PR’s win sent “a clear and unmistakable signal” that Sarawak and Sabah were no longer BN’s “fixed deposit” states that could save them and ensure that they hold on to federal power. Umno and Putrajaya cannot continue to take the people of Sarawak and Sabah for granted in disregarding their legitimate grievances and discontents.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) scored a “significant” victory in the Sibu by-election but will have to climb several more steps to be within reach of Putrajaya in the next general election (GE), said political analyst Dr Ooi Kee Beng.
He said PR, which needed an opportunity to evaluate its agenda for change and its acceptance in Sabah and Sarawak, won with a 398-vote majority in Sibu against a backdrop of “demoralising events” faced by component party PKR, which is still recovering from its defeat in Hulu Selangor.
“The majority in Sibu was extremely slim but a win is still a win. They (PR) needed that win as an encouragement,” Ooi told The Edge Financial Daily on Tuesday, May 18.
According to the political analyst, the victory was significant as PR was not the incumbent for the seat and had to face a strong Barisan Nasional (BN) campaigning machinery which was enhanced by the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and its pledges to the voters.
“When push came to shove, they (PR) still managed to stand their ground,” said Ooi. DAP showed that support for the four-decade-old party was not limited to the grassroots but also came from urban voters who are educated and informed about political developments, he said.
Although PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been the pillar for PR post-March 8, 2008, Ooi pointed out that PR component parties have begun to show maturity as a coalition, with a strong working relationship shaping up between DAP and PAS in the by-election campaigning.
Ooi said that while BN could be discouraged over the Sibu results, in the medium term, BN and PR would likely be locked in a “battle of attrition” between now and the next GE. The political landscape in Sarawak might be the litmus test for the next GE as the state is expected to hold state polls latest within a year.
“If there is smooth power transition in Sarawak and the people are happy with the new chief minister and his policies, then PR will have a lot of catching up to do,” said Ooi, a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS).
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the victory in the Sibu parliamentary by-election had “triple far-reaching implications” and most importantly sparked new hopes for a PR federal government in the next GE.
He said PR’s win sent “a clear and unmistakable signal” that Sarawak and Sabah were no longer BN’s “fixed deposit” states that could save them and ensure that they hold on to federal power.
“Umno and Putrajaya cannot continue to take the people of Sarawak and Sabah for granted in disregarding their legitimate grievances and discontents,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to Lim, the result had steadied parliamentary democracy and strengthened PR’s parliamentary position to ensure BN does not “steal back” its previous unbroken two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The by-election demonstrated the growing maturity and effectiveness of the opposition’s political alliance, added Lim, who is the Ipoh Timur MP. He noted that it was the first foray for Sarawak PR comprising PKR, PAS, DAP and SNAP.
“There was a swing of some 6.4% of the Chinese voters from 63% to 69.4%. There would have been a greater swing to probably 75% if not for the Najib factor,” Lim noted. He added there was also a 2.7% increase in Malay/Melanau votes for DAP’s candidate Wong Ho Leng as compared to 2008.
On another point, DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said PR would have to “work harder” after the Sibu by-election to fulfil the wishes of the people.
He said a major factor in Sibu was the unhappiness of the people about “greed, corruption and decadence”. There were “some leaders”, Tan said, who built mansions although their legitimate income was not compatible with their “conspicuous display” of wealth.
“The special feature of Sibu is flooding, especially during high tides. The Rejang River is getting shallower because of silting due to upstream development and logging,” said the seventh term Kepong MP.
He questioned whether the flooding was due to massive illegal logging of yesteryears and whether efforts were made to mitigate the flooding.
Tan noted that PR must study all grievances of the people and try to help in wherever it could to push towards a change that people aspire to.
-The Edge
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) scored a “significant” victory in the Sibu by-election but will have to climb several more steps to be within reach of Putrajaya in the next general election (GE), said political analyst Dr Ooi Kee Beng.
He said PR, which needed an opportunity to evaluate its agenda for change and its acceptance in Sabah and Sarawak, won with a 398-vote majority in Sibu against a backdrop of “demoralising events” faced by component party PKR, which is still recovering from its defeat in Hulu Selangor.“The majority in Sibu was extremely slim but a win is still a win. They (PR) needed that win as an encouragement,” Ooi told The Edge Financial Daily on Tuesday, May 18.
According to the political analyst, the victory was significant as PR was not the incumbent for the seat and had to face a strong Barisan Nasional (BN) campaigning machinery which was enhanced by the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and its pledges to the voters.
“When push came to shove, they (PR) still managed to stand their ground,” said Ooi. DAP showed that support for the four-decade-old party was not limited to the grassroots but also came from urban voters who are educated and informed about political developments, he said.
Although PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been the pillar for PR post-March 8, 2008, Ooi pointed out that PR component parties have begun to show maturity as a coalition, with a strong working relationship shaping up between DAP and PAS in the by-election campaigning.
Ooi said that while BN could be discouraged over the Sibu results, in the medium term, BN and PR would likely be locked in a “battle of attrition” between now and the next GE. The political landscape in Sarawak might be the litmus test for the next GE as the state is expected to hold state polls latest within a year.
“If there is smooth power transition in Sarawak and the people are happy with the new chief minister and his policies, then PR will have a lot of catching up to do,” said Ooi, a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS).
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the victory in the Sibu parliamentary by-election had “triple far-reaching implications” and most importantly sparked new hopes for a PR federal government in the next GE.
He said PR’s win sent “a clear and unmistakable signal” that Sarawak and Sabah were no longer BN’s “fixed deposit” states that could save them and ensure that they hold on to federal power.
“Umno and Putrajaya cannot continue to take the people of Sarawak and Sabah for granted in disregarding their legitimate grievances and discontents,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to Lim, the result had steadied parliamentary democracy and strengthened PR’s parliamentary position to ensure BN does not “steal back” its previous unbroken two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The by-election demonstrated the growing maturity and effectiveness of the opposition’s political alliance, added Lim, who is the Ipoh Timur MP. He noted that it was the first foray for Sarawak PR comprising PKR, PAS, DAP and SNAP.
“There was a swing of some 6.4% of the Chinese voters from 63% to 69.4%. There would have been a greater swing to probably 75% if not for the Najib factor,” Lim noted. He added there was also a 2.7% increase in Malay/Melanau votes for DAP’s candidate Wong Ho Leng as compared to 2008.
On another point, DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said PR would have to “work harder” after the Sibu by-election to fulfil the wishes of the people.
He said a major factor in Sibu was the unhappiness of the people about “greed, corruption and decadence”. There were “some leaders”, Tan said, who built mansions although their legitimate income was not compatible with their “conspicuous display” of wealth.
“The special feature of Sibu is flooding, especially during high tides. The Rejang River is getting shallower because of silting due to upstream development and logging,” said the seventh term Kepong MP.
He questioned whether the flooding was due to massive illegal logging of yesteryears and whether efforts were made to mitigate the flooding.
Tan noted that PR must study all grievances of the people and try to help in wherever it could to push towards a change that people aspire to.
-The Edge
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