By Kuek Ser Kuang Keng | MalaysiaKini
Pakatan Rakyat supporters were told to be realistic in their target for Tenang, which is to reduce BN’s majority instead of winning the by-election.
“We need to be realistic. It is not easy to win this by-election,” said DAP leader Lim Kit Siang at PAS’ candidacy announcement ceremony last night in Labis.
“If we could reduce the over-2,400 majority of Umno and BN in the 2008 general election, it would be a victory for the people and Pakatan Rakyat, paving the way for the next general election.”
He pointed out that should the BN majority be reduced, it would mean the political tsunami in 2008 that spared Johor had hit the southern state and Johor is no longer a BN ‘fixed deposit’.
BN retained the state seat in the last general election with a 2,492 majority.
Lim (left) also slammed the recent statement by Prime Minister and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak, that he would veto potential candidates of BN component parties to ensure only winnable candidates stood for BN in the next election.
“Since when has there been a veto power? All the candidates were decided by component parties. Since when has the veto power been in the hands of the BN chairperson?
“If the component parties are not happy with Umno’s candidate, can they have veto power? This shows Umno hegemony is getting more serious. This is not 1Malaysia, this is against 1Malaysia.”
He stressed that Umno has not undergone a radical change since the last general election, and the only way to change the ruling party is through the ballot box.
“To change Umno, you need to have a Pakatan Johor state and change the government of Putrajaya,” said Lim told the excited crowd of 1,000.
Struggling for common objectives
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who was recently embroiled in the controversial Christmas Eve dinner between PAS and Umno leaders, reiterated that the party will remain an ally of DAP and PKR.
“We work with DAP because DAP is a party for poor people. It is easier to work with poor people, because PAS is also a poor party,” he quipped, sending the audience into guffaws.
“We work with PKR because PKR is a party for oppressed and victimised people.”
Hadi (left) said the the three parties are struggling for common objectives and to celebrate the differences among them such as religion, language and culture.
At a press conference later, he commented that the creation of an Islamic state (should Pakatan form the federal government) is a non-issue.
“This issue does not arise because we have held two (Pakatan) conventions (and resolved the differences in views). What is important is not the name of the state but what is implemented. We emphasise on our common point which is the concept of the welfare nation. All religions support welfare.
“If MCA wants to raise it (Islamic state), it shows they are bankrupt of ideas,” he said.
According to Lim, MCA had started their campaign in the constituency by accusing DAP of supporting PAS’ agenda to establish an Islamic state.
Constituencies like Tenang are natural strongholds of BN – voters there don’t understand or concern themselves with national issues. They will get influenced by cheap tricks and vote buying/influencing. In 308, the margin of victory was already reduced. The natural course is for the swing to be back with BN when they are not caught up with Tsunami of 308.
Even if the margin stays the same, its already a victory. Swing back to BN is the more natural thing.
This was just an over-reaction of some enthusiastic PR supporters… without giving deep consideration there are still big number of parasite maggots clinching onto the BN gravy train! …it will be an uphill battle for PR.
Would Najib turn the Tenang by-election into a BUY-election? Just wait and see……..
Uncle Lim, one thing that I think that can help the DAP as well as the PR to win votes is to do good deeds.
And just as important as doing such deeds is the act of publicising them.
Widely.
Perhaps I have started a trend by posting the good deeds of one of our MPs in the Star Online Blog on 17th January this year under the heading of “Way To Go!”.
There is nothing to be shy about doing so.
In fact this is one way to counteract the false propaganda of the MSM.
Yes in a way YB is right but then if one were to look at the demographics one would find that the constituency has a mixed population of 14753 with Chinese making up 39%,Malays 47.5%,Indians 12% and others 1.5%.You only need to draw in 35% of the Malay votes,70% of the Chinese votes,60% of the Indian votes
and 80% of the votes of others and you are there.I think the figures cited are not too far fetched and PR must aim for that although it might not be use to go all out for it costs money to do that.Printed out flyers and dropping them into letters boxes would be an effective weapon- -flyers on the TBH case,flyers telling the reforms PR can implement within 100 days of take over,flyers listing out all the major mismanagements committed by BN,flyers on mamak family and crony’s fixed deposits in a
branch of Israel National Bank in Singapore.
Correction: ‘………not be useful to go all out for…..’.
No worry la.We have done our part and lets hope the sleepy one will wake up and decide his/her future.Anyway I read Najis will splash $$millions on the felda settlement.The majority of the chinese there,pls accept the goodies but vote wisely and properly ah.Don’t gau kun gau kun ah!!