Precipitation period — Lim Sue Goan

After the Sarawak state election, the politics is now in a precipitation period. Both the ruling and alternative coalitions are making their final sprint for the next general election.

Barisan Nasional (BN) needs voters across the country, particularly those in urban areas, to calm down while Pakatan Rakyat has to think about how to continue or expand the effects of its advantage during the Sarawak state election.

There is no sign of a snap general election after the Sarawak state election and the prime minister will have an official visit abroad in May. The national tours of the prime minister and his deputy seem to have been suspended and therefore, it is believed that the next general election would not be held in the middle of the year. Instead, it is expected to be held by the end of the year or next year.

There would be no by-election for any seats left vacant after May as 28 April is the cut-off point for parliamentary by-elections in the current parliamentary term while the cut-off dates in Kedah and Pahang will be on May 20. Therefore, they can no longer assess voters’ attitude through by-elections. Instead, they must pay personal visits.

It is going to be a test for the grassroots organisation of BN and Pakatan Rakyat starting from June. Paying door-to-door visits have always been the strength of the BN while the Pakatan Rakyat is good at organising political rallies and ceramah. They have different levels of access and influence. As for rural areas, cordial greetings and communication are needed.

BN is also trying to expand its contact channels to approach more voters such as the 1 Malaysia e-mail programme.

BN must create a good atmosphere before the general election. However, it seems that BN is still far away from creating such an atmosphere, including the effects of the Economic Transformation Programme have not yet been apparent while the economy remains unimpressive and the worst is, inflation is showing signs of deterioration.

Whether the prices of RON95 would be increased and the increase rates will be an indicator of the when the next general election would be held.

In addition, the Gebeng rare earths plant controversy has become an issue. BN must properly handle it and the formation of an independent panel comprising international experts to review the health and safety aspects of the project is a strategy to eliminate public anxiety.

In the fight for Malay votes, the Utusan Malaysia has become another platform. For example, its “1Melayu, 1Bumi” movement echoes Malay rights group Perkasa’s similar movements. There is an obvious political purpose for the paper to call for the unity of Malays by citing the unity of the Chinese shown in the Sarawak state election as an example.

Also, the sex video implicating an opposition leader can be used as a weapon to fight for votes. The more people believe it, the more Malay votes Umno can get. And it takes time to prepare the ploy.

Meanwhile, the MCA has been vigorously promoting its president’s remarks of “if the MCA is greatly defeated in the next general election, it should then review its status in the government”.

As for the Pakatan Rakyat, its leaders hope to keep the momentum of the Sarawak state election but the victory of the DAP has raised suspicions.

Since SUPP dares not to insist that its Chinese state assembly members should not join the state Cabinet, it allows the DAP to see an opportunity of gaining more Chinese-majority parliamentary seats.

DAP Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang also knows that to collapse the BN’s power, they have to enter inland areas and it requires the support of non-Chinese voters. Therefore, he suggested that they should merge with SNAP. Unexpectedly, the suggestion has caused dissatisfaction of the PKR.

The grassroots of the PKR and PAS are worried that the power of the DAP would be expanded and the future of the Pakatan Rakyat depends on the sincerity of the three parties in cooperation. — mysinchew.com