HAVING worked on more than 20 by-elections in 10 years, I have never seen results like last night’s in Tg Piai, where a major party loses in all the voting stations and almost all the voting streams.

Not even in Barisan Nasional’s worst years has there been such a result.

One reason could be that Tg Piai folk hated Pakatan Harapan so much they didn’t care their votes could facilitate the rise of PAS and return of Najib Razak. Or could it be that Malaysians are no longer afraid to let their government know what they think of it?

I like to think it’s the second reason. Why?

At every ceramah and walkaround, Pakatan leaders were greeted like old friends. People would go up to them to wish them well and have their photos taken with them. Chinese voters, in particular, filled the chairs night after night to listen to their political speeches.

Had it been hatred they felt, Malaysians wouldn’t have bothered to come out. Just ask any MCA candidate who has stood for election in Seputeh in the last 20 years.

And though some voters have called them “liars” for failing to fulfil their election promises, many said they have nothing against PH leaders and that they genuinely like them because they were clean. 

But liking alone, they said, is not enough to stop them from voting BN. Those interviewed believe that PH has failed to live up to expectations and its promises.

The Malays, who were hoping for better lives, have seen their subsidies cut if they were fishermen and farmers. And those in the B40 group have seen even more cuts to cash handouts such as Bantuan Sara Hidup. Yet others complain that their children are still saddled with PTPTN loans.

The Chinese, who were hoping for fairer treatment, have seen the impasse over UEC recognition and university matriculation quotas. They have also witnessed funding cuts for UTAR, an institution that is dear to them.

So it is little wonder that even those who confess to being PH supporters have voted for BN yesterday.

In truth, the former government of Malaysia had seldom felt the need to offer the people an election manifesto, much less election promises it was obliged to keep.

But PH had one. And it defeated BN largely because of that.

PH promised a New Malaysia based on justice, equality and greater freedoms. It promised Malaysians a better life.

PH has begun delivering on its reform promises by ensuring that those who break the law are brought to justice. It has also tightened laws and clamped down on corruption.

Amid this, it has also allowed greater freedom of expression. So much so that Malaysians no longer fear their government, whether on social media or at the ballot box.

Interestingly, these changes have been acknowledged by many voters.

But these cannot fill bellies or pay the rent, some voters said.

As such, PH needs to think about how it can do more to fulfil its election promises beyond the reforms.  

A promise is a promise, a deal is a deal. That is what a New Malaysia is all about. – November 17, 2019.