Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Are elections around the corner?
There is coffee shop talk that elections may be just around the corner. Couple of indications why some people think so. Firstly, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) has already started dusting off its elections machinery a few days ago. In usual political speak, MCA claimed they were just being fastidious and hardworking. Well, that may well be true but when it comes to the MCA (or any political party for that matter), I find that hard to believe in this era of political selfishness.
The recent outcry over the Maybank's requirement that legal firms servicing the bank must be bumiputera-owned, was quickly silenced by the Cabinet by directing the bank to retract this edict. The Prime Minister did not (as usual) have the courage to give the country's biggest bank a stern tongue lashing. Instead, he said "they know what to do". Essentially, the message is; don't be silly to make such announcements now but if you want to work this out on the sly, be my guest.
Even the keris waving Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn wavered on the side of common sense by saying that Maybank should not be doing things like this when we are trying to build a united Malaysia. Surprise turn around for someone who are not averse to unsheathing the keris. Even his deputy, the son-in-law of the Prime Minister, the self-proclaimed figher of Malay rights, has been silent on this issue. One could surmise that they do not want to annoy the Chinese voters at this juncture.
The Ijok by-election has been a tremendous eye-opener for the ruling party. It may be best to strike when the iron is still hot i.e when the momentum is still with the government. Why wait until later when the economic or political developments are not conducive to hold elections? After all, the opposition parties are being viewed as being able to cobble together an alliance as evidenced by Ijok when PAS and DAP helped Keadilan campaign. There is also the well-founded fear that the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed factor could swing more votes for the opposition in the next general elections. The Star newspaper demonised the former premier just last Sunday in a full-page article questioning his association with opposition political parties. Of course, now with the old man recuperating from a recent health hiccup, the government may see this as an added impetus to hold elections sooner rather than later. ¶ 7:58 AM
The recent outcry over the Maybank's requirement that legal firms servicing the bank must be bumiputera-owned, was quickly silenced by the Cabinet by directing the bank to retract this edict. The Prime Minister did not (as usual) have the courage to give the country's biggest bank a stern tongue lashing. Instead, he said "they know what to do". Essentially, the message is; don't be silly to make such announcements now but if you want to work this out on the sly, be my guest.
Even the keris waving Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn wavered on the side of common sense by saying that Maybank should not be doing things like this when we are trying to build a united Malaysia. Surprise turn around for someone who are not averse to unsheathing the keris. Even his deputy, the son-in-law of the Prime Minister, the self-proclaimed figher of Malay rights, has been silent on this issue. One could surmise that they do not want to annoy the Chinese voters at this juncture.
The Ijok by-election has been a tremendous eye-opener for the ruling party. It may be best to strike when the iron is still hot i.e when the momentum is still with the government. Why wait until later when the economic or political developments are not conducive to hold elections? After all, the opposition parties are being viewed as being able to cobble together an alliance as evidenced by Ijok when PAS and DAP helped Keadilan campaign. There is also the well-founded fear that the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed factor could swing more votes for the opposition in the next general elections. The Star newspaper demonised the former premier just last Sunday in a full-page article questioning his association with opposition political parties. Of course, now with the old man recuperating from a recent health hiccup, the government may see this as an added impetus to hold elections sooner rather than later. ¶ 7:58 AM
