KUALA LUMPUR: The decision by former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon to accept a job under the Penang DAP Government should not be taken lightly by Barisan Nasional if it wishes to survive and regain the people’s support, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“BN does have the support of the people. They are surviving and currently forming the federal government. Oh … you mean to get back the support of 2/3 majority. Well, FAT CHANCE!”
The former prime minister said in a letter that Lee might be motivated by a genuine desire to work for the good of Penang and Malaysia but, “it may also be because loyalty to Barisan is now based on personal gains or fear of punishment of some kind.”
“Really?! That must be the revelation of the century!”
He said this was especially so among the leaders and there was no genuine love for the objectives said to be the raison d’etre for the coalition’s existence.
“The BN IS the federal government now. There better be some ‘genuine love’ flowing somewhere. If not, not only BN doesn’t deserve the 2/3 majority, it might not deserve the simple majority too.”
Dr Mahathir added that if the Opposition were able to provide a good government, look after the interests of ordinary people, and lead a Spartan lifestyle, those who voted for them out of anger against Barisan would transfer their loyalty permanently to them.
“’Good government’,’ look after the interest of ordinary people’ are exactly reasons why we choose anybody to sit in the government, be it BN or PR, DAP or PAS. If loyalty to somebody that serves them well would lead to a better life for the Malaysians, it’s not a bad thing.”
When that happens, he said Umno and the other component parties could forget about recapturing the states they lost to the Opposition and their turncoat members would remain turncoats who would actively work against Barisan in the next elections.
“The BN didn’t lose the states. The states are not there for anybody to take or ‘capture’. They lost in the elections of the states. All politicians are fighting for the chance to serve the people, and not to control the people. Moreover, you can’t lose something that doesn’t belong to you.”
“To lose once is bad but to lose a second time is an unmitigated disaster,” he said.
“Again, if it’s for a better Malaysia, that’s not a bad thing.”
Dr Mahathir said unless drastic action was taken now there would not be enough time to rehabilitate Umno and all the other component parties for the next general election.
“The BN is the current federal government. As the government, and not the Opposition, starting from right this instance, you have ample time to do good works and change the perception of the people and earn points for the next election.”
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“Who the hell are you anyway?”
“Just a hopeful Malaysian, Sir!”
1 comment:
lately when i read such article, i have to think in depth of what was the reporter trying to say there. was it true or to manipulate the public's mindset
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