Is this the strongest opposition pack in recent times?
Jason Chin
The gas pedal is at full throttle presently, as the 14th general elections loom closer. Compared to GE13, Barisan Nasional appears stronger in unity this time as there were numerous internal squabbles in 2013. In comparison, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) led by the late Karpal Singh, Tok Guru Nik Aziz and Lim Kit Siang, is Pakatan Harapan stronger with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Lim Kit Siang?
Waves are definitely felt in every opposition gathering. Although reports suggest that turnouts presently are huge, the numbers reported is significantly less compared to 2013. It was reported that 3,000 people turned up in Muar when Mahathir and Muhyiddin announced that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman would be the opposition candidate for the area. Back in 2013, online media reported that 15,000 people attended the opposition gathering in Muar.
In Johor so far, we read opposition leaders boasting crowd turnouts ranging from 5,000 – 15,000. Prior to GE13, 10,000 people attended their rally in Tanjung Piai, more than 10,000 people were present in a PKR rally outside Larkin Stadium, and close to 70,000 thronged the opposition rally near Gelang Patah. In Mahathir’s home state Kedah, DAP leaders claim that there was a turnout of 15,000 at their recent rally. In 2013, when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present at the rally in Kedah, more than 20,000 people were present.
Although crowd turnout does not necessarily guarantee the exact number of votes, the numbers this time is lower than it was in 2013. Maybe the most glaring factor for the relatively lesser turnout is the absence of PAS. In terms of character and personality, Mahathir does not come close to Almarhum Nik Aziz. During an opposition gathering in Johor previously, Nik Aziz said:
“Orang Melayu, orang Cina, orang India semua Tuhan yang buat. Semua manusia adalah hamba Allah.”
Mahathir in contrast spews hatred. Over the past 6 months, Mahathir insulted plus sized individuals, spoke negatively about the Bugis race, ridiculed Sabahans and Sarawakians, insinuated that the Malays are lazy and always dependent, and uttered a disparaging word to the ethnic Indians.
In 1998, the most violent and physical street rally took place when Mahathir was the sitting prime minister. About a decade ago, Mahathir was spray attacked with an obnoxious gas spray in Kota Bahru airport, leaving him choked momentarily. No sitting or ex prime minister in the history of Malaysia received such receptions. This pseudo hero-worshipping of Mahathir is just a smoke screen, for the upcoming polls.
While some may say this is the opposition’s best chance at snatching Putrajaya, many of us believe the best opportunity was GE13, when they were the strongest. There are too many negatives about Mahathir and Harapan compared to righteous yesteryear statesmen of Pakatan Rakyat in 2013.
