Penanti by-election: Give it a Miss/ 弃战有理

There has been a lot of speculation whether BN should contest in the Penanti by-election in Penang. This is a very small state seat within Anwar’s Parliamentary constituency in Permatang Pauh. It only has 15453 voters. The whole episode of the resignation of the previous ADUN who happens to be the Deputy CM smells suspicious. He himself denied that he has resigned in the Chinese press. The CM of Penang has openly voiced his frustration over the whole episode and that he only knew about it from the press. So much about power sharing within PR where we are told that every partner is equal and decision made is by consensus. Hence, in view of the above development, one can safely said that the whole episode could be orchestrated by Anwar. The rest of the PR partners just have to dance according to the tune.

The Penanti by-election will be the 6^th by-election since 308 election. In the previous 5 by-elections, BN has succeeded in defending the state seat in Sarawak, lost the Parliamentary seat in Kuala Terengganu, failed to regain 3 seats that were lost to PR in the 308 election. The impression that one gets from all these by-election is that BN is losing control. People don’t think that to begin with, BN lost the 3 seats which are seats belonging to PR. It is obvious that PR would like to generate more by-elections in seats held by them on the slightest excuse. BN is aware that at this point of time, it is difficult to regain those seats that belong to PR. It would then generate a momentum that PR is gaining strength everyday. People like to support a winning team. It is said that nothing succeed like success. It cannot be denied that Anwar is a master strategist and is good at political spinning to create an image that is favourable to him and PR.

Of course there are within BN who feel that it is an honour to fight and it is not a question of defeat of victory. They have forgotten that PR just wants to advance Anwar’s agenda that come the next general election, PR will be the government in power. A lot of voters have become very critical of BN but seems very forgiving of PR. They have adopted the attitude that BN can never do right and PR can never do wrong. It is good that Malaysians become critical but being critical must be based on facts and figures and not ignorance and arrogance of cynism.

Giving the by-election a miss would mean that BN is not playing to the PR’s tune. The government should concentrate on nursing the ailing economy. To the man on the street, the bread and butter issue is more important than by-election and politicking. If the government can overcome this economic tsunami brought on by the American financial meltdown, it would still generate a lot of goodwill and support. Then only BN can regain lost ground.

国阵应不应该迎战本南地州议席补选引起各造议论纷纷。本南地隶属峇东埔国会议席，有1万5453名选民，是一个小州席。原任州议员兼槟城第一副首长法鲁斯的呈辞事件一开始就显得不寻常。他本人曾向中文媒体否认辞职，而当他呈辞后，身为一州之首的林冠英却毫不知情，直至媒体追问方后知后觉，后者还公开向媒体表示不满。

民联向来自诩公平落实政权分享，政治盟友地位平等，凡事能取得一致协议。不过，法鲁斯的呈辞事件看来全由安华个人操纵，其他伙伴只能闻风起舞。

本南地补选将是308普选后的第6场补选。在过去5场补选，国阵成功保住砂州峇当艾但却输掉自家席瓜登，欲重夺民联地盘的峇东埔、武吉士南卯及武吉干当则宣告失败。看起来国阵似乎已失控制权，惟另民联 显然试图制造更多补选，乐此不疲。

国阵很清楚，目前要重夺输给民联的议席不容易，加上接二连三的挫败，会让人民产生民联与日俱强的印象。人民都倾于支持胜利的一方。无可否认安华的确是一名精明的策略家，擅于扭转劣势制造有利于他和民联的条件。

当然，国阵里有些人不计胜败，视出战为至高的荣耀。但他们忘了民联的目标是加速实现安华的议程，即在来届大选打败国阵执政中央。今天，越来越多选民对国阵苛刻非难，对民联却豁略大度；对两党的态度也两极化，总认为国阵没干好事，民联永远错不了。我乐见大马人民批判意识提高，但凡事应据理非议，不能愚昧地吹毛求疵愤世嫉俗。

国阵弃战本南地补选可避免卷入民联的政治游戏。相反的，政府应该专注搞好经济。广大市民的饭碗比补选和政治更值得关注。若政府成功克服这场经济海啸，不仅能博得人民掌声，且有望重夺城池。