This is probably my final thoughts on this topic. I have written a lot over the last month about politics, and realized that I quite enjoy it. I did learn a lot more about our country and its politics. I hope you did too. Now I probably have to find something else to write about :-)
1. On the note about the "Chinese Tsunami".
This will be all over the papers tomorrow. At the time of me writing this, PKR and PAS together won 44 seats, while DAP won 36. Overall BN has 129 with 13 seats still being counted or recounted. This time BN blamed its losses on the "Chinese Tsunami".
The numbers meant that the malays did vote for the oppositions too. There isn't enough chinese in the country to carry the seats won by PKR and PAS. The fact is actually that the chinese made a resounding statement in not voting for MCA and Gerakan. Which simply means that racial politics is slowly dissipating, and that people are gathering around bigger issues then just race.
I do believe that BN sees this. In the statements made by Dato' Seri Najib, BN is strategically moving towards a moderate right stand, and the overwhelming lost of Perkasa, MCA, Gerakan, and its component parties sends a clear message. The extreme racial right wing is losing its shine.
2. On the call for unfair electoral process.
This will be hard to prove. Very hard indeed. However, it is important to note that in the seats where the opposition wins with an overwhelming majority, no postal, ghostal, nor electorial manouver could stop it from winning. This is what the opposition needs.
An overwhelming win. In many seats in fact the opposition did win convincingly. It came back stronger then before, and the outcome is clear. The opposition wins the urban seats, and has the middle class as its voting base. GE14 is about retaining this base, and coming back with a clear offering for a broader audience. BN has Sabah and Sarawak which is a huge base for its parliamentary seats. When PR lost several of its Kelantan, Selangor, and Perak seats it created a clear path for BN after that.
PR needs a strong agenda. Just hating BN, and crying foul over the negative issues isn't enough to attract the moderates. A great strategy would be for PR to form a proper coalition, one logo, one agenda, and a concerted vision. There were enough cracks in the alliance that allowed for the BN campaign to squeeze through and divide the voters. I've always wanted economic clarity, and I don't think I am alone. Yes, I don't like corruption, the lack of press freedom, and the arm twisting tactics, but we also need to know that we are not jumping into the lions den when the voters cross over.
A new line up of leaders would help. The LGE, Rafizi, Nurul, and Khalid combination will go very far.
The Rakyat is not racist. In this I believe. However, they still need to know that they are protected. The coalition needs to make a clear proclamation that the Special Privileges of the malay is intact. It also needs to clear the air on hudud. Once and for all.
3. On moving forward. Together.
I saw a lot of facebook pages turn black.
I disagree. We all love this country. We worked hard to fight for change. And working hard for change doesn't mean that it ends when you lose. In fact it begins when you lost.
Malaysia has a lot of potential. Please. Don't say you want to leave the country. Please. Don't say that we're run by communists. Please. Don't give up on the land that we share together. Instead, if the call for a better country is sincere, PR supporters should rise in support of making the country greater. There is much to be done. The internet is still a great platform to bind the same belief system. Used correctly it will bring the masses. The world didn't end. Malaysia didn't end. In fact as oppositions PR has done more for the country then it gives itself credit. And the results are a strong mandate from the people. It did better then before, and PR should take the people's vote seriously.
I understand the pain. It still is a lost.
But losing gracefully means that you get to play again. And next time, with the grace shown, people will remember. I disagree with Dato' Seri Anwar's call for an unfair election. It probably was, or wasn't. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we the people shall benefit from the promises made, at the federal and state level. PR won several states. It has promises to fulfill. Work to do.
If PR is able to prove that it is a worthy alternative, then perhaps in time, the rakyat will agree.
I know that I have made many posts that leans left, and tends to critic the ruling party. And I would have joined in rejoice with PR had it won. I would have hoped that it would bring order to the way of life and the way of work in this country that we all cherish. But perhaps, PR needs to work harder in convincing a lot more people that it isn't just about righting a wrong.
It needs to join the moderate middle, tone down, stay the course and share with the people what it is all about. It has won the hearts of those who doesn't want BN, but it has to earn the mind of those who doesn't believe in PR yet.
Let's get back to business, work hard, and pray for peace.
There are five more years of nation building to do and god willing, this may have a different outcome next time. Perhaps for a party that has a clear agenda of what it is all about, and one that shows the country that it will benefit from its leadership.
Who knows...
1. On the note about the "Chinese Tsunami".
This will be all over the papers tomorrow. At the time of me writing this, PKR and PAS together won 44 seats, while DAP won 36. Overall BN has 129 with 13 seats still being counted or recounted. This time BN blamed its losses on the "Chinese Tsunami".
The numbers meant that the malays did vote for the oppositions too. There isn't enough chinese in the country to carry the seats won by PKR and PAS. The fact is actually that the chinese made a resounding statement in not voting for MCA and Gerakan. Which simply means that racial politics is slowly dissipating, and that people are gathering around bigger issues then just race.
I do believe that BN sees this. In the statements made by Dato' Seri Najib, BN is strategically moving towards a moderate right stand, and the overwhelming lost of Perkasa, MCA, Gerakan, and its component parties sends a clear message. The extreme racial right wing is losing its shine.
2. On the call for unfair electoral process.
This will be hard to prove. Very hard indeed. However, it is important to note that in the seats where the opposition wins with an overwhelming majority, no postal, ghostal, nor electorial manouver could stop it from winning. This is what the opposition needs.
An overwhelming win. In many seats in fact the opposition did win convincingly. It came back stronger then before, and the outcome is clear. The opposition wins the urban seats, and has the middle class as its voting base. GE14 is about retaining this base, and coming back with a clear offering for a broader audience. BN has Sabah and Sarawak which is a huge base for its parliamentary seats. When PR lost several of its Kelantan, Selangor, and Perak seats it created a clear path for BN after that.
PR needs a strong agenda. Just hating BN, and crying foul over the negative issues isn't enough to attract the moderates. A great strategy would be for PR to form a proper coalition, one logo, one agenda, and a concerted vision. There were enough cracks in the alliance that allowed for the BN campaign to squeeze through and divide the voters. I've always wanted economic clarity, and I don't think I am alone. Yes, I don't like corruption, the lack of press freedom, and the arm twisting tactics, but we also need to know that we are not jumping into the lions den when the voters cross over.
A new line up of leaders would help. The LGE, Rafizi, Nurul, and Khalid combination will go very far.
The Rakyat is not racist. In this I believe. However, they still need to know that they are protected. The coalition needs to make a clear proclamation that the Special Privileges of the malay is intact. It also needs to clear the air on hudud. Once and for all.
3. On moving forward. Together.
I saw a lot of facebook pages turn black.
I disagree. We all love this country. We worked hard to fight for change. And working hard for change doesn't mean that it ends when you lose. In fact it begins when you lost.
Malaysia has a lot of potential. Please. Don't say you want to leave the country. Please. Don't say that we're run by communists. Please. Don't give up on the land that we share together. Instead, if the call for a better country is sincere, PR supporters should rise in support of making the country greater. There is much to be done. The internet is still a great platform to bind the same belief system. Used correctly it will bring the masses. The world didn't end. Malaysia didn't end. In fact as oppositions PR has done more for the country then it gives itself credit. And the results are a strong mandate from the people. It did better then before, and PR should take the people's vote seriously.
I understand the pain. It still is a lost.
But losing gracefully means that you get to play again. And next time, with the grace shown, people will remember. I disagree with Dato' Seri Anwar's call for an unfair election. It probably was, or wasn't. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we the people shall benefit from the promises made, at the federal and state level. PR won several states. It has promises to fulfill. Work to do.
If PR is able to prove that it is a worthy alternative, then perhaps in time, the rakyat will agree.
I know that I have made many posts that leans left, and tends to critic the ruling party. And I would have joined in rejoice with PR had it won. I would have hoped that it would bring order to the way of life and the way of work in this country that we all cherish. But perhaps, PR needs to work harder in convincing a lot more people that it isn't just about righting a wrong.
It needs to join the moderate middle, tone down, stay the course and share with the people what it is all about. It has won the hearts of those who doesn't want BN, but it has to earn the mind of those who doesn't believe in PR yet.
Let's get back to business, work hard, and pray for peace.
There are five more years of nation building to do and god willing, this may have a different outcome next time. Perhaps for a party that has a clear agenda of what it is all about, and one that shows the country that it will benefit from its leadership.
Who knows...
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