Yoursay Tanjung Piai A Watershed Or Waterloo For Harapan

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YOURSAY | ‘People didn't really vote for BN. People just want Harapan to know their disappointment.’Yoursay: Chin Tong: Tg Piai is start of Harapan's end... or a new beginningVijay47: It must not be ignored that the seat of Tanjung Piai was given away by the voters, not won by MCA
Yet I will not say that the rout spells the end of Pakatan Harapan, but whether it arises from this savage defeat or whether it will be buried depends on the leadership of the parties making up the coalition
These leaders must focus on only one objective and that is the well-being of the nation. They must be guided by integrity, a commodity greatly in short supply of late
Their conduct in Tanjung Piai was far worse than Umno, shamelessly indulging in the same manner of voter rewards that Umno was previously criticised for
The Harapan leaders must speak up, though not necessarily in public
This brings us to the hemlock in the chalice. It boggles the mind that Bersatu, the party with the least seats, calls all the shots, with the others meekly wrapped around its little finger
Bersatu must be told in no uncertain terms that they either toe the line for the greater good, or take a flying leap with its leader in tow
Which brings us to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He will never again regain the people’s trust, and any respect accorded to him will be due to his age rather than his accomplishments
He has made his bed, now he must lay on it; he could have been a Mandela, but he chose to be a Mugabe. It is your call, Harapan - madu (honey) or racun (poison)
Proarte: The worrying thing is, DAP leaders ditched their espoused principles and went along with Mahathir's racist, divisive agenda. It was Mahathirism and its corrosive effects on good governance which allowed for the excesses of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and turned him into a kleptocrat
After Harapan won the elections, Mahathir laughed off the election manifesto, saying unrealistic promises were made because they did not think they were going to win the elections
Mahathir has been doing his utmost to destabilise Harapan, including being equivocal about the two- year period of transition of power to PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim
It was made clear to the rakyat in the last elections that Mahathir was to be the interim PM because Anwar was in jail following a show trial which Najib engineered using the same Mahathir sodomy script
From his actions, it is clear Mahathir has not reformed and still believes in the notion of Malay supremacy and 'privilege', and the non-Malay citizens are generously tolerated. This immoral and mendacious philosophy has informed Malaysian politics for far too long. It has resulted in the Malay elite ruling on entitlement and privileges
Because of Malay 'ownership' of Malaysia, the non-Malays owe Malays 'tribute' by accepting the unjust privileges. Clearly, this modus operandi promotes corruption, immorality, racism, religious bigotry and a deliberately dumbed-down education system
The result is a debilitated nation which can never achieve its full potential, and in fact, will head towards a failed state if no corrective measures are taken
David Dass: The people now know the worst of the previous administration, and yet they are prepared to vote them in. Some of their leaders are faced with scores of criminal charges and yet they support them
Such is their anger, disappointment and disillusionment with Harapan
GE14 was supposed to bring in change. It started with a bang. The Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) and Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) had their hearings and produced their reports. They were handed to the prime minister, and then shelved
Oppressive laws pledged to be repealed are not only still in the statute books, but are being used to persecute people
Radical reform of the educational system has produced very little; in fact creating issues like the non-recognition of the United Examination Certificate (UEC), the introduction of khat, the number of Matriculation places, the threat to do away with vernacular schools
The Malay Dignity Congress and the stupid things that were said there conveyed the impression that there is never going to be serious reform
Just a Malaysian: The most important thing is to stick to what Harapan stands for and what is right for the country. Mahathir played politics, tried to waver on all fronts, pleasing no one, but angering all
We need a statesman with a sole purpose to clean up the country and realign its core values so that the country can move forward. Mahathir is passe. He is so 90s in his thinking. It’s time for him to retire
Hang Babeuf: People must now look at the situation with illusion-free clarity
The net effect of GE14 has been, first, to drive the unreformed rump Umno and PAS into an alliance,largely on PAS’ terms; and, worse, to empower Bersatu, operating under Harapan’s flag and auspices, to implement Bersatu/Umno/PAS policies for the promotion of their common stance of "Malays on top, now and forever - that, with Islam’s imprimatur, is Malaysia, like it or leave it!”So what to do? An alternative and genuine opposition must be created from the diverse “civil society forces” that impelled Harapan to victory in 2018
This is the challenge that now faces Bersih, G25 and everybody else of similar inclination, who must now begin, urgently, to create and install a different kind of national government
Have no illusions: It will be a long, hard road
Kangkung: DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong talks about Umno-PAS racial narratives, while conveniently leaving out Bersatu's racial narrative
One of the reasons why non-Malay voters are upset is DAP turning into Bersatu’s doormat, like what MCA is to Umno. DAP has to be daring, as in the past, to call a spade a spade
Quigonbond: It’s good to be humble and acknowledge that a lot needs to be done. But no one is really addressing the elephant in the room. This is not a vote for Muafakat Nasional (the Umno-PAS alliance). It is a protest vote
The danger of a protest vote is that when people are upset, they don't think what bringing back the klepto-theocrats will do to the nation
Hence, Harapan, and especially Bersatu, should be under no illusion that they can slap paint over their flaws and all will still be well for GE15
Don't spin it as Umno-PAS' divisive narrative, when the media is a lot freer today than ever. It is precisely because the media is free that the nonsense spewing from Bersatu is known far and wide, and rightfully condemned
Apollos: Liew says the Harapan leadership will conduct a nationwide tour to listen to the views of the grassroots to chart its future direction
We have spoken for the past 18 months. Apparently, it has fallen on deaf ears. What will that this nationwide tour be any different? Putting on a facade that Harapan is listening
We can't hear what you are preaching until we see what you are doing
Jaded: The fact that Liew needs to undertake a "study" of the grassroots to find out why they lost is worrying. It reflects the government, so enamoured with their own narrative, they have stopped listening
BN once ruled from an ivory tower. It seems the same fate has befallen the Harapan government now
Sure, Harapan is new, but it's almost two years now and aside from the criminal cases against Najib, there hasn't been much changes. Mahathir is still spewing racial rhetoric. DAP was silent as a mouse when the race superiority issue was drummed up
Headhunter: There is no need to go for a nationwide roadshow. It's just a waste of time. The rakyat has spoken repeatedly, but no one was listening. Just read Malaysiakini subscribers' comments and you should get the drift
The question is, do you in Harapan dare to take the bull by the horns and do what is necessary or still continue with your one-man show
Anonymous_b5fa4795: What Liew said is very sensible. We need an inclusive narrative to move forward. Harapan cannot compete with Umno-PAS by veering further to the right
What they should do is to hold on to the middle ground, and discipline their leaders and members to move away from playing on racial sentiment, and focus on governance
Anonymous_1566891822322.03441566891350406: As expected, many took the opportunity to express their 'wisdom' on how to run a government
I agree that Mahathir should go. I agree that some nitwit ministers need to go. But give credit where credit is due. DAP ministers are the most hardworking and sincere of the lot. Do not count chickens with the ducks
Skippy: Keep on talking... but realise that you're wasting your time, and ours
You know what's wrong. You just don't have the courage to say it. You allow a mosquito party to ride roughshod over us, and all of you kept quiet. So, keep talking… it won't help you unless you decide to walk your talk
XED: Umno and PAS seized the opportunity to decide on the agenda, one based on race and religion
Instead of Harapan changing the agenda to one of universal values, respect for the rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims, respect for human rights, respect for minorities, respect for women, a stronger position against corruption, cronyism, and mismanagement, an emphasis on needs-based policies to fight poverty, and the promotion of meritocracy, it tried to outdo Umno and PAS at the latter’s game
Some of Harapan’s outrageous moves: protecting Zakir Naik; introducing khat in government schools; dragging its feet on recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC); trying to pass a bill in the Selangor state assembly for the unilateral conversion to Islam of children by a parent; supporting the Malay Dignity Congress; dragging its feet on correcting the injustices suffered by the people of Sabah and Sarawak; keeping and using unjust laws
As has been said, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Harapan carries much of Umno’s DNA. Here’s the lesson from Tanjung Piai - don’t take your support for granted
Anonymous_152818822: Indeed, Harapan must pursue relentlessly its manifesto and its principles. No compromise
If at the end of the five years, the rakyat decided to vote against Harapan for sticking to your principles, at least you bow out with grace, honour and dignity. If they vote for Harapan at the end of five years, you got it right,But to play politics and betray the very principles that got you voted in during GE14, is sad, disheartening and downright disgusting. - Mkini

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