Friday, April 27, 2007
Ijok - disturbing signs for the future
A little known area in central Selangor called Ijok could well merit a mention when a study of Malaysia's political landscape is carried out in the future, if the opposition can reduce the majority of the Barisan Nasional candidate on April 28. An unlikely win by Anwar Ibrahim and company could well be a turning point of massive significance for UMNO's political rivals. The intensive canvassing for votes and actions bordering on desperation, perpetrated by some parties plus the ever lingering talk of money politics of gargantuan proportions as well as phantom voters in the Ijok constituency, are clear indications that the ruling UMNO does not like the changing mood of the ground. The tired old themes of development and stablity only possible under Barisan, are beginning to fade away as people, even rural folks, are more attuned to all the going-ons in the seat of government.
The rise of a undisciplined group of young UMNO members whose behaviour borders on the loutish, in the midst of this political party is a dark sign of things to come. Police reports have been lodged recently about these group's unsavoury antics including outright assault on anyone not singing the Barisan Nasional tune. Whether the strong arm of the law will be used to rein these misguided youths in, is not known. As far as I know, this is a new phenomenon in Malaysian politics; the rise of thuggish political enforcers to intimidate all those who dare stand in its path. In the past, more subtle methods were used by the ruling coalition to ensure voter support. While deplorable, the public simply shrugged its shoulders and let such incidents pass.
These are disturbing signs. When governments think they need to resort to strong-arm tactics which could spill into outright violence to ensure people cross the right symbols on their little ballot papers, it is then time to really take stock of the state of the nation. I am not surprised by talk of "legitimate" voters purportedly aged between 7 and 108, which has apparently appeared on the election rolls for Ijok; these are expected to take place when UMNO has the massive government machinery to bank upon. This factor, I am sure, has already been taken into account by opposition strategists.
But I do not think they banked upon roving gangs of youths capable of sparking violence in the constituency in order to intimidate, frighten voters. The fact that the government has remained silent about the antics of these young men is also disturbing especially when its favourite buzz word is national security. These are indeed interesting times for Malaysia. What becomes of the political landscape, post-Ijok is already being eagerly anticipated. ¶ 7:19 PM
The rise of a undisciplined group of young UMNO members whose behaviour borders on the loutish, in the midst of this political party is a dark sign of things to come. Police reports have been lodged recently about these group's unsavoury antics including outright assault on anyone not singing the Barisan Nasional tune. Whether the strong arm of the law will be used to rein these misguided youths in, is not known. As far as I know, this is a new phenomenon in Malaysian politics; the rise of thuggish political enforcers to intimidate all those who dare stand in its path. In the past, more subtle methods were used by the ruling coalition to ensure voter support. While deplorable, the public simply shrugged its shoulders and let such incidents pass.
These are disturbing signs. When governments think they need to resort to strong-arm tactics which could spill into outright violence to ensure people cross the right symbols on their little ballot papers, it is then time to really take stock of the state of the nation. I am not surprised by talk of "legitimate" voters purportedly aged between 7 and 108, which has apparently appeared on the election rolls for Ijok; these are expected to take place when UMNO has the massive government machinery to bank upon. This factor, I am sure, has already been taken into account by opposition strategists.
But I do not think they banked upon roving gangs of youths capable of sparking violence in the constituency in order to intimidate, frighten voters. The fact that the government has remained silent about the antics of these young men is also disturbing especially when its favourite buzz word is national security. These are indeed interesting times for Malaysia. What becomes of the political landscape, post-Ijok is already being eagerly anticipated. ¶ 7:19 PM
