The reality is that a change of federal government is possible only if the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak shift away from the BN to the opposition. The Sarawak state elections results, if translated into parliamentary seats, means that the opposition can capture only 4 to 5 seats in the main towns out of the 31 in Sarawak. Hence, the opposition must urgently and sincerely re-strategise for the general elections.
The lesson from Sarawak for the Sabah opposition is that the key to changing the government lies in the combined strengths of both the rural and urban areas that cut across demographic lines. As an elaboration, a rally of 35,000 people in Penang was sufficient to change the state government in 2008. But in Kuching, a rally of 35,000 cannot even change the city mayor. This means that just relying on urban or on rural areas alone is not sufficient.
We must win in both the rural and urban areas. In the rural areas, local issues, party organization, personal strengths of candidates and the smart use of resources are crucial factors in beating the BN’s vastly superior machinery. In Sarawak, PKR, especially, should have concentrated their resources in marginal areas instead of over spreading themselves too thinly all over the vast state. As a result, all 13 marginal seats were lost to BN. BN also managed to turn around “black areas” like Bawang Assan and Senadin, both defended by a demoralised SUPP. If the opposition had concentrated resources in these 15 areas, then the opposition could have won a formidable 28 or more, thus denying BN its two-third majority. PKR also wasted much precious time and resources fighting fellow Pakatan partner SNAP. The end results show that PKR has beaten not only SNAP but also itself. This is a self-inflicted damage that could have been avoided.
Previously, I had reminded PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim that we should not underestimate BN’s political will to remain in power. BN leaders have too much to lose and will fight tooth and nail to remain in government. Of all people, Anwar, a former UMNO acting Prime Minister, should know what I mean. Not everyone is like SAPP who walked out of the incumbent BN government and chose to fight from outside. It takes time and efforts to build a strong team based on consensus. The days of top down coercion from KL to Sabah and Sarawak are over. KL-based parties must accept this fact in order to strengthen the opposition in Sabah and Sarawak. Hence, it is not too early to re-strategise a common opposition campaign in facing the BN in the coming general elections.
OW SNAPPED!!!
ReplyDeleteYong Teck Lee, PR does not need your advice...u almost lost deposit in Batu Sapi remember? it was not even a year ago....
ReplyDeleteMaybe an Ex-CM of Sabah should reveal to us what kind of dirty tactics has BN (including himself) used in order to beat PBS?
ReplyDeletePKR stand for 49 seats, and only win 3 seats this consider PKR never win in sarawak, opposition win in sarawak is only want to give white hair a lesson,this call emotional vote pattern,it seems that the opposition party in ruler area are not ready, PY
ReplyDeleteRural area voters are too dependent on government assistance and easily bought during election time.
ReplyDeleteThe BN leaders will want to leave these people in backward and poor in order to easily influence them when election comes by money politics.
good advice from loser..
ReplyDeleteeach party have their own strategy.
ReplyDeleteprepare to lost your deposit if you take his advice...
ReplyDeleteYTL should look at himself before advising others.
ReplyDeleteI know some of the BN/UMNO hidden policies on the rural area especially at Sabah and Sarawak. This policies are called "Remain Fixed Deposit". What they do?
ReplyDelete1. They continue giving the rural people a "Instant lollipop" just enough to cool down the orang kampung. The lollipop can be such as:
- Zinks
- Laptop 1Malaysia
- Consumable food like a bag of rice, sugar, salt, mi Maggie and other instant food.
2. Keep on receiving the purposes of development from district to district and combining it in a "Legacy rescue book". This thing can be so useful when there's a by-election as well as for the purposes of general election preparation. They well announce project by project according to the situation in the area they are campaigning. This will be their promise for the current situation and some of it sometime last for 2 to 3 decades uncommitted. This are the best thing BN can do that keep failing the opposition in every election. Majority of the rural rakyat which "SENANG DIBELI".
PKR masih perlu berusaha lagi.
ReplyDeleteLook like PR not for Sabah and Sarawak..
ReplyDeleteBatu Sapi one of the example that any opposition doesn't have more support form Sabahan. PRU13 Sabahan will choice BN then opposition, it not impossible..
ReplyDeleteWork hard and do much to the people. You might lose it in just 1 click, remember that.
ReplyDeleteDon't be too proud to what had happened in Sarawak recently. This is just a beginning, but if you all won't do something to maintain it, prepare for trouble to come..
ReplyDeleteU can re-strategise as much as you want cause in the end it's up to the people to decide which party they want to vote.
ReplyDeleteIs not reason that "SENANG BELI"..But what the UMNO/BN do it is for responsibility. Their duty as a goverment.. So why they give Laptop for the student. Because want to make the rural student not blind with ICT.
ReplyDeleteParti pembangkang akan lebih berusaha atas kekalahan di Sarawak dan begitu juga BN.masing-masing akan membuat strategi yang tersendiri untuk memastikan mereka tetap diyakini rakyat.
ReplyDeleteI guess the sarawakians are still not ready to vote for opposition. Oh well, majority wins!
ReplyDeleteapa2 pun BN sda menang. Muktamad.
ReplyDeleteI guess YTL is doing something right now.
ReplyDeleteIf the opposition continue doing what they are doing now, unwilling to compromise, they will never win in East Malaysia. PKR must be willing to change in order to gain the people's support.
ReplyDeletePeralihan strategi bagi parti2 pembangkang di Sabah sememangnya harus meneliti diri.
ReplyDeleteSemua parti tengah susun balik strategi.
ReplyDeletesekarang ni semua parti menyusun strategi bagi mengukuhkan jentera mereka bagi menghadapi pilihanraya seterusnya.
ReplyDeleteHow strong?
ReplyDeleteApa guna hendak susun strategi kalau masalah rakyat masih ada?
ReplyDeleteRe-aligned the strategies? I hope it works.
ReplyDeleteapapun, jika nak dptkan sokongan rakyat, bantulah rakyat.
ReplyDeleteAgree with mandau. In order to win the election, the first thing every party should do is to help the people. Solve the people problem!
ReplyDeletethe wind only blow in the urban area in s'wak, that's why dap can do so well. but look at PKR, CONTEST 49 seats can only get 3. for the people like us, we want to see the down fall of BN/UMNO inorder to save the right of all malaysian. but it's sad to say that PKR can not deliver what we want. how to solve the difference between all opposition parties in the coming GE13,all the leaders must have an open heart to discuss. no one should act as he is the big boss. we, the people don't like to see opposition parties fight each other in the same constituecy. please take note. or otherwise we will vote for BN again.
ReplyDeleteRajul, for god sake, what in the world the goddamn reason of giving 1malaysia laptop when the orang kampung don't even know what is electricity all about. What more the so-called ICT. The case in Pulau Banggi is the best example to describe it. If you read the paper la. U can see the picture showing the 'beliau' or elder of Bonggi ethnic wearing 'cawat' holding a white 1malaysia laptop computer but in the same time indicate us that their 'sulap' or small house made from 'kayu bulat' and sago made roof & wall. No connection to 'karan' or electricity, no water supply, not even a wifi what more a broadband connection. So don't you see what a stupid idea to give them a laptop for god sake. why not make them a proper house with electricity and water supply so that they can live more like human.
ReplyDeleteIs giving a laptop is more responsible than giving them a house? what happened to the one stop ict center project to every kampung? dah jadi projek gajah putih agaknya.
Ada lebih banyak cara yg bole panggil responsibility such as buat jalan yg lebih bagus di setiap kampung supaya mereka lebih mudah ber'access' dengan pekan terdekat utk menjual hasil pertanian mereka. En. Rajul may go to kampung di seluruh sabah terutamanya di kawasan interior yg hanya boleh di'access' menggunakan jalan balak yg sudah ada sejak 47 tahun yg lalu. lihat orang kampung punya kesusahan. nanti bila dah tahu, bole tolong inform kerajaan BN/UMNO apa dan mana mau dibuat. mana tahu dia orang dengar u punya cakap pasal mengikut apa yg saya dengar dari kebanyakan orang kampung, ada permohonan yg mereka sudah banyak kali mohon malah sudah berpuluh tahun tapi masi tidak menjadi kenyataan. janji yg bn buat juga tidak ditunaikan. jadi apa cerita? tolong mereka ya.
PKR perlu berusaha lagi untuk mendapatkan sokongan rakyat pada PRU-13.
ReplyDelete