I have always wanted to be active in blogging, raising my concerns and delivering my point of view about our Nation’s Politics but I just don’t have the time. Of course my blog does not get hit with even hundreds of readers but I feel satisfied just talking about politics even if it meant that I get 5 hits (my family members). Although sometimes I do get some ‘Anonymous’ comments bitching about my article and myself but I really don’t give 2 cents to it. Today, I am going to freestyle my writing and ‘NO’ I am not under the influence of alcohol. I am going to talk about GAME ON between 2 big guns in our Malaysian Politics, our current Prime Minister and our current Opposition Leader.
Let’s face the facts. Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak (DSN), is actually trying to do some sort of reform. Whether he is doing it out of sheer honesty or just to be in power is another thing. The cancellation of Skim Baru Penjawat Awam (SPBA) is one of the ways moving forward to garner votes or some might say DSN is concerned about the peoples’ voice that were against this skim from the start. For those who are in the dark about what the F*%$ is SPBA, you can Google it. As a summary, this skim (if implemented), would raise the salary of government staffs. The catch is of course the salary increment for staffs that are in the upper grade is higher than the ones in the lower grade. I would bet my balls that the reason for the cancellation of SPBA was purely because of many unhappy government staffs that are in the lower grades. It’s simple math. There are many lower grade government staffs compared to the higher ones which automatically mean if you implement SPBA and the General Election is about 2-3 months ahead, most likely you are not going to get the votes from the lower grade government staffs and that could be a few millions. I say most likely but is it worth the risk? If I were DSN, I would have created fabricated evidence and throw the guy who proposed SPBA to jail for sodomy. Hey, it’s the Malaysian style remember. DSN 1 – 0 DSAI
The Malaysian Amnesia. This term is an open secret. It is a fact based on history that whatever scandal (not only sex) that has been exposed in media, would be forgotten by the rakyat within 14 days. If after the 14th day everyone forgets about it and moves on, it is done and dusted. If however even after the 14th day the rakyat and the politicians talk about it and make an outcry about it that is something worth looking into because it could very well burst into negative perception among the rakyat and it could backfire whoever is involved in that scandal whether government or opposition if the rakyat chose to teach you a lesson in the ballot box. If my memory has not deceived me, I reckon there are 2 pending scandals/issues that have surpassed the 14th day timeline. National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (DSAI) comment on Israel. DSN 0 - negative 1 DSAI
The implementation of Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (SELCAT) in the state government of Selangor under the Pakatan Rakyat is a start for transparency when tendering state government projects and so forth. The revenue of the Jewel State in Malaysia has grown tremendously with this implementation. You can read more about SELCAT in the Selangor Times. Some might argue that even SELCAT is not as transparent as it seems due to the recent exposure of sand scam by the EMIMEN of Malaysia, RPK. Well, I say it’s a start. Rome wasn’t built in one day. For this, the equation comes back to DSN 0 – 0 DSAI
Let’s now move to the north state of Penang. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his administration have now taught the previous Chief Minister and his administration on how to run a state. I was told that Lim Guan Eng is going to write to a book titled “How to run a state for DUMMIES” soon. I have got some hardcore Penangites friends and the word is that, “I can’t see Penang falling back to BN in the near future”. Well, this is a straight win for Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng but because we are not talking about him we will give his point to Pakatan Rakyat. DSN 0 – 1 DSAI
I can keep writing about this competition but I am getting a little anxious to close this up. Lastly I want to talk about the speech made by DSN is the last UMNO general assembly. He said a lot of things, but what I want to highlight here is that DSN stressed to his counterparts that they have to start to turun padang. This means to do ground work and that is exactly what DSN is doing. He has been on a nationwide visit to cross check with his lower ranking people on what needs to be done and how. I have to give credit to DSN on this because I cannot remember any previous PM doing this, but then again I am a young boy and most of my childhood, teenage life and youth was with our 22 years of PM administration. You know who. DSN 1 – 1 DSAI
As I was saying, the list can keep going and Microsoft Word might crash. There is the recent barring of RPK to the Wikileaks forum by DSAI. The shun away of DSAI to the talk in the India Today Conclave Forum because of the attendance of controversial writer Salman something. DSN avoiding public debate with DSAI. Setting up a probe for Attorney General Ghani Patail and ex Inspector General of Police, Musa Hassan. MAS scandal. PKFZ Scandal. Tun Mahathir’s involvement in the FOREX exchange loss back in the 90’s. The US$ 10 Million kickback requested by Pakatan Rakyat for the coming General Election. The LYNAS issue. Probe on why need youngsters in the football squad when you have Ryan Giggs and Paul Schools and so forth.
The 2 big guys (DSN and DSAI) are playing psychology among each other and with the rakyat. From my observation, its pure politics and both are not doing what they are supposed to do honestly. It is all about politics and who becomes the ultimate force. We have to agree that DSAI can talk. He has got this power to bring a large crowd of people to listen to his talks. I can only think of 2 others who can do this and most of you might not like one of them. They are YB Gobin Singh (Puchong) and YB Khairy (Rembau). DSN needs to refer to a paper when giving out speeches. It is also a fact that having to bring over large crowds to hear your talks does not mean its all votes. The Rakyat are no more in 1950’s. We are in 2012 for heaven sake. Even the kampongs have got at least Streamyx or some sort of wireless broadband.
DSAI wants to be Prime Minister. He has told this many times. He was like an inch close to being one till Tun Mahathir F*^% ed him up. DSN on the other hand clearly wants to pursue his seat as Prime Minister. DSN has realized that the only way to get this done is to spend money on people which is what a government must do in the first place. It is after all the rakyat’s tax money. DSN could have made ways to garner more votes by giving out petty RM500. This move could also back fire as the rakyat might think that DSN is giving out pity cash. DSN has realized that giving out cash is not enough and that is the reason why he is coming up with more reforms but he also realizes that reforms does not give you instant fruits. It takes time which he does not have. This is the reason why DSN is going all over Malaysia to apologize and literally begging to give him and his administration a chance.
DSAI on the other hand as got very few options to push for more votes. This is because he does not have the money power as DSN has. DSAI has got the 4 states under Pakatan’s control, the Buku Jingga and his fascinating speech. Will this alone give victory to DSAI to form the federal government? Of course NOT. Let me tell you this. DSAI a season politician. He was an UMNO guy and from the government before. He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was the Finance Minister for 8 years. He has got UMNO mentality in him. He might have changed after being in jail, but he surely has got UMNO in him. DSAI is going to play the ultimate political game and when playing this game in Malaysian Politics, there are only 2 people who are the best in this trade. Tun Mahathir and DSAI. You can sense this by DSAI’s speeches when he says he is willing to forgive Tun Mahathir. I mean come on, you put me in jail and I want to forgive you? No way. The main reason is DSAI knows for a fact that he cannot win the battle with The Maverick so just interpret to he rakyat that you are a true Muslim and a good human being by forgiving. DSAI is more focused on winning the war. Tell me, after all these years in the inner elite circle of UMNO and you think DSAI does not have contacts inside? If Pakatan Rakyat wins the coming General Election, it is not because of free and fair election BERSIH’s Dato Ambiga Sreenivasan is preaching about. It will not be because the rakyat has risen to the occasion like in the Middle East. It will be because of the cables and the strategy that DSAI will implement. It will be because Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is way more a season politician compared to Dato Seri Najib. So, stop whining about winning the General Elections freely and fairly because that is going to take a very long time. Our ultimate priority is to get a new government in and we have to play our part in it. Vote!
