Testing time for Malaysia
On the hustings: Flags of Malaysia's opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (Pas) and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition on displayin the village of Sabak, in Kelantanyesterday.Picture: Reuters
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
POLITICAL renewal is really easier said than done, and trying to give a chance to new faces over those who have overstayed has been the mother of all headaches for the Prime Minister the past few days. Today, the candidates new or old will have to hit the ground running.
A ripple of surprise went through the crowd when MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced at a dinner party that this would be his last general election. It was a bold statement made at a rather critical juncture but it was also a well-calculated move.
He clearly wanted to send a message that he did not believe in clinging on to power. Logically speaking, he would no longer be leading the MCA by the time the next general election rolls around because of the party rules governing the top party posts.
But the fact that he was prepared to come out so openly about it says a lot about the man. It is not easy to make way when one is at the top. Power is not only seductive; it can also be very addictive.
In that sense, Ong was not only trying to set an example; he was also trying to change the mindset about politics, position and power.
Ong's party deputy Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy dropped a bombshell of his own when he declined to seek re-election.
It is so rare to see politicians at the height of their career go willingly that some could not believe that the health reasons he cited were in fact genuine. But these two men are setting an important trend in politics as political parties prepare to do battle for votes, seats and power in the next two weeks.
Big issues had dominated the political forum in the months leading up to the general election but the past week, especially since Parliament was dissolved, has been dominated by big-time politicking.
Political parties, whether in the ruling party or the opposition, have been knee-deep in lobbying, wrangling, horse-trading and even protests.
It is easy for those outside of party politics to talk about change and rejuvenation but the reality on the ground is so different.
Political renewal is really easier said than done. And it was not only the ruling parties that saw open protests over seats and candidates.
The DAP had a dilemma on its hands in Penang when the entry of secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in the state set off a domino effect of people having to make way but it was eventually resolved with some sacrifices down the line.
But Perlis probably took the cake in terms of drama. The situation in the northern state would have become a crisis had Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim not been reinstated in his state seat.
A renewal rate of about 30 per cent every election seems to be the acceptable threshold for all parties. Anything more than that tends to test the ground and bring out the worst in people. Perhaps the most interesting thing was the fewer than expected changes among the Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers.
Months before the election date was announced, even Umno members had agreed there was a need for many Mentris Besar to move on.
For most of them, it was more a case of overstaying and the need for younger faces with newer ideas to move up. Politics is about hope and change for the better and it is a challenge to stay relevant beyond three terms. But changing leaders at that level has been the mother of all headaches for the Prime Minister as proven by the Perlis incident.
At the end of the day, it looks like only two states will have new faces at the top and minus the usual withdrawal syndromes or drama at that.
Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was more than willing to move on to a level that would enhance his new status as head honcho of Gerakan. Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud's departure in Sarawak had been long predicted but it was still a matter of some surprise when he finally did it. His going will really spell the end of an era in Sarawak politics.
Perhaps the most surprising was the change that did not take place in Johor.
There had been so much speculation over Datuk Ghani Othman moving to a federal seat that some couldn't believe it when news leaked out that he was staying on as Johor Mentri Besar. After three terms, he had become somewhat of a tired face and there was a younger candidate in the wings.
In fact, it must have been a horrible time for Ghani the last one month. Everywhere he went, reporters were asking whether he was going or staying. But he was remarkably cool about it and has been quite the gentleman politician, not once losing his temper.
There had been rumblings about Ghani's commitment to the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) scheme.
This is the Prime Minister's pet project and he has a lot riding on it. Moreover, the project bears the sovereign's name.
But Ghani, his advocates said, began shifting to a higher gear on the IDR in the last six months or so, and this may have saved his political life. The Prime Minister was being pragmatic when he decided to stick with Ghani because bringing in a new man would mean several months of adjustment and he cannot stomach any more delays on the scheme.
The remarkable thing about Johor was that throughout all this brouhaha over the Mentri Besar post, the ruling party was still assured of another sweeping win. The campaign proper began after 11am.
Penang and Kelantan remain the two most interesting states to watch because the contests there are not so one-sided or predictable to the extent that people would prefer to watch Astro.
Penang, in particular Penang Island, would be where arguments about how unhappy the Chinese have been over a variety of issues will be put to the test. This is also where DAP's rising son Lim Guan Eng hopes to reinforce his standing as the rightful leader of the DAP.
In Kelantan, Umno is making its most serious bid for power in years and has even identified its potential Mentri Besar in the event of victory. Pas will fight Umno tooth and nail to hold on to the state.
PKR is going into the elections contesting the largest number of seats among the opposition parties.
They have good and promising faces but I do not see them making a dent in Umno's popularity, said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.
But he added that the party under greatest siege is MIC and party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu is going into an election where the Indian ground is in turmoil. There's a great deal at stake for the party, and its president.
The Star/ANN
A ripple of surprise went through the crowd when MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced at a dinner party that this would be his last general election. It was a bold statement made at a rather critical juncture but it was also a well-calculated move.
He clearly wanted to send a message that he did not believe in clinging on to power. Logically speaking, he would no longer be leading the MCA by the time the next general election rolls around because of the party rules governing the top party posts.
But the fact that he was prepared to come out so openly about it says a lot about the man. It is not easy to make way when one is at the top. Power is not only seductive; it can also be very addictive.
In that sense, Ong was not only trying to set an example; he was also trying to change the mindset about politics, position and power.
Ong's party deputy Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy dropped a bombshell of his own when he declined to seek re-election.
It is so rare to see politicians at the height of their career go willingly that some could not believe that the health reasons he cited were in fact genuine. But these two men are setting an important trend in politics as political parties prepare to do battle for votes, seats and power in the next two weeks.
Big issues had dominated the political forum in the months leading up to the general election but the past week, especially since Parliament was dissolved, has been dominated by big-time politicking.
Political parties, whether in the ruling party or the opposition, have been knee-deep in lobbying, wrangling, horse-trading and even protests.
It is easy for those outside of party politics to talk about change and rejuvenation but the reality on the ground is so different.
Political renewal is really easier said than done. And it was not only the ruling parties that saw open protests over seats and candidates.
The DAP had a dilemma on its hands in Penang when the entry of secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in the state set off a domino effect of people having to make way but it was eventually resolved with some sacrifices down the line.
But Perlis probably took the cake in terms of drama. The situation in the northern state would have become a crisis had Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim not been reinstated in his state seat.
A renewal rate of about 30 per cent every election seems to be the acceptable threshold for all parties. Anything more than that tends to test the ground and bring out the worst in people. Perhaps the most interesting thing was the fewer than expected changes among the Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers.
Months before the election date was announced, even Umno members had agreed there was a need for many Mentris Besar to move on.
For most of them, it was more a case of overstaying and the need for younger faces with newer ideas to move up. Politics is about hope and change for the better and it is a challenge to stay relevant beyond three terms. But changing leaders at that level has been the mother of all headaches for the Prime Minister as proven by the Perlis incident.
At the end of the day, it looks like only two states will have new faces at the top and minus the usual withdrawal syndromes or drama at that.
Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was more than willing to move on to a level that would enhance his new status as head honcho of Gerakan. Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud's departure in Sarawak had been long predicted but it was still a matter of some surprise when he finally did it. His going will really spell the end of an era in Sarawak politics.
Perhaps the most surprising was the change that did not take place in Johor.
There had been so much speculation over Datuk Ghani Othman moving to a federal seat that some couldn't believe it when news leaked out that he was staying on as Johor Mentri Besar. After three terms, he had become somewhat of a tired face and there was a younger candidate in the wings.
In fact, it must have been a horrible time for Ghani the last one month. Everywhere he went, reporters were asking whether he was going or staying. But he was remarkably cool about it and has been quite the gentleman politician, not once losing his temper.
There had been rumblings about Ghani's commitment to the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) scheme.
This is the Prime Minister's pet project and he has a lot riding on it. Moreover, the project bears the sovereign's name.
But Ghani, his advocates said, began shifting to a higher gear on the IDR in the last six months or so, and this may have saved his political life. The Prime Minister was being pragmatic when he decided to stick with Ghani because bringing in a new man would mean several months of adjustment and he cannot stomach any more delays on the scheme.
The remarkable thing about Johor was that throughout all this brouhaha over the Mentri Besar post, the ruling party was still assured of another sweeping win. The campaign proper began after 11am.
Penang and Kelantan remain the two most interesting states to watch because the contests there are not so one-sided or predictable to the extent that people would prefer to watch Astro.
Penang, in particular Penang Island, would be where arguments about how unhappy the Chinese have been over a variety of issues will be put to the test. This is also where DAP's rising son Lim Guan Eng hopes to reinforce his standing as the rightful leader of the DAP.
In Kelantan, Umno is making its most serious bid for power in years and has even identified its potential Mentri Besar in the event of victory. Pas will fight Umno tooth and nail to hold on to the state.
PKR is going into the elections contesting the largest number of seats among the opposition parties.
They have good and promising faces but I do not see them making a dent in Umno's popularity, said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.
But he added that the party under greatest siege is MIC and party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu is going into an election where the Indian ground is in turmoil. There's a great deal at stake for the party, and its president.
The Star/ANN
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