KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat’s victory in the recent Sibu by-election proved that all is not lost for the coalition in its hopes of winning the 13th general election, and forming the next federal government.
In his blog, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang also said the days Barisan Nasional considered Sabah and Sarawak as its “fixed deposits” are over.
“The BN survived the onslaught of the 2008 political tsunami due to the support from Sabah and Sarawak.
“However, it must have realised now that it cannot take the voters of the two states for granted by disregarding their legitimate grievances and discontent,” he said.
Last Sunday, DAP’s Wong Ho Leng defeated BN’s Robert Lau Hui Yew by a wafer-thin majority of 398 votes, in a seat that is purpotedly a “BN stronghold”.
Lim said the victory had also halted BN’s move to regain its two-thirds majority in Parliament following a series of defections by PR lawmakers earlier.
He added that the Sibu by-election also saw Pakatan component parties displaying a sense of maturity and effectiveness in its political alliance.
“ It was the first foray for the team of DAP, PKR, PAS and SNAP. The leaders of all the parties have demonstrated to all Malaysians of the quality and the nature of the new politics for a new Malaysia,” he said.
Lim also heaped praises on PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Hadi Awang, Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin, Zaid Ibrahim and many other Pakatan leaders for their contribution to the victory.
Let the ppl of East Malaysia decide whether they wish for a shadow govt or alternative govt whenever they want. If we are denied this the prospect of Malaysia being a developed nation by 2020 will forever be a dream.
Najib’s video “Deal or No Deal” should be awarded the Best Award of the Year. How are we going to teach our children and future generations about integrity and discard corruption if as PM and CEO of our country he overtly supports corruption.Foreign investors will shun Malaysia by such blatant acts.
give us your shadow cabinet , rakyat have the right to know
Can PR win GE 13? Its not impossible certaintly. UMNO/BN has a history of colossus idiocy. They will not repeat their stupidity but not impossible to make new idiocy.
A PM that openly break the law AND had a easy way to fix it and he did not do it. (Seriously its just plain dumb).
Rosmah being called Malaysia’s First Lady AND then fetted in New York by a slick-shady wheeler dealer who mess up one detail after another? Hello??? So many mess up tells you these guys are not to be partners with!!
Seriously, its not impossible. But really its still for UMNO/BN to lose. But then its always has been.
I like what Kit Siang said.He praised the work of the whole team namely Anwar,Hadi Awang,Zaid & Nizar….& so on.This is a real credible team and a force to be reckoned.As for BN yes they have a team and whenever they sit down they discuss ‘oh ini you punya itu aku punya”.That’s sharing the corrupted $$ they get from the people who voted them in.
Let’s say PKR wins 80 seats in the 13GE. What’s the use if 40 of those hop over to umno a few days?
I agree with chengho. PR must seriously look into forming a shadow cabinet now and selecting suitably qualified candidates to fill these positions. Look into the coming GE 13 manifesto too. Look beyond politics. Look into administration issues of the country. Be brave to fight corruption in the Police force, the Executive, the MACC and the Judiciary. We will be behind YOU all the way.
We have to work on the weak link in Pakatan i.e. PKR. They have to weed out the remnants of ex-UMNO candidates who grew up on only one thing – their pockets first, and rakyat’s second. Once they begin to rid themselves of the kind of Wee Choo Keong and Zahrain and Zul Noordin, Pakatan will be on the right track.
Always campaign on a platform of transparency and integrity – simply because BN just don’t have these attributes.
PKFZ has predictably gone into a black hole after the sandiwara between Tiong and Ong Ta Kut. MACC has cleared the two guys, and it seems the Board of PKA has also cleared the previous board members.
It is such an irony when Mamakthir called for the entire board of Sime Darby to be punished for the collossal losses suffered. The same principle apparently doesn’t apply to PKFZ or to any other BN project. I have said it before – BN just doesn’t have the word “shame” in its vocabulary, and we the rakyat must proceed with shaming them at the next GE.
Wake up, Changehole is sarcastically suggested, no doubt it’s, the great and viable ideas! In fact, he is UMNOputra Hawk and Hog, who often spit hates & sh*ts against PR and PR component parties, wholly supported BN/UMNO & his master “You help me; I help you”!!! Got it, Chinkimwah!
That Hawk and Hog intentions is to sabotage PR objectives and goals! On suggesting of PR Shadow Cabinet, which is infeasible to exist within his views & expectations, indirectly contributing the great ideas to PR.
Without Changehole’s ideas, PR already have this in plan! PR & uncle LKS want to secure Eastern firm-hold first after Sibu By-Election, and then they start to proceed further with visionary course and path to Putrajava…
Changehole, please stop your mama Changeholes business in Uncle LKS blog. We know who you are and where you up to….
///Lim Kit Siang also said the days Barisan Nasional considered Sabah and Sarawak as its “fixed deposits” are over///
Victory in Sibu is only a beach head like the way Normandy was to the Allies in World War II. The march to defeat the opponent esconced is long and arduous one. The critical factors for the Allies were transportation/logistics/bridges – they seized the Nijmegan and Remagan Bridges – required to reach Berlin. Local populace were unhappy with German Occupation and their assistance by way of local resistance forces to facilitate Allies advance was important.
Likewise the critical factors in fixed deposit states are the general discontent by local populace of their neglect by Putrajaya working hand in hand with local chieftains and the logistics of how to tap on this simmering discontent and bring the message of Change to areas beyond urban perimeters.
Both Sarawak & Sabah contribute more than 30% of oil and gas, not to mention timber and palm oil. Today their peoples are still wallowing in poverty want and neglect. The potholes on the roads and insanitary conditions of sewerage and the flooding in Sibu have been there for more than 50 years. Where there is a good road they have to pay tolls higher than Semenanjung. How do you think they feel, especially the Young who have come to work in Singapore, West Malaysia and seen whats happening here? They save enough to buy computers and a TV and have Astro connected. It is through these that stirrings of alienation and restiveness are beginning in these two states besides the message of Opposition politicians in campaigns.
These states have become “fixed deposits” because of the way the BN could use and capitalise financial resources and leverage on patronage networks…First of all the BN has logistic advantage: its agents have boats and helicopters to access interiors, meet with local penghulus, native headmen, make some promises of giving land, and for now, as show of earnestness, provide the boat motors, fishing nets, water tanks, give the headmen a wad of cash for him to distribute RM300 per head on “I give you this in exchange for you know what I want” basis. In Sabah, one has the massive problems of migrants given legal status quid pro quo to vote for the BN.
The issue is how the Opposition can counteract the BN’s traditional advantage with locals in these respects. BN taps on the social heirarchy and traditional deference to local headmen so that when local headmen are bought so the rest of the Kampung/long houses will follow suit. [The Chinese in Urban areas are comparatively easier to handle. They are more exposed to national issues and arguably less susceptible to monetary and developmental blandishments. Play your card right and DAP in particular may get another 6 seats in predominantly urban contituencies in (say) Sarawak where Chinese votes are significant]. But what about the non Chinese dominant constituencies forming the bedrock of BN Fixed deposits? The Fixed Deposit states collectively gave the BN 54 seats out of 140 in last GE! What resources could the Opposition mobilise to continually (and not just by or general elections) penetrate the areas beyond the towns and urban areas to bring the the idea that has arrived, that they have been taken for a ride by their local chieftains in cahoots with West Malaysian ruling politicians, and the best hope of their getting out of their predicament of poverty and backwaters of development is to vote for Change fought for by the Opposition? That and not just a wafer thin victory in Sibu will determine whether “the days Barisan Nasional considered Sabah and Sarawak as its “fixed deposits” are over” are really over….
Frankly I disagreed to have a shadow cabinet bcos it will never satisfied anyone. PR would create pretty lots of disgruntled members and the BN side would manipulate and exploite these people to gain advantage. What’s important is to select the most creditable members as candidate. Don’t you guys worry when PR wins PutraJaya,they will have plenty of time to select the successful candidates to fill up the real cabinet. Hence I think it’s best to keep Umno/Bn guessing to avoid complication within PR.
Suppose Anwar has been installed as PM after PR’s victory in the 13 GE. Will the military depose him and install an umno puppet just as the Thai army had deposed Thaksin and installed Abhisit as PM?
The holly book says, “And war shall break out, and there will be fire, followed by famine and starvation for 100 years, and all the race shall be wiped out, not even a single living thing survive, and God will transform the land into Malas Land.”
The possibilities are HIGH, as our forefathers has trusted BN which are of obsolete and outdated nature. Voters has given lots of chances for BN to change and it never it but worsen by the day. Voters are forced to park their votes in a safe haven or remain as fence sitters. PR should focus on the fence sitter as the numbers are high. It’s time PR resolved all their internal matters especially PKR, DAP & PAS’s strength has been increased tremendously. The earlier they arrest the internal matters of PKR, the better. The smell of Putrajaya is there and a good and effective strategies are needed including as to how to govern the country or Putrajaya. All the best and good luck.
I have travelled to few towns and cities of Sarawak..and I can feel …when opportunities demands it….Sarawakians will deliver with dignity…and Sibu result is the starting of that process…for the coming 13th GE.
Those are proud Malaysia Chinese holding very dear…their cultural roots.
Yes,,,Sarawak will support Pakatan no matter how much deals Najib tries to make…with our money…now and in the future…shamelessly.
Only UMNO B can deliver?
Who is he trying to fool?
…or a hung parliament like in UK now…who knows ? cause in Malaysia one party has more experiences when it comes to wheelings and dealings. Cannot remember who is the one who once said that there is a need for a strong voice to be heard.