It's only 10 days away from the date Anwar Ibrahim set to takeover the Government through the defections of BN MPs. I'm sure we all have been asked whether that is possible. I too have been asked many times though I'm neither a political analyst or a political pundit. My answer has been, I've scoffed at Anwar before the last GE during one of his interviews where he claimed that the Opposition would win 5 states (not the 5 that were actually won) and denying the BN 2/3 majority was not a problem and they were even close to winning with a simple majority. That to me was the view of a politicain and not a realist. Well, I can never be sure now about 916.
Many including those from civil society (Kua Kia Soong) and those have been critical of BN's governance (e.g. ex executive editor of the Edge, P Gunasegaram) have questioned the morality and ethics of pursuading the BN MPs to cross-over to PR. Some fear that the country will be torn apart given the high stakes that are involved. For some (like one of my CG member), they wish Dr. M is back to give us another 22 years of 'peace and prosperity'
For me the events of last year starting from the lawyers march in Putrajaya, the Bersih and Hindraf rally which culminated in the March GE are very much like new wine. They can never be kept again in the old wineskin of race based politics of BN. Let me deal with some of the objections raised against defections.
1) It betrayed the mandate given by the voters. The voters voted for the party and not the individual. I will use another argument i.e. 'why is PR in a hurry to takeover the Federal Govt. They have 5 states in hand and if they govern well, surely they will be voted in the next GE' to counter this objection. Well, if the MP really betrays the voters, can't they wait for the next GE to kick him/her out. (Our election laws disallow an MP who resigns to recontest the seat again. So going back to the voters is not possible)
2) Why can't PR concentrate on governing the 5 states well? The Federal Govt doesn't allow them to. Fundings are being cut off. Not every one is like the Kelantanese who doesn't mind non development. Trengganu was denied its oil royalty when PAS took over. The next GE it was defeated. People especially in Penang and Selangor will be impatient when there is little or no development. Without Federal funding, it's difficulet for a state to continue to develop.
3) The same corrupt politician will be brought into Pakatan and we will have the same problem all over again. This may be true but the corrupt politicians need to know that whether they are in BN or PR, their end will be near as the people will kick them out at the first opportunity. The March GE and the Permatang Pauh by-election are not the victory of the PR and Anwar respectively. It's the victory for the rakyat. We are no longer fooled and henceforth will make politicians our servants and not our masters.
4) BN will not sit down and let Anwar take over. They will create chaos and this political instability will be bad for the economy of the country. I'm sure they will do whatever they can to prevent Anwar from taking over. Anyway, another few more years of Badawi's/BN's management of the economy, the damage done will be irreversible. And about chaos and violence. Here is where as Christians we need to discharge our duty to pray for the nation. Pray to our Sovereign God that He will restrain evil and evil people will be removed.
Why I have no moral or ethical issues over the defections?
1) BN in particular UNMO has shown it is unable to reform itself after the last GE. In fact it has become worse
2) A few years under a racist party like UNMO and racist machineries like the BTN, national unity will forever remain an illusion
3) Another few more years of flip-flop policies, Malaysia will become a basket case to foreign investors
4) We have an immoral Government that refuses to abolish an immoral law
4) We have a PM in waiting who have repeated that all children irrespective of race are his children and has given us hope by ushering a new dawn and make Malaysia into a great nation. Dare he fail us?
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