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Kuala Lumpur, March 6 – In probably Malaysia’s most livable place, PPP’s M. Kayveas is finding out one of the harsh truths of Election 2008: The biggest enemy lies within.
Reports show that the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department has not been able to call on the support of his colleagues from the Gerakan and the Malaysian Chinese Association to campaign for him in Taiping. And if things don’t improve dramatically within the next 48 hours, the combative politician could end up the biggest casualty of Election 2008. The slew of problems he is facing in defending his seat is a micro-universe of what has been ailing the Barisan Nasional in the polls. Like the ruling coalition, some of Kayveas’ problems have been self-inflicted. He has managed to rub the major component parties of the Barisan National the wrong way over the past 12 months. He clashed with Malaysian Indian Congress, Gerakan, MCA and finally riled Umno with his public demands for additional seats. Little wonder then that these parties did not hit the ground running when he was given the chance to defend the seat he won by just over 2,000 votes. Also, the manner in which the Taiping seat was offered to PPP did not go down well with Gerakan, the party which used to own this constituency. In 2004, the seat was given to Kayveas on the understanding that he would return it to Gerakan at the next election. That did not happen last month and in an immediate sign of displeasure, the Gerakan Youth machinery in the constituency disbanded its operations. To be sure, Kayveas is not the only BN candidate being undermined or sabotaged by his own coalition colleagues. Anecdotal evidence shows that the cases of internal sabotage by incumbents dropped or those not given seats have reached serious proportions. Barisan Nasional politicians say that infighting and marginalisation of races have overtaken cost of living and crime as the two main challenges facing the ruling coalition since Nomination Day. And while it used to be considered an Umno problem, this disease has spread to MCA, Gerakan and other parties in the BN stable. Part of the reason is the major changes made to the list of candidates by Umno, MCA and Gerakan. For example, two-term incumbent for the Bukit Tambun seat in Penang, Lai Chew Hock, was displeased at being dropped in favour of Huan Cheng Guan. The latter has since complained of lack of cooperation from Lai. Dr Mansor Mohd of University Utara Malaysia and a political commentator, said that compared with past elections there has been an upsurge in episodes of infighting and sabotage. He puts it down to the culture of materialism that courses through the veins of many politicians. “Many people who were offering themselves up as candidates were doing so for material gain. So when they were dropped or not even selected as a candidate, they don’t view this as just a setback but rather the end of an opportunity for financial gain and stature.’’ He added that because of the patronage style of politics, even supporters took a zero sum approach to the selection of election candidates. “If the person who they have been counting on is not selected, they cannot enjoy the gravy train. That is why they refuse to put up flags, close operations’ rooms and even vote for the Opposition,” he said. In Election 2008, only the intervention of the Prime Minister and his deputy have averted near-disaster revolts on the ground by disappointed warlords and their supporters in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. In these states, the biggest challenge is the enemy within.- THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
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After so many years under BN, Taiping is still known as t a place for retiree. What development the BN is shouting about. Eeverone is gila kuasa but in actual fact they are all under UMNO.
Welcome YB Nga Kor Ming to Taiping. Congratulation to Taiping folks for having one of DAP most promising stars as your MP.