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Tanjung Piai’s hard lessons for Mahathir’s leadership

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JD Lovrenciear sums up what the prime minister and Pakatan Harapan have to learn from this by-election loss.

PH’s overwhelming defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election sends a message that is too loud for Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government to dismiss.

PH leaders must stop moaning in the face of this humiliation. Neither must they downplay the thundering message sent to them.

Despite knowing all about the 1MDB debacle, the people were prepared to give Najib a thumping victory.

Despite giving PH a chance to undo the sins of the previous regime, they have punished that same PH severely. Even Mahathir’s presence did not resurrect PH’s lost hope.

Stop all the patchwork excuses and coming up with more promises. It has got to be now or never and this must slice quickly through the thickening walls of the PH’s power barricades.

First, fulfil your 2018 general election manifesto promises in quick succession. You have already lost over a year.

Second, even if you have done something, people are not seeing it. People are not feeling it. And that sums up PH’s emphatic defeat in Tg Piai. Your communications strategy and capability is totally flawed.

Third, stop using the 1MDB as a smokescreen by harping on the debts.

Fourth, stop the racism with firmness. Talk ‘Malaysian’; don’t rehash the Malay Dilemma. And plug the religious extremism in our midst like what Indonesia is doing. You cannot keep playing this game.

Fifth, get the economy back into shape so that the business communities get to see people able to spend with ease.

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Sixth, all your energies seem to be geared towards opaque restructuring of government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies. Be more transparent and accountable to the rakyat who are the ultimate stakeholders.

Seventh, halt your warring stances with countries around the world. Focus on the ground realities affecting citizens.

Eighth, your war on corruption needs more than the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police action and courtroom dramas. Unless and until you show proof that you are colour and power-blind in this war, nobody is going to forgive you when the next general election comes.

Ninth, people are getting tired of the Mahathir miracle. They want a people’s leader and that has to be Anwar Ibrahim. Anything else will shatter PH into hope-less, fragmented parties leaving BN on the cusp of returning to power.

Finally, acknowledge you are running out of time with your various ministries fighting unwanted fires like the blanket smoking ban on eateries and the policy to change school shoes.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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Gursharan Singh
Gursharan Singh
5 Jan 2020 11.16am

PH’s overwhelming defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election sends a message that is too loud for Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government to dismiss.
BUT WILL THE LESSONS BE LEARN IN THE NEXT BY ELECTION AS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE DISSATISFACTION SINCE THEM DUE TO VARIANCES BETWEEN WHAT IS SAID AND WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRACTICED BY LEADERSHIP?

remo
remo
26 Nov 2019 11.27am

People are fedup with mahathir who invoke race and religious issue while the grassroot rakyat are not racist it is Mahathir and his cohort are playing racist cards, nothing in manifesto actually implemented for minorities.Education system is racist status quo, flimsy LTTE charges , Zakir Naik being (like an) “advisor” of govt, Mahathir is worst than Najib who pat little more attention for minorities.Direct nego of govt contract like BN times, PPBN given GLC position as BN style.PH is just like BN2.0.

Nair
Nair
18 Nov 2019 10.52am

Its still surprising as to why Tun has not resigned after the Political Nightmare loss of his hand picked Party Bersatu candidate for Tg Piai. This is in spite of PM lecturing at Tg Piai
3 days before voting day plus writing letters to the voters there.
Even the Malays have rejected his letter I wounder what the Chinese & Indians did to Tuns Letter.

Unfortunately Malaysian leaders love to poke their nose into other countries problem and ask their leaders to resign. What a shame……..

Gursharan Singh
Gursharan Singh
18 Nov 2019 10.12am

It may be wrong to blame any one or some leaders and make them scapegoats for the by-election loss in Tg Piai.
The fault may be the policies of ruling party and its leadership as perceived by rakyat to be biased and not fair to all citizens especially their silence on some sensitive issues.
Just as Credit for victories is claimed by top Leadership Blame for Losses should also be Admitted by top Leadership.
Unfortunately WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF SOME IN POSITIONS OF POWER WHICH MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL AGENDA SUPERSEDING WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE RAKYAT AND COUNTRY.
POLITICIANS give PRIORITY TO OWN INTEREST whereas STATESMEN give PRIORITY TO COUNTRY.

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