar Ibrahim's attempt to wrest the federal government through defections is now back to haunt him. But most Malaysians will remember Karpal Singh's insistence that the DAP would have nothing to do with such a government. Anyway, everything is just hearsay as the coup did not take place.

Everyone will remember that the BN tried to secure PAS' support to take over Selangor and that it did not happen. PAS remains a moral bulwark especially after the BN's takeover of Perak. If there are any doubts about moral expediency, BN wins hands down because of the way it took over Perak.

The second line of attack involves promises not honoured. There is little doubt that Pakatan promised the moon and the stars; most went on the soapbox never thinking that they would be elected. In their euphoria, they said a lot of things that they now cannot fulfil. The BN, on the other hand, campaigned with the confidence that they would continue to rule.

They had the biggest electoral victory in 2004 and four years later never had any doubts that they would lose. Promises were made as well and a lot has not been fulfilled. The lesson here: learn from Tun Razak, promise only what you can deliver.

Zaid the traitor

The third line of attack is personal. Zaid Ibrahim is rich, ungrateful, drinks and is a traitor because he left Umno. This is where the rakyat may get confused. All those born after 1980 cannot imagine what could possibly be better than being rich. Now that he is rich, Zaid is advocating that assistance should be given based on need.

To a person like Tun Mahathir (right), this means taking away the crutches from the Malays and that Zaid is therefore ungrateful. Wait a minute, if help is given based on need and the majority of the poor are bumiputeras, would that not mean that the Malays would continue to benefit the most? It does not really matter, Malays would lose out because Perkasa says so and the PM must listen to Perkasa, said Mahathir.

Thank goodness, the rest of us have a right to disagree...at least for now.

Now drinking is totally a different matter all together. How many of us have friends in the ruling party who does not drink? If one drank when one was in the 20s and 30s and 40s, does it mean that there is no forgiveness? Anyway, is this not a matter between the individual and his maker? Enough said least one gets accused of interfering in a religion one must not know and cannot know anything about.

Oh, what about Zaid resigning as minister because of Teresa Kok? I suppose to some this is tantamount to treason.

Of course, footage of Elizabeth Wong continues to surface to show guilt by association. (If there's guilt in being photographed whilst asleep, by someone she was suppose to trust).

There is no need to stoop so low and those in glass houses should not throw stones. Wong will have little problem winning her seat again because she has been a most dedicated assemblywoman.

Lastly, treason because he once said "Umno dahulu, sekarang dan selamanya" (Umno, past, present and forever). If we were to start prosecuting politicians because they switch parties then what about Dr Mahathir, who was expelled from Umno, caused Umno's dissolution, formed new Umno, renamed new Umno Umno, and left new Umno Umno and returned to it. only to become the patron of Perkasa.

‘Freedom of association'

Mahathir was merely giving us a lesson in 'freedom of association', which is guaranteed in the Constitution. Why one set of rules for Dr Mahathir and another set for Zaid Ibrahim? Perhaps, we are witnessing what we already know: there is one set of rules for Umno and BN; and another set for the rest of us. If in doubt, look at recent judicial cases. What was it that Dr Mahathir said? Yes, sometimes "the law is an ass".

To whip up hysteria and mob mentality, Malays have been told that their rights will be taken away. This means no more contracts, no more subsidies and no more Mara. At the same time, the PM goes to Singapore and announces that Malaysia will be a high-income economy and that he was putting his career on the line by putting an end to the rentier economy, which is based on the 'special rights' of the Malays. Confused? Yes, we are supposed to be and this is what is called spin or double-speak.

Confusion is the first step towards the creation of fear and anxiety. Imagine, the Chinese and Indian hordes at the gates. To the Chinese, the NEM is hope whilst to the Indians, well, nothing much really but at least Maika will be solved. This is change without changing; and we all know what politicians will say when they fail to implement wonderful policies: "the people were not ready for it". Ironically, that was what the benign British colonial office said about independence and democracy.

In the days to come, PKR will be battered with even more desertions and defections. All the worms will crawl out of the woodwork. If BN is to survive the next general election, PKR must be destroyed. Therefore Zaid Ibrahim must also lose at Hulu Selangor to deny the PKR a leader of calibre who can lead the Pakatan in Parliament when Anwar Ibrahim is put behind bars.

Is there a silver lining? Yes, and it can be found on the ground. It is now two years after March 2008 and there have been several positive changes in the PR-controlled states. Selangor's local governments are now more people-friendly. In Petaling Jaya, assessment rates have gone down especially for high-rises. State assemblymen are also more responsive but they stand firm when necessary. The same is true in Penang, where the state government has, against the odds, put the Seberang Jaya municipal council's account books back in the black!

There is no doubt in our minds that we need a strong opposition. In Penang and Selangor, the change is felt in the cities. How far have change penetrated into the rural areas, especially in a constituency as large as Hulu Selangor remains to be seen. The reality is that Hulu Selangor is the kind of constituency Pakatan has to win and win convincingly. Lim Kit Siang (above) is right to warn the PR against complacency. PKR must work closely with PAS and DAP if it is to retain this seat.

 NEIL KHOR has recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge. He is co-author of 'Non-Sectarian Politics in Malaysia: The Case of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia' (2008).