Comments on PAS maintains Chinese support, Umno race tactics a flop

By courtesy of http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36047-pas-maintains-chinese-support-umno-race-tactics-a-flop

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 26 — If the Permatang Pasir by-election was to gauge the effectiveness of Umno's communal politicking, the results point to only one conclusion: failure.

Mohd Salleh Man, PAS Penang commissioner, beat Rohaizat Othman, the scandal-hit Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, with a majority of 4,551. The former garnered 9,618 votes against the latter's 5,067.

PAS won in all Chinese dominated areas throughout the state constituency. From the suburbs of Sama Gagah and Cross Street to the semi-rural town of Permatang Pauh, the Islamist party thumped their Umno rivals with big majorities.

COMMENTS

I am of the opinion that the voters are mature and justice-loving people. The candidate of the party plays an important role as the reputation of the candidate shall either tarnish or uphold him in the election. Bad reputation cannot win nor reduce the majority of PAS to a greater extent. Some voters are basically seeking justice for TBH and angry with the corruption of top authorities in the country. Who has the authority to investigate the top ranking officers in MACC? Where is the check and balance for MACC that they will not abuse the powers entrusted to them? Why no investigation conducted into the alleged corruption of the Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim? Voters are fed up with the corruption of the authorities from top posts and there seems no control over it in the present setup.

The issue of bias treatment of races in the country is against any religious teachings that all men and women are created equal. God gives rain and sunshine to both good and evil people equally, that is truly a just God. So any followers who preach and practise injustice, corruption, abuse of powers, anti-racial, inequality and other malpractices, are anti-God. The reward for anti-God is sure failure to win in the election!

written by antubiul, August 26, 2009

Voters are smart, PAS has to win otherwise there be one less bumi representative in the state goverment if UMNO won the opposition will increase their seat, I rather vote PAS. It better to be in the Goverment rather than the opposition.

written by swipenter, August 26, 2009

It just goes to show that multi racial politics maybe replacing racial politics. The harder the racial rhetorics by Utusan and BH and esp the DPM the more turned off would the non malays of Umno/BN. However if those ultras in the likes of Hadi, Nash, Hassan Ali and gang in PAS keep coming up and dealing with issues the orthodox way, PAS can't hope to always have the goodwill and trust of the non malays and moderates muslims. PAS please stop telling us that "this cannot, that cannot" eg MLTR concert. How corruptible is MLTR? BY any stretch of imagination they are just a band good at singing commercial love ballads to their fans.

written by focussed08, August 26, 2009

Neither has BN changed its racial tones and racist actions! 

To demand means there's failings in BN's undertakings. Gaining acceptance, on the other hand, means that there's no need for demands as the people willingly and wholeheartedly/wholesale embrace the party that wholeheartedly embraces them. 

When a party treats a community like dirt to be step upon when they feels like it, then, do you really expect to gain acceptance amongst such communities? 

To gain acceptance, there is an unspoken principle that people must be treated with dignity, fairness and courtesy and not be stamped on, beaten up and shouted down when they feels like it and when it's time to come asking for acceptance, offering bribes and sweet whispers on the one hand and at the same time, making racist rhetorics behind their backs. 

Good governance and a happy and satisfied community will always lend support to whichever party they feels safe and comfortable with. 

Honesty and care for the needs of the people will do wonders to garner support for any party. If only they have the will and ability to embark upon such simple undertakings!


written by vincent, August 26, 2009

I am not so sure about this analysis. In my opinion, PAS won because they were facing an opponent who is with questionable proffessional conduct. Furthermore, Teoh Beng Hock and PKFZ's case also helped. However, if PAS wants to continue to win Chinese votes, they need to do something about their own people like Hassan Ali. I have been voting for PAS for the past many elections, if this Hassan continues with his kind of action, 308 is my last vote to them.

written by novice101, August 26, 2009

Umno has misread the minds of the majority of the voters. The 6 losses Umno has suffered in the hands of PR show the people in Malaysia want a truly united nation and they are saying No to racial politics. But Umno/BN think they are still dealing with voters like a few carrots and those they met in the 60's. They still think dangling a few carrots and using the scared tactics will swing the non-malay votes their way. They are stuck in the mud, not realizing the mentality of the people has evolved. It is obvious Umno/BN are at a loss, they do not have a clue as to how to address this new mentality of the modern voters. It is about time such parties, parties which is out of touch with the people and with this world, be allowed to go extinct. 

Umno/BN's swan song will be the GE13, no one will regret its passing on, except maybe the Umnoputras!

•