BN should aim to win with honour
ObserverPublished: Feb 24, 2005 8:04 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
I agree with Artemis Tower's view that the Barisan Nasional's 'zero-opposition' policy is shameless.
According to general election results analyses, BN was able to win more than 77% of the seats with less than 54% of votes, and more than 90% of seats with less than 63% of votes in 1999 and 2004 respectively. These statistics clearly show the obvious unfair advantages BN had and will have for years to come.
Instead of aiming for zero-opposition, BN should aim to win with honour and by fair means which should include equal access to the media by the opposition, a proper redelineation of constituencies, proper control of government machinery during elections, a clean-up of the electoral rolls and the many countless other areas of which give BN an advantage.
Under the given circumstances, former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik's contention that the opposition still lost in 1999 in spite of the advantage it had due to Anwar Ibrahim's case is merely a glossing over of the facts.
There are so many odds against the opposition that unless and until we have a level-playing field, it is pointless even to argue. Able opposition leaders were detained while supporters were threatened with detention if not already detained. What was left in 1999 and 2004 was but a crippled reformasi movement.
If Rahim is so confident that Anwar has lost his appeal, he should stand against him in the next election. Both have gone through libel, slander, conspiracies and court cases. Let the people be the judge.
It would even be better to have Lim Guan Eng stand against Rahim which would then be a clear case of letting the electorate be the jury.
According to general election results analyses, BN was able to win more than 77% of the seats with less than 54% of votes, and more than 90% of seats with less than 63% of votes in 1999 and 2004 respectively. These statistics clearly show the obvious unfair advantages BN had and will have for years to come.
Instead of aiming for zero-opposition, BN should aim to win with honour and by fair means which should include equal access to the media by the opposition, a proper redelineation of constituencies, proper control of government machinery during elections, a clean-up of the electoral rolls and the many countless other areas of which give BN an advantage.
Under the given circumstances, former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik's contention that the opposition still lost in 1999 in spite of the advantage it had due to Anwar Ibrahim's case is merely a glossing over of the facts.
There are so many odds against the opposition that unless and until we have a level-playing field, it is pointless even to argue. Able opposition leaders were detained while supporters were threatened with detention if not already detained. What was left in 1999 and 2004 was but a crippled reformasi movement.
If Rahim is so confident that Anwar has lost his appeal, he should stand against him in the next election. Both have gone through libel, slander, conspiracies and court cases. Let the people be the judge.
It would even be better to have Lim Guan Eng stand against Rahim which would then be a clear case of letting the electorate be the jury.
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