First BN Coordinating Meeting in Muar and Bakri

As the Chief BN Coordinator, I have been tasked to look at Parliament and DUN seats that we lost to PR in the last general election. Since this is a new post, there is no precedent and no track record whereby I can seek guidance. I can only learn as I move along.

In order to coordinate effectively, it is obvious that I need the cooperation from all the component parties in BN. There is suspicion and also this perception that BN lost in some of the seats because of internal sabotage. This often come about when a long entrenched incumbent is replaced or you have parachute candidates that are not welcomed at the local level. So, candidate do matter in general election.

I choose to start my first meeting in Bakri since I am familiar with the local BN component party leadership. Muar BN was also invited since there is no clear separation in terms of voting by Muarians. Hence, a Muarian may be staying within the constituency in Bakri but he may be voting in Muar and it can be vice versa. Hence, cooperation between the BN of Muar and Bakri is important to ensure victory.

In the 308 election, BN lost the Parliamentary seat of Bakri and retained the seat of Muar. Within these two parliamentary seats, there are seven constituencies and BN lost three, one to DAP, and two to PAS. The Parliamentary seat of Bakri has always been a BN stronghold until 2008 election. The general feeling is when the incumbent in Bakri was replaced after having served 5 terms, some of the MCA members and supporters were not happy. This is the problem that BN faces when a long serving candidate is replaced with a new face. The incumbents always feel that they have many more years to go before they retire. Hence, in a lot of constituencies, when a long serving incumbent is replaced, there is non-cooperation and what is worst sabotage. Anyway, the incumbent for one of the Parliamentary seats who was replaced did not turn out for the meeting although he is still head of the division.

The meeting proceeded well with input from all the component parties. The consensus was that BN needs to move as a team. The YBs should serve their constituencies well, irrespective of race and religion. They should go down to the ground in order to understand the rakyat better. In the same way, grant should be given to all irrespective of race. BN at the local level should hold meeting at least once in three months and activities should be conducted in the name of BN. A lot of local issues were raised, some of which require state or federal intervention. I promised that once I receive all the details, I would try to contact the relevant ministries in order that some of the long-standing problems can be resolved.

Some of the leaders complained that they still run their service centre as if they are still the YBs. Of course funding is a problem since you need funds to run the service centre. Most of the voters even in the opposition-controlled state or Parliamentary seats still come to their service centre for help. Some of the local leaders felt that this was unfair. My response was to serve and to let the rakyat decide who is serving and who is not.

身为国阵总协调，我受委监督和协调国阵在上届大选沦陷的国和州席。这是一个全新的职位，没有先例和任何记录供参考及引导，我唯有从工作中不断学习和改进。

为使协调工作顺利和有效进行，我需要国阵成员党的充分合作。有人认为甚至怀疑，在国阵输掉的议席当中，其中一些是因为内部破坏以致败阵。通常，此现象发生在两种情况下：在位许久的原任代议士被撤换，或不受当地欢迎的天兵上阵。所以，面对大选，候选人人选至关重要。

我选择在峇吉里进行首个国阵协调会议，是因为我与当地的国阵成员党要熟络。这项会议，我邀请来自峇吉里和麻坡两个地区的领袖联席议事，原因是这两个地区的选民分布界限不清，部分住在峇吉里的选民却在麻坡投票，反之亦然。所以彼此的关系密不可分。换言之，峇吉里和麻坡国阵的合作对国阵的胜负是非常重要的。

在308大选，国阵虽保住麻坡国席，但却失去了峇吉里国席。这两个国席里的7个州席，国阵只成功保住4个，其余3个输了给行动党（1席）及回教党（2席）。峇吉里国席向来是国阵的堡垒选区之一，然而却在2008年大选中沦陷。一般的印象是，由于蝉联了5届的原任议员被撤换，引起一些党员和支持者不满。每当国阵以新人取代在位已久的议员出任候选人，都会面对类似问题。原任者经常认为距离退休，自己还有很长的任期。因此，在许多选区，一旦在位已久的原任者被取代，便出现不合作甚至是恶意破坏的局面。不管怎样，在上述会议，其中一名受邀的原任国会议员，尽管也是区会主席却缺席会议。

有关会议顺利展开，各成员党领袖也纷纷提出意见和建议，并达致共识，以国阵团队付诸行动。国阵的所有议员必须不计种族宗教差异，有效地服务选民，他们必须走入人群以贴近民意。议员们也要不分种族，公平分配和运用拨款。会议也同意，当地的国阵领导层须至少每3月召开一次联席会议。此外，与会者也在会议中提出多项地方课题，其中一些关系州或中央政府权限。我答应大家一旦获得有关资料和详情，将尽我所能与相关部门接洽，以协助解决这些积累多时的问题。

一些领袖也提出服务中心面对资金来源的问题。他们指出，在一些由反对党议员管理的选区，选民仍惯性前来国阵成员党的服务中心求职。这些领袖认为对他们不公平。我的答复是，继续服务，由人民判断究竟谁在为他们服务，而谁失责。