2dPoint

My article which appear in Malaysia Today, February 5th, 2007:

In reply to V.Vasudevan, NST, OPPOSITION MUST RETHINK BOYCOTTS posted in Malaysia Today, 29 January 2007

Well, after reading the short “analysis” by V.Vasudevan (New Straits Times), posted on 29th January 2007, I thought I would mend some serious misleading opinion of his (V.Vsudevan).

The decision to boycott Batu Talam by-election was correct. It was a boycott decision independent of future election. It was a move to pressure the SPR to reform. For the opposition, PAS & keADILan, it was going to be a measure of how far the SPR will change to ensure a free and fair election, even without an opposition candidate (but somehow an independent candidate emerged, a mere 22-year old without experience and election machinery to support him. One tended to query the real intention of contesting. One does not enter battle to die like what the Malay says mati katak. It was a foolish decision unless he carried some other agenda not overtly mentioned. I believe that politicians should start saying what they mean, and do what they say).

The intention to reform must be met with actions as proof of serious attempts to free SPR from the clutches of BN.

Najib’s comment on the decision to continue the process of election even when there would be flood on polling day was clearly a deliberate and arrogant interference in the administration of the SPR. Only the SPR was qualified to make any decision on any issue related to the election process.

Objectively, under a non-independent SPR and non-levelling playing field, we know that votes alone do not represent the understanding of the people regarding the politics of the country because the ability to ferry voters actually decides the number of votes.
Did the Batu Talam people really vote on the basis that they accepted the BN’s policies?
It was thoroughly unjustified to say that the by-election was a successful mid-term review of the BN administration.

The ugly smudges on the record of BN’s administration is clear from the following: the report Sham Democracy( http://www.malaysia-today.net/Sham_Democracy.pdf ), the toll hike, the petrol price hike, the PM’ lavish spending, the Altantuya’s murder case, the summoning of citizens who blew the whistle on corruption under OSA, the wastage on the 2nd Johore bridge, the dismal administration of the control of floods in Johore and other areas, the continued imprisonment of the ISA detainees –detention without cause, the almost 100% increase in cost of the MRR2 highway, the endless report of misconduct and election irregularities, the endless delay of the IPCMC, the apathy in calls for the freedom of press and information, the shameless monopolisation of media, and the list goes on and on…

In the Batu Talam by-election, the high percentage wining figure quoted is seen as not the reflection of the people’s rejection of the boycott because admittedly, the opposition only failed to reach a wider audience of voters (that is a different topic altogether) NOT failing in delivering the right decision and principle behind the boycott.

BN likes to harp on its development. The scale of development in Malaysia is NOT a measure of BN’s ability to govern the country. The physical aspect of development can be achieved simply even by an NGO – probably it will do a much better job than BN!
The ability to empathise, to sacrifice, to instil good values in people, to make safe all the streets from crimes, to provide free education and health care, providing suitable accommodation for each citizen and for leaders to live simply would be a more holistic indicator of a ruling government’s success.

Whither the BN government which is neither deaf nor blind to the people’s plight?

Rozaini M. R.
rozmr@tm.net.my