May Their Good Intention Lead Down That Path -- to HELL:(
YL has noted some worrying signs, and when I read this piece, which was independently written by fellow PKR comrade, and a published Scribe I respect from several years back (and it was my privilege to have met him IN PERSON just last year), it confirmed my suspicion and fears.
From KIM QUEK based in Johor Bharu:
MALAYSIAN MEDIA TURNS ELECTION INTO A KILLING FIELD
21.02.2008
Unlike any election in the world, the Malaysian election is not about winning the majority, but about winning or breaking the two third majority.
This is odd, as Malaysia is an apparent democracy whose incumbent government has held on to uninterrupted powers for half a century – with two third majority no less – despite its record of being thoroughly corrupted. Other similarly corrupted and similarly aged regimes – like those in Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Mexico etc – have already crumbled under the weight of liberalizing democracy, but the corrupted Malaysian regime have withstood it all. How is it done?
In this respect, it is noteworthy that the Malaysian Government’s only claim to democracy is that it holds regular elections. It does not claim, nor is it true that its laws and institutions are democratic.
But is Malaysia ’s election democratic? Emphatically not! In fact, Malaysia is well known for its unleveled electoral playing field. Its election commission is notoriously biased in favour of the incumbent, indulging in unabashed gerrymandering, frauds in electoral rolls and oblivion to rampant breaches of election rules and ethics by the ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional (BN).
With election to be held only two weeks from now (on Mar 8), leaders of BN have already been playing Santa Clauses, profusely handing out goodies left and right. These are no ordinary Christmas gifts, however, but public funds that run into millions targeted at specific groups of the electorate to curry favour with them.
Damnable as these practices are, perhaps the blow that really knocks the opposition out is the ruthless manipulation of the media to mass-brainwash the electorate. The entire Malaysian press and all TV and radio channels are doing the biddings of BN through ownership control or legislative coercion. These media which usually polishes BN’s image through exaggeration and distortion, are turned into full-blown propaganda machines that virtually turns the electoral arena into a killing field.
While the press has launched an intensive campaign to glorify BN and denigrate or black out the opposition, local TV and radio - which churn out endless pro-BN news, commentaries and songs - are out of bounds to the opposition. The latter’s only means of reaching the masses are the Internet, ceramah (political talks) and party newsprints, which are prohibited from circulating to the public or published more than twice a month. Since Malaysia’s Internet broadband penetration is no more than ten percents of the population, there is no way the opposition can effectively carry their messages across to the population or counter BN’s offensive within the ridiculously short campaign period of thirteen days. The contest is therefore akin to a debate, umpired by a biased judge, in a hall of ten thousand audience where one contestant is given a microphone while the other is not. It is also akin to a feud where one combatant is armed, the other is not given any weapon to hit back.
PKR BLACKED OUT
It is significant to note that while the entire opposition is badly treated by the press in general, there is a vast difference in the treatment meted out to two opposition parties – the multi-racial People’s Justice Party (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is Chinese-based though having a multi-racial platform. This disparity in treatment is particularly conspicuous in the Chinese press, where DAP has been given considerable publicity (though still very small compared to those given to BN), while PKR has been virtually shut out.
Political analysts have attributed this to a shrewd strategy adopted by BN, for it is a political reality that out of the three main opposition parties of DAP, PKR and the Islamic party PAS, only PKR has the potential to replace BN, which is a coalition of 14 racial parties dominated completely by the Malay party UMNO. Neither DAP nor PAS could threaten the political hegemony of UMNO, for DAP has no significant Malay support while PAS has no significant non-Muslim (mainly non-Malays) support. In contrast, PKR is now supported by all the three main races of Malays, Chinese and Indians, and led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose distinguished leadership has been acclaimed at home and abroad.
It is not difficulty to see that PKR’s multi-racial platform of clean and enlightened governance, led by an outstanding leader and backed by the masses of all races, is the anti-dote to the present racist, corrupted and feudal regime. Given due democratic space, PKR will surely lead the opposition to defeat the incumbent power in due course to turn a new leaf for the country.
But right at this moment, PKR’s fate is precariously hanged on the publicity it can get from the Chinese press, without which PKR may not fully capitalize on the strong swing of Chinese votes against BN that is currently taking place now. And without this Chinese support, the risk of widespread electoral disappointment cannot be discounted, considering the fact that UMNO seems to be still riding on considerable popular Malay support procured through massive showering of pecuniary benefits and long term media indoctrination.
The politics of PKR offer the only hope of Malaysia breaking free from the grip of racism and feudalism perpetrated by UMNO, the perpetuation of which will doom Malaysia to a failed state in due course in this age of globalization. Hence, should PKR be politically eclipsed in the coming election, Malaysia may not get another chance for its salvation from the evil rule of UMNO for the foreseeable future. It now rests on the conscience of the Chinese press to play a constructive role that would keep the flame of hope alive to avert eventual catastrophe for this country (the Malay and English press have long been given up to play any constructive role for this purpose).
The coming election may also be a day of destiny for all stake-holders in the country – ruling parties, opposition parties, Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races – when they are given the challenge to gaze through the haze of propaganda and look beyond the immediate material inducement to discern what is good for the long term well-being of the country.
Kim Quek
DESIDERATA: I am now searching for another article in the NST which I find evidence to support Sdr Kim Quek's assertion taht the MSM are indeed undermining PKR as the BN perceive this Opposition party led by de facto chief Sdr ANWAR IBRAHIM as the chief nemesis to its iron-grip in the 14-member coalition that is dominated by UMNO. And Anwar as a former UMNO deputy President and as an experienced DPM-cum-Finance Minister poses the sole Opposition chief who can lead an alternative front to replace BN in forming the next Government.
"V"OTE4CHANGE!
"V"OTE PKR!
"V"4Victory of the Rakyat!
No comments:
Post a Comment