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This visual was propagated by the Opposition in GE13. Will it come true for GE14? |
Three of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition partners are currently engaged in a verbal political spat with Umno.
The three are Gerakan, MCA and MIC! All three have suddenly found their courage to speak out against their Umno masters, an unthinkable display to most Malaysians. (Read this for context: http://victorlim2016.blogspot.my/2016/09/mca-fights-for-survival-as-malaysias.html)
Most Malaysians see the leaders in the three political parties as purely lackeys of the Umno-led BN ruling coalition, out for the crumbs from the gravy train.
Why are they suddenly displaying verbal hostility with Umno and vice versa?
That the spat is happening soon after the Sept 5, 2016, politically historic handshake in a court room between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim is no co-incidence.
That handshake, according to political observers and pundits, had ignited speculations that Najib is likely to call for snap 14th General Election (GE14) sooner than later to consolidate his premiership.
Many believe Najib is likely to seek a new mandate from Malaysian voters to rule Malaysia another five years, and that he has to strike it fast, while the iron is still hot, so to speak, because BN still has the advantage against a disjointed and disunited Opposition.
The Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan) Opposition front collapsed in June 2015 with the Islamist Hadi Awang-led PAS leaving the coalition following bickering with DAP over the implementation of Hukum Hudud (Islamic criminal law).
With BN’s landslide win in the Sarawak state elections, followed by similar wins in the Sungai Besar (Selangor) and Kuala Kangsar (Perak) twin by-elections last June, speculations soon started that Najib would be calling for snap GE14.
In fact, Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama had on Aug 21, 2016, reported MCA president Liow Tiong Lai as saying his party has finalised candidates for GE14 as an early initiative to win back seats lost in the previous election.
“I will be meeting all Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers to discuss about the candidates selected by the party,” he added.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Liow must know something about Najib’s discreet preparations for snap GE14. (Also read this for context: http://victorlim2016.blogspot.my/2016/08/clear-signs-1mdb-najib-to-call-for-snap.html)
So, it makes sense why, of late, MCA, MIC and Gerakan have taken such an aggressive political stance against Umno - to put up a show for their political relevance and survival in Malaysian politics.
In short, the three champion lackeys of Umno are trying to project an image that they are not subservient to their master, hoping to win the sympathy and support of Malaysian voters in GE14.
What say you Malaysians? Isn’t that way too late?
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| The ABU movement is still very much alive. |
"MIC JOINS BN FIGHT AFTER NAZRI HUMILIATES SUBRA AS ‘HELICOPTER CANDIDATE’ WHO CAN ONLY WIN IN UMNO SAFE SEAT
Politics | September 12, 2016 by | 0 Comments
KUALA LUMPUR – Public spats between Barisan Nasional leaders only benefit their rivals in the opposition, MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam told Umno’s Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The health minister reminded the Umno supreme council member, who recently downplayed the influence of his party’s allies, that it was vital for BN leaders to consider the coalition’s overall interests and not only that of their own parties.
“Don’t do things that will weaken Barisan Nasional as a whole while we’re in the lead-up to elections,” he told reporters today after launching a gallery at MIC headquarters today to commemorate the party’s 70th anniversary.
“All BN leaders must look at the needs of each component and try to fulfil it. We must be leaders to all components, not just the party we are in.”
Nazri told Malay Mail Online in a recent interview that Umno was the dominant party in BN because other components had to rely on “parachuting” their leaders and candidates into safe areas rather than fielding locals to contest.
He cited Dr Subramaniam as an example, pointing out the latter was MP for Segamat despite being a Penang native.
This prompted MCA’s Datuk Ti Lian Ker, who was already openly critical of Umno, to challenge the tourism and culture minister to join DAP, accusing Nazri of favouring the opposition party more than his own allies in BN.
Ti has also accused Umno of hurting its allies through the use of scare tactics and communal politics, saying this hampered the ability of the non-Malay parties to secure the support of the communities they profess to represent.
Nazri today mocked Ti by saying that he has more respect for DAP as it at least has the support of voters, and called the MCA central committee member a “reject”.Commenting on the continued spat, Dr Subramaniam said BN has faced similar issues before and will be able to resolve the current acrimony among the components.
“In politics we occasionally face these kinds of problems but we have to manage it. We have managed similar problems before and we have overcome it. I am sure we will over come this,” he said.
– Malay Mail"
"BN IN CRISIS: NOW ZAHID SAYS GERAKAN ‘MISUNDERSTOOD REAL MEANING’ OF HIS SPEECH – WILL CHANG YEOW SLINK OFF
Politics | September 12, 2016 by | 0 Comments
KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi(pic) says the misunderstanding over his comments regarding the need for Barisan component parties to adopt a common template for their election machinery in order to wrest Penang has been resolved.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Umno vice-president said Penang Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow had misunderstood his remarks on the matter.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, when opening the Balik Pulau Umno division meeting on Saturday, had said that other Barisan component parties must emulate the Umno election machinery to garner victory.
Teng responded in a statement that Barisan lost Penang not because of a weak election machinery or lack of unity but because of Umno.
Teng had said that there was no reason to re-open “old wounds” and that it was time to rectify and strengthen cooperation within Barisan.
“I have resolved the matter with Teng, who is the Penang Barisan chairman. He was not present when I made my remarks in Balik Pulau,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid when asked about the matter during his media conference after opening Makkal Sakti’s eigth annual general assembly.
“After he (Teng) got an explanation from Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman and Penang Umno secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, he realised that he had misunderstood the real meaning of my speech,” he added.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said that in his speech, he had urged all Barisan component parties in Penang to use a common template if they wanted to wrest back Penang.
“The advice was well-received by Barisan component parties in Penang,” he said.
He added that any personal political views by Barisan leaders, should best be conveyed at its supreme council meeting.
“Don’t use other mediums to express differences of opinions,” he said. – ANN"
"CIVIL WAR ERUPTS IN BN: YOU GUYS ARE THE CAUSE OF OUR GE LOSSES – GERAKAN TELLS ZAHID
Politics | September 11, 2016 by | 0 Comments
As the 14th general election draws near, BN component parties are now starting to blame each other for past losses.
Penang BN, led by Teng Chang Yeow, was evidently rankled by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remarks earlier today that component parties in the state seemed dependent on Umno’s machinery.
Taking a sarcastic swipe at the Malay ruling party, Teng, who is also the state Gerakan chief, said there is no denying Umno’s election machinery is superior.
“Their machinery is so good that they are unable to win back Kelantan and Selangor,” said Teng in a statement.
“Umno machinery under its vice-president Zahid himself as co-director of operation for Permatang Pauh by-election, did not win the Permatang Pauh by-election.”
Teng said Zahid should know why BN lost Penang in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.
During the past two polls, Umno managed to capture 11 and 10 seats respectively but Gerakan, MCA and MIC won zero seats.
“We lost Penang not because of machinery or unity but because of Umno!” claimed Teng.
Teng did not elaborate but it is learnt that Umno’s support of far-right Malay groups have caused uneasiness in non-Malay communities, which see Gerakan, MCA and MIC as endorsing Umno’s race-based politics.
“This is a well-known fact. If we still fail to understand this fact, we will continue to fail!” he added.
“There is no reason to reopen the old wound. It is time to rectify and strengthen the cooperation.”
Zahid was quoted by Bernama as saying today that Umno was prepared to share knowledge and assist parties such as Gerakan and MCA as well as cooperate with all BN component parties to win Penang.
According to Bernama, Zahid also said other BN component parties should not be arrogant and shy away from Umno’s offer of assistance because the ultimate aim of BN was to recapture Penang from the opposition.
Zahid said this when opening the Balik Pulau Umno division delegates meeting.
Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker earlier today said Umno’s ‘jaguh kampung’ (village hero) politics hurt its BN partners.
“If BN is merely a ‘jaguh kampung’ and loses in the urban areas, this is enough to show that BN has failed to be in sync with or align the party with changes in the attitudes of the Malay, Chinese, Indian and so on in the cosmopolitan areas.
“This failure is BN’s failure, not that of the component parties chosen to contest under BN’s ticket,” he had said in a statement.
– M’kini"
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