A layman’s analysis of the Tg Piai by-election

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 17 Nov 2019 1:44PM · 5 Comments

THE Tg Piai by-election is done and dusted. Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Wee Jeck Seng of MCA won with a resounding 15,000-plus majority. Congratulations are in order.

As expected, the politicians have started their “stories” with the winners gloating and implying that this result signifies a change while the losers are apologising and coming out with calls for reviewing policies and performance.

From a realistic point of view, this win really does not signify a changing of power or anything else for that matter. It doesn’t really mean that the electorate are sending a message to the ruling government. 

It doesn’t have to mean that the people are dissatisfied with Pakatan Harapan. 

Then again, maybe it does. In reality though, it only means that one seat was lost and that is not enough to even put a dent in the present government makeup.

Statistically, MCA can now trumpet the fact that it has increased its representation in Parliament by a 100%. 

Statistics that seem to be very impressive but that’s the thing about statistics.

You can twist it to make a mountain out of a molehill. Truth of the matter is that MCA still only has two seats in Parliament, no matter how you want to twist it. 

Truth is MCA has really lost its relevance with only two seats. I really do not think this marks a revival of their fortunes.

It cannot be denied that many people are seemingly fed up with the lack of action of the government in implementing new policies.

Here’s the thing though, change doesn’t happen overnight. The fact of the matter is that politics is not just about doing what is right for the country but balancing and managing the wants of the populace. 

We have to admit that at the moment, and in fact at any moment in time, most policies will only make at the most half of the populace happy.

There will always be detractors, especially those that only look after what is in it for themselves and refuse to look at the bigger picture. 

Throw in the bleating of race and religion to anything and everything and you only compound the mess. This is the conundrum that the government has to deal with. 

Many are also fed up by how long the 1Malaysia Development Berhad and SRC International Sdn Bhd trials are taking. There is so much dissatisfaction. 

But the issue is this. Court cases have to take their due process and must be done without any interference on the part of the executive.

Realistically speaking, the court cases are going to take years to complete taking into account the appeals process in the higher courts. 

For arguments sake, if the defendants are found guilty and sentenced to jail. If there is no stay of execution pending an appeal, there would then be insinuations of interference by the executive. 

It’s really a no-win situation.

So while it may be a wake-up call for Pakatan Harapan to get down to the grind and do more, it is also time for all of us to realise that we cannot expect miracles to happen overnight. 

We need to realise that many things have been institutionalised over the years that even trying to effect change is difficult. 

We need to understand that change is a process. And like in any process, the critical factor is time. 

Post-GE14, everyone seems to have become an expert. A financial expert, a transport expert, a local housing expert. You name it, there is an expert out there, predominantly on social media.

There is nothing that our ministers can do that seems to satisfy anyone. We always choose to focus on the negative and disregard the positives. 

We choose to blame all the ills that the country is facing today on the government of the day, forgetting that it took years for us to get to this stage and we remained silent all along.

While change takes time, I also long for another change. 

I long for the day when candidates really and truly work for the people. 

I want a candidate that will debate on issues as they see them rather than taking a stand along party lines. 

I want a candidate that irrespective of their party allegiance will do what is right for their constituents and ultimately, what is right for the country. 

I want a candidate that will tell me what they are going to do rather than simply badmouth their opponents and their parties.

And perhaps this is what happened in Tg Piai. Perhaps our voters have become more mature. 

Perhaps they are voting for the candidate that will serve them better rather than based on the flag they are flying.

And that is a good thing for democracy. That is a good thing for the country. 

Vote for the person that will serve you best, regardless of the flag they fly or their party affiliation. 

Perhaps it is also time that our politicians themselves realise that they should do their best for the electorate that they are supposed to serve. 

Rather than being too busy playing politics and serving the party that they represent and indirectly serving themselves as well. – November 17, 2019.

* Dharm Navaratnam reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • The results after the by elections just show how much a nonsenses can be expected from politicians of both political divide. They comes a calling wth their statements and very clearly as fake as they will be. The Tanjong Piai election is not for UmnoPAS BN or PH to shout on their win or apologetic and lamenting their loss. It has no relevance to the already given status as opposition or government of the day. BUT it is indeed that a wonderful act by rakyat and knowingly that their collective strength can make or break any political party that do not take them seriously as voters. The 3Rs narratives have shown that it can turn around to bite back the gang of retard politicians who still dwell in old school of thoughts in the political game. Unbelievable that PH vocal in cause against the previous regime that they have kicked out are now actually singing and acting in similar approach to the detestations of rakyat. The woes of economic well being are felt in every strat of the society but are not a priority by the ruling PH in their battle cries during this by elections. Angry and hungary the rakyat maybe but not the dwindling will to ensure that they will have the last say to determine who it shall be . It is also a very affirmative actions telling the PM to get lost !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. He did nothing for the rakayt except miseries. Getting rid of the kleptocrat was done with purpose of telling who is the boss.He has deviously used PH as a vehicle to achieve his revenge and to accomplish his fulfillment that he has yet to complete in his previous 22 years as PM. He is not an administrator but for self serving agenda. The rakyat should be firmly entrenched in this line of sight that a change of a new PM is a must . No two way about it.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Malaysia ends up in such an UNHEALTHY state is because many of our politicians are "life losers" who take refuge in politics as a last resort for "skim cepat kaya".

    Compare their academic and professional qualifications with those in the private sectors and one realize what garbage they are.

    Because many are "otak kosong", lowly educated, private sectors rejects, fakes, etc, they are UNABLE to come up with viable policies (even so stupid as to unable to copy other nations' polices) that they had to resort to race and religion to remain relevant and shore up support.

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • For example .................. our imbecile Minister of Education.

      Instead of collaboration with Arab countries, he should look towards US, Europe, Japan and even China for science and high technology education. Its oxymoron to associate the modern Arab world with science and technology.

      Not surprising a high proportion of our graduates are unemployed or unemployable, especially his own race.

      Malays should reject him, irrespective being of the same race!!! He only cause more suffering (eg. make them instant and life long debtors due to inability to pay off PTPTN loans). !!!!

      Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Tg. Piai was like a Malaysian referendum result on the two major outstanding problems which GE 14 did not settle or solve. 1. Was connected with the 2Rs. PAS and their arch enemy UMNO, united and tried to force the issue with actions and statements to rock the nation's stability. PH too allowed it to happen. 2. Malaysian citizens of all races and religions were facing a no win situation trying to wonder how we got ourselves in such a position.Tg. Piai ressult is the correct Malaysian answer to all that. I hope the politicians will learn.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • The analysis is very simple: furstly the Malays are not happy for decreased BR1M. Secondly, the non-Malays are not happy with the way Bersatu handles ZN, UEC, Enforced Disappearances, WBH case, Khat and Indira.

    It is the biggest joke that PH still go ahead and fielded a Bersatu man. In actual fact, any PKR, Amanah or DAP man will have a greater chance of winning. Madey! Madey! You are just too stuck up believing that Malays still need your tongkat and you totally ignore the feelings of the non-Malays

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply