If politics in the year 2020 was bad for Malaysia, when the elected Pakatan Harapan government was toppled via defections, 2021 was certainly worse. Yet, I believe that when we look back in the years to come, 2021 could be the norm-setting year for Malaysian democracy, albeit in the most unwitting manner.
Dear Chin Tong, Happy New Year to you and all readers!! While I appreciate the hope and optimism the new year brings, let's keep touch with reality. PH always expounds a doctrine of hope for change and improvement but we rakyat cannot live on hope. We live and survive on the basis of delivery. No delivery, then the hope and trust die off very quickly. You don't need to wait for Bye-Elections, State or General Election to validate voters' sentiments. To many, kleptocrats deliver some basics more readily and waste less time bickering among themselves. That's why PH is fast losing relevance among Malaccan and Sarawakian voters. This will extend to the whole of Malaysia if something is not done immediately to correct the misplaced emphasis, poor leadership and non-delivery of manifestos during 22 months of PH rule best remembered for Flying Car Project, black school shoes and Jawi proposals. Besides, the majority continue to believe DAP is not multi-racial enough and has too much influence and leverage in a PH government. Until this perception is changed, electoral support for PH will continue to erode and many supporters will not even bother to vote as it is a futile attempt to change anything. The Melaka experience summarizes everything: over 10,000 votes majority still wins only 1 urban seat whereas a few hundred rural votes help win 75% of seats. This is just food for thought for your GE15 strategies!! So only Pakatan or Barisan Delivery will win not any pakatan based on empty hopes.
Dear Chin Tong, Happy New Year to you and all readers!! While I appreciate the hope and optimism the new year brings, let's keep touch with reality. PH always expounds a doctrine of hope for change and improvement but we rakyat cannot live on hope. We live and survive on the basis of delivery. No delivery, then the hope and trust die off very quickly. You don't need to wait for Bye-Elections, State or General Election to validate voters' sentiments. To many, kleptocrats deliver some basics more readily and waste less time bickering among themselves. That's why PH is fast losing relevance among Malaccan and Sarawakian voters. This will extend to the whole of Malaysia if something is not done immediately to correct the misplaced emphasis, poor leadership and non-delivery of manifestos during 22 months of PH rule best remembered for Flying Car Project, black school shoes and Jawi proposals. Besides, the majority continue to believe DAP is not multi-racial enough and has too much influence and leverage in a PH government. Until this perception is changed, electoral support for PH will continue to erode and many supporters will not even bother to vote as it is a futile attempt to change anything. The Melaka experience summarizes everything: over 10,000 votes majority still wins only 1 urban seat whereas a few hundred rural votes help win 75% of seats. This is just food for thought for your GE15 strategies!! So only Pakatan or Barisan Delivery will win not any pakatan based on empty hopes.