Cliches from a political crisis, again!
By The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — The crisis in Perak has seen a riot of clichés being employed by politicians, pundits and journalists. This is The Malaysian Insider’s take on how certain phrases accurately describe the events that led to the wresting of control of the state by Barisan Nasional, and its possible aftermath.
• Time heals all wounds.
They forgot 1978 and they forgot 1994. So why should anyone expect the voters of Perak and Malaysians in general to carry the same anger and hurt they feel today with them for the next three or four years.
Why should anyone believe that Barisan Nasional will be punished at the ballot box by voters who do not approve of the manner they have come to power in the silver state?
The evidence shows that Malaysians are a forgiving and forgetful lot.
In 1972, Pas agreed to join the Alliance, with several Pas leaders getting some federal positions and Umno having a share in Pas-controlled Kelantan.
In 1974, Barisan Nasional was formed. Not long after that, problems cropped up between Umno and Pas, with the latter accusing Umno of meddling in Kelantan. The problems came to a head and led to a decision by Pas to remove the incumbent Mentri Besar Mohamed Nasir for defying party instructions in 1977. PAS called for his resignation, but he refused, and presented himself as the champion of an honest and clean government. A “no-confidence” motion was tabled in the state assembly and carried by 20 PAS votes after 13 Umno and one MCA assembly members walked out in protest.
A legal impasse followed when Mohamed Nasir called for the dissolution of the state assembly. His supporters demonstrated in the streets, and violence and looting erupted. This led the Federal government to ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare emergency rule.
The anger among Pas supporters was palpable but in the March 1978 state elections, Umno formed the state government.
Fast forward to 1994 in Sabah. Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) won a narrow 25-23 victory over Barisan Nasional in the state election. But a few days later three PBS assemblymen -- Datuk Lajim Ukin, Datuk Rubin Balang and nominated assemblyman Datuk Zaini Isa switched over to the BN.
Further defections followed and it was clear that the PBS government’s position was untenable. Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan attempted to dissolve the state legislative but this was rejected by the Yang Dipertua Negeri. BN took control of the state and there was great unhappiness on the ground.
Still five years later, they won the state elections by a larger margin. So history says that the riots and show of force in Perak may not amount to much. Anger dissipates, people get on with their lives and after a while, the events of February 2009 will become a blur. Not everyone believes that Perak 2009 will be consigned to the memory bank the same way that Kelantan 1978 and Sabah 1994 have been.
They point out that Malaysians of this era are more demanding, cynical and prepared to make their vote count. They point out that young Malaysians do not have the same affection and respect that their fathers and mothers had for BN.
They point out that the blogs and Internet tell the story of a raging Malaysia, not the staid mainstream media. They point out that the Internet penetration among those aged 16 and 24 is 80 per cent and many in this age group will be voting in 2013.
They say that this generation does not forget or forgive easily. We shall see.
• Pick the low hanging fruit
Targeting Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi was a no-brainer from the start. From the day they were charged in court with three others for allegedly accepting bribes to approve a RM10 million housing project, they became a liability for Pakatan Rakyat and ripe for the picking by Barisan Nasional.
If they are convicted in court, it would spell the end of their political careers. There was little upside for them to remain in PKR. So when BN officials came a-calling, the duo was all ears. After all, they both could be facing jail time soon and having powerful friends in their corner could be useful.
Hard to blame BN for zooming in on Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin. They were ripe and rotten for the picking.
• He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have a tough time living this down. The arrows are being fired at him, with his critics accusing him of putting crossovers on the political agenda in Malaysia; with pundits accusing him of putting the cart before the horse.
Instead of focusing on getting his colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat to govern the five states well and to come up with a common platform to make this nascent alliance more durable, his focus was on crossovers.
For months, he predicted the collapse of the Barisan Nasional government. He said that he had the numbers, and even demanded a sit down with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Not everyone in Pakatan Rakyat was comfortable with this sabre-rattling. They argued that Pakatan Rakyat should stand for something pure and principled, and should not use tactics from the soiled playbook of BN.
But after Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu, there was no stopping him. He was energised. Pakatan Rakyat was on a roll. And Datuk Nasharuddin Hashim presented a great opportunity to drive another nail into BN.
He forgot one thing — Umno invented the dirty tactics textbook. He was up against a formidable enemy. Weakened yes but still formidable. An enemy that revels in playing in the murky area between black and white called grey.
• It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game
The temptation is great. The temptation to take to the streets, fight to the last is great. But 48 per cent of Malaysians gave their vote to Pakatan Rakyat in March 2008 not because they wanted Anwar to become the prime minister or they craved for a political sideshow every few months.
They wanted to give a political movement which stands for democracy, transparency, good governance and the rule of law an opportunity to take root in the Malaysian landscape. They had grown weary of the double-speaking and bullying ways of Umno/BN.
When they looked at Pakatan Rakyat politicians, they saw people they could invest their hopes in. They saw a completely different product that had been shoveled at them for decades.
Taking to the streets, clashing with policemen and appearing belligerent only pleases the troops and the converted. For the rest of us, it blurs the line between the good guys and the bad guys.
By The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — The crisis in Perak has seen a riot of clichés being employed by politicians, pundits and journalists. This is The Malaysian Insider’s take on how certain phrases accurately describe the events that led to the wresting of control of the state by Barisan Nasional, and its possible aftermath.
• Time heals all wounds.
They forgot 1978 and they forgot 1994. So why should anyone expect the voters of Perak and Malaysians in general to carry the same anger and hurt they feel today with them for the next three or four years.
Why should anyone believe that Barisan Nasional will be punished at the ballot box by voters who do not approve of the manner they have come to power in the silver state?
The evidence shows that Malaysians are a forgiving and forgetful lot.
In 1972, Pas agreed to join the Alliance, with several Pas leaders getting some federal positions and Umno having a share in Pas-controlled Kelantan.
In 1974, Barisan Nasional was formed. Not long after that, problems cropped up between Umno and Pas, with the latter accusing Umno of meddling in Kelantan. The problems came to a head and led to a decision by Pas to remove the incumbent Mentri Besar Mohamed Nasir for defying party instructions in 1977. PAS called for his resignation, but he refused, and presented himself as the champion of an honest and clean government. A “no-confidence” motion was tabled in the state assembly and carried by 20 PAS votes after 13 Umno and one MCA assembly members walked out in protest.
A legal impasse followed when Mohamed Nasir called for the dissolution of the state assembly. His supporters demonstrated in the streets, and violence and looting erupted. This led the Federal government to ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare emergency rule.
The anger among Pas supporters was palpable but in the March 1978 state elections, Umno formed the state government.
Fast forward to 1994 in Sabah. Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) won a narrow 25-23 victory over Barisan Nasional in the state election. But a few days later three PBS assemblymen -- Datuk Lajim Ukin, Datuk Rubin Balang and nominated assemblyman Datuk Zaini Isa switched over to the BN.
Further defections followed and it was clear that the PBS government’s position was untenable. Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan attempted to dissolve the state legislative but this was rejected by the Yang Dipertua Negeri. BN took control of the state and there was great unhappiness on the ground.
Still five years later, they won the state elections by a larger margin. So history says that the riots and show of force in Perak may not amount to much. Anger dissipates, people get on with their lives and after a while, the events of February 2009 will become a blur. Not everyone believes that Perak 2009 will be consigned to the memory bank the same way that Kelantan 1978 and Sabah 1994 have been.
They point out that Malaysians of this era are more demanding, cynical and prepared to make their vote count. They point out that young Malaysians do not have the same affection and respect that their fathers and mothers had for BN.
They point out that the blogs and Internet tell the story of a raging Malaysia, not the staid mainstream media. They point out that the Internet penetration among those aged 16 and 24 is 80 per cent and many in this age group will be voting in 2013.
They say that this generation does not forget or forgive easily. We shall see.
• Pick the low hanging fruit
Targeting Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi was a no-brainer from the start. From the day they were charged in court with three others for allegedly accepting bribes to approve a RM10 million housing project, they became a liability for Pakatan Rakyat and ripe for the picking by Barisan Nasional.
If they are convicted in court, it would spell the end of their political careers. There was little upside for them to remain in PKR. So when BN officials came a-calling, the duo was all ears. After all, they both could be facing jail time soon and having powerful friends in their corner could be useful.
Hard to blame BN for zooming in on Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin. They were ripe and rotten for the picking.
• He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have a tough time living this down. The arrows are being fired at him, with his critics accusing him of putting crossovers on the political agenda in Malaysia; with pundits accusing him of putting the cart before the horse.
Instead of focusing on getting his colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat to govern the five states well and to come up with a common platform to make this nascent alliance more durable, his focus was on crossovers.
For months, he predicted the collapse of the Barisan Nasional government. He said that he had the numbers, and even demanded a sit down with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Not everyone in Pakatan Rakyat was comfortable with this sabre-rattling. They argued that Pakatan Rakyat should stand for something pure and principled, and should not use tactics from the soiled playbook of BN.
But after Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu, there was no stopping him. He was energised. Pakatan Rakyat was on a roll. And Datuk Nasharuddin Hashim presented a great opportunity to drive another nail into BN.
He forgot one thing — Umno invented the dirty tactics textbook. He was up against a formidable enemy. Weakened yes but still formidable. An enemy that revels in playing in the murky area between black and white called grey.
• It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game
The temptation is great. The temptation to take to the streets, fight to the last is great. But 48 per cent of Malaysians gave their vote to Pakatan Rakyat in March 2008 not because they wanted Anwar to become the prime minister or they craved for a political sideshow every few months.
They wanted to give a political movement which stands for democracy, transparency, good governance and the rule of law an opportunity to take root in the Malaysian landscape. They had grown weary of the double-speaking and bullying ways of Umno/BN.
When they looked at Pakatan Rakyat politicians, they saw people they could invest their hopes in. They saw a completely different product that had been shoveled at them for decades.
Taking to the streets, clashing with policemen and appearing belligerent only pleases the troops and the converted. For the rest of us, it blurs the line between the good guys and the bad guys.
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