PAS -DAP Crisis is good for DAP and the Country

Maybe I am going overboard calling the PAS-DAP "quarrels" as a crisis. Whatever it is, I think it it good for the political maturing in the country, good for DAP to evolve further into a truly Malaysian political party and good for some PAS members to rethink about PAS.

Marriage of Convenience

I think every political analyst knows that PAS will not last long in Pakatan. The political ideology of PAS and DAP, two main components of Pakatan is completely at variance. PAS stands for a theological ideology using the brand of "Islam" while DAP stands for secularism and a "Malaysian Malaysia"

The so-called coalition of Pakatan is nothing more than a marriage of convenience. I knew there was something amiss when PAS came out with their "Welfare State" trying to subtly get away from their decades of cry of "Islamic State" which, no thanks to IS, has become a bad word today.

So, Pakatan was just a political marriage of convenience foisted on the voters by three political parties with completely different agendas. In this marriage of convenience, only DAP is consistent with its "Malaysian Malaysia" and secular objective despite its "Chinese only image".

PAS practices politics of exclusivity

It should be clear as daylight to any Malaysian citizen that PAS brand of politics is by its very nature is exclusive - it excludes non-Muslims (do you know of any non-Muslim party member?) and excludes many Muslims (if not, why Muslims in UMNO or elsewhere never joined it?).

Hence, PAS's politics is about politics of exclusivism with its political insistence on imposing its brand of "Islam" and its own version of "syariah". This kind of politics does not only isolate the non-Muslims, it also isolates the Muslims who may not agree with PAS's interpretation of "Islam" and what it encompasses. PAS has always mixed religion with politics freely based on manipulating the argument that "Islam is all encompassing" while ignoring other equally valid arguments.

I strongly believe that if the economic and educational levels of the Malay Muslims increase in this country and there is greater freedom to discussion Islamic ideas and concepts, the political influence of PAS will naturally wane.  PAS will survive so long as there are Malay Muslims who are ignorant of the Quran or a certain kind of conservative interpretation of Islam continues to be mainstream.

The fact that many Muslim reformists themselves have been rejected at the recent PAS Assembly is evidence of the exclusivism of the conservative mindset in PAS. If the PAS members themselves cannot accept reformist interpretations from their own leaders, do you actually expect them to appreciate other Muslim scholarly views? What more the views of non-Muslims? So, voters better wake up to this fact.

Frankly the biggest mistake ever done by the government is to allow political parties to be identified with religion, what more Islam in this case, which is the religion of the majority of the citizens of this country. 

In India you have the RSS, which is considered as a Hindu Nationalist movement and the BJP which is considered as imbued with Hindu religious fundamentalism and often anti-science. Now, the BJP has somehow formed the government and expectations are that India will regress, unless BJP adapts to the national realities instead of fundamentalism. 

The biggest question that this theological politicians from PAS have yet to answer: What have they contributed in real terms to the Kelantanese after being in power for so long other than stories of fantasy and wishful thinking?

DAP promotes secularism and a Malaysian Malaysia.

If you compare DAP with either PAS or PKR, even if you do not support DAP, you have to admit that their political struggle is quite clear. The late Mr Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng and even Lim Kit Siang are clear that they support secularism, for lack of a better word. They allow for freedom of religion and are concerned about sensitivities of each communities religion.

More importantly, DAP has always focused on national issues affecting all citizens regardless of ethnic or religious origins. 

Of course, DAP has a past that has given it an image that it is a "Chinese chauvinist" party but I think it has changes and is changing under Lim Guan Eng. If more Malays join the party, I will not underestimate DAP to be a more formidable party acceptable by Malaysians.

Many scorned me when I predicted that DAP will wrestle Penang easily and that many Malays will join DAP.

With this rising tide of "religionisation" taking place in the country, especially UMNO behaving clueless in this area, I will not be surprised if many more Muslims join DAP as a platform to regain their right to practice Islam as they see it.

Irony? Wait and see.

Peace and Salam Ramadan.

Menjelang Pilihanraya Kecil Kajang

Memandangkan ramai sudah menyangka bahawa Anwar ibrahim akan menang, maka apakah tidak ada sebarang isu yang perlu difikirkan oleh Rakyat yang bertanggungjawap terhadap perjalanan politik dalam tanah air ini?

Saya perhatikan rata-rata perbincangan berkisar samaada BN haris bertanding atau tidak, patutkah Rakyat memboikot Pilihanraya ini kerana cara kerusi itu dikosongkan seolah-olah tanpa alasan yang munasabah. Bekas Adun tidak sakit dan sebagainya. Tanggapan umum ialah kerusi ini dikosongkan bagi membolehkan Anwar bertanding dan selepas itu menjawat KM Selangor. Jika ini benar, pihak Pakatan akan menjustifikasikannya sebagai satu langkah yang perlu bagi mendepankan matlamat politik mereka iaitu menguasai Putrajaya nanti atau sekurang-kurangnya melemahkan BN lagi.

Pihak BN pula akan berhujah bahawa tindakan sedemikian bukan sahaja mengkhianati pengundi Kajang yang telah pilih Bekas Adun tetatpi adalah tindakan memanipulasi sistem demokrasi untuk tujuan politik sempit Pakatan. Apakah ini bermakna di masa hadapan nanti Adun-Adun yang di pilih sah dalam Pilihanraya boleh disuruh berhenti oleh pucuk pimpinan parti untuk memberi laluan kepada calon lain? Dan jika ini berlaku wang Rakyat akan dibelanja untuk memenuhi kehendak parti politik yang tukar fikiran terhadap calon yang sudah pun menang? Persoalan sedemikian mempunyai kesan jangan panjang terhadap penyuburan demokrasi dalam negara.

Saya khuathir bahawa Pilihanraya ini juga akan menjadi satu lagi sandiwara politik oleh kedua-dua pihak yang akan dipentaskan kepada Rakyat tanpa sebarang faedah mahupun hiburan. Kedua-dua pihak akan berpolitik dan berdrama dengan kualiti yang amat rendah sorta menghina minda Rakyat. Blogger-blogger upahan serta media perdana akan memainkan peranan untuk majikan masing-masing  tanpa langsung menghiraukan kesejahteraan Rakyat pada jangan panjang.

Saya percayaPilihanraya ini juga tidak akan membolehkan Rakyat mendengar fakta-fakta sebenar untuk membuat keputusan yang bijak dan tepat. Pakatan akan menghentam BN dan BN akan menghentam defensif.

BN tidak akan gunakan peluang yang ada ini untuk menjelaskan dengan jelas apakah BN telah lakukan untuk Rakyat sejak menang pru13. Ada banyak sebab mengapa penjelasan yang jelas tidak akan berlaku - saya percaya mereka yang boleh berfikir boleh menekanya.

Saya juga lihat Pilihanraya Kecil ini sebagai satu strategi Pakatan yang telah mengejutkan dan "snooker" BN. Jika saya benar, ini menunjukkan kualiti pasukan pemikir politik dan startegis dalam parti BN. Kerajaan "incumbent" dihadapai dengan "snooker" Demi "snooker" oleh parti pembangkang dimedan politik !

BN dan terutamanya UMNO harus sudah boleh menanam sikap merendah diri yang dapat membolehkan nya akui kelemahannya dan nakhodanya pula perlu berani mengambil langkah-langkah perlu. Jangan lah selalu bersikap nak buang air baru nak bina tandas. Jangan juga asyik guna penasihat-penasihat politik yang satu ketika dahulu mungkin hebat tetapi peredaran masa memerlukan mereka diberikan hadiah berehat.

Saya percaya walaupun Anwar Ibrahim akan menang dan Pilihanraya ini dicetuskan oleh Pakatan, namun pandangan Rakyat adalah pada BN dan. UMNO.

Pilihanraya Kecil Kajang sebenarnya satu lagi peluang bagi UMNO untuk menenjukkan kepada Rakyat samaada is telah matang atau terperangkap dengan nostalgia lama. Malangnya, tekaan saya ialah bukan sahaja UMNO tetap dengan nostalgia lama namun is akan bawa "pembesar-pembesar" lama yang sudah ketinggalan masa untuk beekempen - sekaligus menyakinkan Rakyat bahawa BN dan UMNO tidak ada sesuatu yang baru untuk rakyat.

Salam.

Bakal Ketua Menteri Selangor YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ???

Pembaca-pembaca blog ini akan sedar serta merta bahawa ini adalah kali pertama saya menyebut nama Anwar Ibrahim dalam blog ini. Saya telah mengelak daripada menyebut nama beliau atas sebab-sebab tertentu selama lapan tahun namun apabila realiti politik mendepankan beliau walaupun pelbagai halangan dilunggukkan dalam perjalanan politik beliau, kita terpaksa menghadapi keadaan ini.

Tiada keraguan langsung bahawa Anwar Ibrahim akan menang didalam pilihan raya kecil Kajang nanti. Saya akan terkejut jika beliau kalah.  Terdapat beberapa sebab yang jelas mengapa beliau akan menang dengan mudah:

1) Imej BN diseluruh Negara masih terjejas secara negatif tanpa dipengaruhi oleh apa-apa yang dilakukan olehnya.

2) BN telah tidak berjaya didalam menguruskan imej politiknya didalam Negara

3) UMNO masih berpecah dan berpuak-puak dengan adanya kumpulan-kumpulan berkuasa yang cuba untuk mendapatkan kuasa dan kawalan sebenar dalam menentukan halatuju UMNO.

4) Terlalu banyak isu-isu sensitif kebelakangan ini yang tidak ditangani dengan efisien oleh kerajaan.

5) terdapatnya tanggapan umum bahawa tidak ada kepimpinan didalam Negara – walaupun ini mungkin tidak benar namun persepsi ini tidak ditangani langsung.

8) Blogger-blogger UMNO tidak mempunyai kebolehan serta keupayaan berkesan untuk menghadapi jentera persepsi Pakatan – kemungkinan nya mereka akan turun ketahap dimana serangan politik akan berupa lucah, kurang sopan dan sombong dimana Rakyat sudah muak dengan kaedah ini.

Halangan terbesar kepada usaha menguatkan BN ialah UMNO sendiri. UMNO, walaupun banyak retorika sebaliknya, jelas tidak mahu berubah dan tidak pula menunjukkan bahawa ia telah berubah dalam cara mana ia menghadapi masalah politik. UMNO sering kali patah balik untuk memainkan isu ras dan agama dengan cara yang paling tidak sofistikated dan kebudak-budakan sehingga di tolak oleh Melayu dan Muslim sendiri. UMNO juga masih terperangkap dalam nostalgia kuasa mutlak dan keadaan Negara yang berbeza sebelum 2004.

Hakikatnya UMNO telah menjadi sangat lemah sejak 1998. Kelemahan ini diakui oleh orang-orang UMNO sendiri apabila mereka menyertai pertubuhan-pertubuhan seperti Perkasa beramai-ramai. Satu peluang yang UMNO ada pada tahun 2004 untuk memperkuatkan dirinya telah disia-siakan hanya semata-mata kerana pergaduhan politik diantara Tun Abdullah dan Tun Mahathir. Tidak ada gunanya untuk UMNO menafikan bahawa terdapatnya usaha sepakat oleh pembesar-pembesar UMNO untuk melemahkan UMNO diantara tahun 2004 sehingga 2008 semata-mata untuk menjatuhkan Tun Abdullah. Pergaduhan inilah yang menyebabkan jatuhnya lima Negeri kepada Pakatan serta melemahkan BN dinegeri-negeri lain.

Malangnya bagi UMNO, sehingga kini, tidak ada langkah-langkah radikal, fundamental dan berkesan untuk menyembuhkan UMNO daripada virus politik ini yang masih melemahkan UMNO. Kita akui bahawa ini adalah usaha yang mencabar dan bukan mudah. Namun ia harus dilakukan jika UMNO mahu kembali pada zaman kegemilangan nya.  Malangnya, langkah-langkah sedemikian tidak diambil. Oleh yang demikian, UMNO dilihat sebagai gagal dalam memberi halatuju kepada Melayu khususnya dan Rakyat Malaysia, amnya.

Apabila UMNO dijangkiti dengan virus dalaman seperti in, perlu kah Pakatan berkempen besar-besaran untuk memenangi pilihanraya kecil Kajang? Saya kira tidak.

Bayangkan keseraman yang menanti BN selepas Anwar memenangi pilihanraya kecil dengan majoriti yang mengkagumkan?

Bayangkan keseraman yang menanti BN jika Anwar menjadi Ketua Menteri Selangor?

Saya percaya tidak keterlaluan untuk mengatakan bahawa jika Anwar menjadi KM, ia mungkin akan lebih bersinar daripada PM dalam menghadapi beberapa isu-isu kerana Anwar mempunyai kebolehan politik untuk lakukan apa yang perlu.

Akhirnya, orang suka pada pemenang.

Maka, UMNO lebih baik lakukan muhasabah diri dan mengambil iktibar daripada perkembangan semasa.

Salam.

YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ???

This blog's readers will immediately realise that this is the first time I am mentioning the name of Anwar Ibrahim on this blog.  I have been avoiding mentioning his name for reasons of my own for almost 8 years but when the political realities itself keep pushing him forward despite the odds stacked against him, then  we have to address that.

Without doubt, Anwar Ibrahim will win in the Kajang By-Election. I will be surprised otherwise.  The are several reasons why he will win:

1) BN image nationwide is still negatively perceived generally despite whatever it is doing
2) BN has not been successful in managing its political image in the country
3) UMNO itself is still very fragmented with powerful groups within tussling for real control and power
4) too many sensitive issues not properly addressed by the Government
5) there is a general feeling that there is no leadership in the country - though this may not be true but that is the all round perception that is left unaddressed.
6) UMNO bloggers do not have the effective  ability to confront the Pakatan perception machinery - there may even be a descend to vulgarity, profanity and arrogance which people are sick of.

BN's biggest problem in becoming strong again is none other than UMNO.  UMNO, despite all it's rhetoric appears not to want to change. In terms of how it handles it's political problem. They are trapped in the nostalgia of total control which the laws and the circumstances of the country allowed them before 2004.

UMNO has weakened considerably since 1998 and the one chance they had in 2004, they blew it in 2008 primarily because of the political fight between Tun Abdullah and Tun Mahathir.  It is no use for UMNO to deny that there was a concerted nationwide attempt and effort to weaken UMNO by UMNO big guns throughout 2004 to 2008 to oust Tun Abdullah.

Unfortunately for UMNO, there has been no radical and fundamental steps taken to cure UMNO from this internal political virus that is still plaguing UMNO.  Admittedly it is a daunting task but a task that must be undertaken if UMNO wants to regain its former glory. However, this is not done. Hence, UMNO seems directionless in giving a political direction to the Malays in particular and to the Malaysians in general.

With such a virus affecting UMNO, does Pakatan really need to embark on a major election campaign to win the by-election? I think not.

Imagine the horror that awaits BN should Anwar win the by-election with an impressive majority?

Imagine the horror that awaits BN should Anwar become the YAB Chief Minister of Selangor?

I think I will not be exaggerating to say that if Anwar becomes the CM, he may even outshine the PM on various issues because Anwar has the politically ability to do what it takes.

At the end of the day, people like winners.

So, UMNO better be forewarned.

Peace !

Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Party Elections marred with lack of electoral security?

People are now referring to PKR as Parti Kian Runtuh. Quite a number I have met who once had hopes for PKR as a reform party are now thoroughly disappointed and have raised many credible questions.

One such question is being raised by Haris Ibrahim, a well known social activist who had actively campaigned for Pakatan Rakyat during the last General Elections. This question involves the legitimacy of the Party elections in the light of ballot papers floating around in the thousands! Haris asks:

"And if so, how then did I, who have no role to play in this electoral process, and the informant who had in his possession at least 100 of the same and  claimed to have access to more than 1,000, come to be in possession of these if the central election committee have the ballot papers intended for use in all 4 weekend elections secured under lock and key?"

He legitimately asks the question of electoral security. If past ballot papers ( as allegedly described by Saifudin Nasution) can float around, what guarantee is there that future ballot papers are not floating around too?

Does this not tamper with "free and fair elections" that the PKR brader is so fond of flaunting around?

To add further credence to the doubt that the public is forming about the "freeness and fairness" of PKR party elections, it is reported that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has pulled out of the Deputy President race! According to Malaysian Insider, Zaid Ibrahim pulled out of the race citing the party election's as "not transparent and fair".

With such a move, can the public be faulted in thinking that PKR has finally shown its true colours and for whom it really stands for? To date, not a sound from the unchallenged PKR President on these marred elections!!!

Peace !

Pakatan Rakyat in shambles?

Anyone following the political events in the Pakatan Rakyat for the past one year cannot be faulted from concluding that PR is in a state of total crisis. Even Lim Kit Siang in July 2009, wrote on his blog that : “Pakatan Rakyat is facing a second crisis of confidence and efforts must be made to resolve it".

This was the Kedah PR crisis. The Kedah DAP State Committee then had decided to pull out of the Pakatan Rakyat Kedah state government, subject to the final decision of the DAP Central Executive Committee.

It appears that what held back the pullout was the fear of the repercussions nationwide on the Pakatan Rakyat. 

Then there was the unfulfilled September 16, 2008 promise of PR forming the Federal Government. This event has left PR and certain leaders in the PR with a major credibility and ethical issues.  Ethical issue because the idea of political frogs jumping into PR was hailed as the “democratic and victorious”. Someone caught on to this idea spurned first from the PR leader and some frogged out of the Perak PR becoming independents with the Perak State now in the hands of BN.

Recently with the advent of 2010, the Pulau Pinang saw political fireworks between DAP and PKR involving the Chief Minister of Pulau Pinang, YB Lim Guan Eng which started when PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim called Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng a “dictator” and “communist-minded.” To understand the extent of the crisis, it must be noted that Zahrain is none other that the (former?) Chairman of Penang PKR.  Even the Ni­­bong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng has thrown his support behind fellow PKR member Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Has­­him in his spat with Penang Chief Minis­ter Lim Guan Eng.

Then you have the YB Khalid Samad and the other PKR MP fiasco which led to the other PKR MP making a police report against YB Khalid for his alleged statements relating to certain reforms of the Selangor State Syariah laws . Now, both been have asked to appear before the disciplinary committee.

Turning to PAS, TheStarOnline also reports that:

“Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad has been suspended for six months as Shah Alam PAS chief and member of the party’s political bureau by the PAS discipline committee. The committee also decided to issue a written warning to Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali”.

Then you have the feud within PKR between Zaid Ibrahim and the other MP with Zaid criticizing PKR leadership for inaction against the other MP.  Now, both MPs apparently have been hauled before the PKR disciplinary committee! And Zahrain too.

Not along ago in October last year, you have PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who urged for the holding of a special muktamar because he feels that:

“This time, I strongly believe that there is a need to replace the main players occupying the national PAS leadership posts,” said the Kelantan Mentri Besar.

 And until today, Pakatan Rakyat is not a registered entity.

These events make voters wonder how PR is ever going to position itself as the alternative government with one crisis after another within and between themselves.

Maybe all these will spring political surprises by the middle of next month???

Peace!