The Star @ANALYSIS BY JOCELINE TAN
The dramatic political events in Perak suggest that the Bukit Gantang by-election may even be more intense than the Permatang Pauh contest.
ALTHOUGH there will be two by-elections in the weeks ahead, one in Perak and another in Kedah, the battle for Bukit Gantang will take centrestage.
Everyone knew that the Year of the Ox would not be smooth-going but few suspected it would kick off with such sound and fury in Perak with the Bukit Gantang by-election now widely seen as a referendum on the political crisis in the state.
Barisan Nasional has taken over in Perak, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has been sworn in as the new mentri besar and his exco has been appointed. But the crisis is still unfolding with Pakatan Rakyat continuing to claim to be the government and a major lawsuit pending.
Dr Zambry, wearing a necktie in the colours of the Perak state flag and surrounded by his exco members, looked composed yesterday at one of his first press conferences since taking over. But he, more than anyone else, is aware of the challenges ahead.
First, there is the crucial parliamentary by-election and, second, he is presiding over a deeply divided electorate.
In a telephone conversation with a friend a day after he was sworn in, he had said somewhat ruefully: “Brother, it is a difficult time for me.”
Dr Zambry is really one of the few decent people in politics, the sort of politician that Umno wishes it could have more of.
Given that, the political climate surrounding his ascent is simply unfortunate. It is hardly assuring for any mentri besar to have to move around protected by the FRU and security forces.
Likewise, his predecessor Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is a good man who was not quite ready for the politics involved in the job. And his insistence that he is still the mentri besar while still chairing “state exco meetings” is growing more bizarre by the day.
The palace is also in the spotlight. The Sultan’s decision not to consent to snap state elections is still the subject of heated debate. The political storm could not have blown in at a worse time given that this is the silver jubilee of his reign.
No one is happy to let go of power, not Barisan when it lost in Perak last year and certainly not Pakatan when it lost the majority in the State Legislative Assembly.
But Pakatan is hardly in a position to condemn the crossovers because it had advocated the practice.
The night before Bukit Gantang MP Roslan Shaharum suffered his fatal heart attack, he was among the Pakatan politicians who had gathered for sembahyang hajat (prayers) at the mentri besar’s official residence where Nizar is still staying.
“We prayed for divine guidance to end the crisis and to reach a peaceful and fair solution,” said PAS state deputy commissioner Asmuni Awi.
At the end of the evening Asmuni invited Roslan to join him for nasi ayam kampung.
“But he said he was taking his family out for supper. That was the last time we spoke,” said Asmuni.
The Barisan side has been re-energised by the fact that they are once again in control of the state. The younger set in Umno admit that a “government by crossover” is not the best way to come to power.
But as Pendang Wanita Umno chief Suraya Yaakob said: “Politics is about numbers and power, that is the reality. What happened in Perak is a boost for Umno and Barisan. We will put up a good fight.”
Morale on the Pakatan side is equally high.
“We don’t want to be over-confident but we believe people support our call for a new mandate in the state and this will be reflected in Bukit Gantang,” said Asmuni.
But the by-election, despite the high expectations, is not going to change the equation in Perak nor is it likely to lead to fresh state elections.
It may not end the political crisis, but it could enable both sides to let off steam and state their case and, more importantly, let the electorate have a say.
The dramatic political events in Perak suggest that the Bukit Gantang by-election may even be more intense than the Permatang Pauh contest.
ALTHOUGH there will be two by-elections in the weeks ahead, one in Perak and another in Kedah, the battle for Bukit Gantang will take centrestage.
Everyone knew that the Year of the Ox would not be smooth-going but few suspected it would kick off with such sound and fury in Perak with the Bukit Gantang by-election now widely seen as a referendum on the political crisis in the state.
Barisan Nasional has taken over in Perak, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has been sworn in as the new mentri besar and his exco has been appointed. But the crisis is still unfolding with Pakatan Rakyat continuing to claim to be the government and a major lawsuit pending.
Dr Zambry, wearing a necktie in the colours of the Perak state flag and surrounded by his exco members, looked composed yesterday at one of his first press conferences since taking over. But he, more than anyone else, is aware of the challenges ahead.
First, there is the crucial parliamentary by-election and, second, he is presiding over a deeply divided electorate.
In a telephone conversation with a friend a day after he was sworn in, he had said somewhat ruefully: “Brother, it is a difficult time for me.”
Dr Zambry is really one of the few decent people in politics, the sort of politician that Umno wishes it could have more of.
Given that, the political climate surrounding his ascent is simply unfortunate. It is hardly assuring for any mentri besar to have to move around protected by the FRU and security forces.
Likewise, his predecessor Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is a good man who was not quite ready for the politics involved in the job. And his insistence that he is still the mentri besar while still chairing “state exco meetings” is growing more bizarre by the day.
The palace is also in the spotlight. The Sultan’s decision not to consent to snap state elections is still the subject of heated debate. The political storm could not have blown in at a worse time given that this is the silver jubilee of his reign.
No one is happy to let go of power, not Barisan when it lost in Perak last year and certainly not Pakatan when it lost the majority in the State Legislative Assembly.
But Pakatan is hardly in a position to condemn the crossovers because it had advocated the practice.
The night before Bukit Gantang MP Roslan Shaharum suffered his fatal heart attack, he was among the Pakatan politicians who had gathered for sembahyang hajat (prayers) at the mentri besar’s official residence where Nizar is still staying.
“We prayed for divine guidance to end the crisis and to reach a peaceful and fair solution,” said PAS state deputy commissioner Asmuni Awi.
At the end of the evening Asmuni invited Roslan to join him for nasi ayam kampung.
“But he said he was taking his family out for supper. That was the last time we spoke,” said Asmuni.
The Barisan side has been re-energised by the fact that they are once again in control of the state. The younger set in Umno admit that a “government by crossover” is not the best way to come to power.
But as Pendang Wanita Umno chief Suraya Yaakob said: “Politics is about numbers and power, that is the reality. What happened in Perak is a boost for Umno and Barisan. We will put up a good fight.”
Morale on the Pakatan side is equally high.
“We don’t want to be over-confident but we believe people support our call for a new mandate in the state and this will be reflected in Bukit Gantang,” said Asmuni.
But the by-election, despite the high expectations, is not going to change the equation in Perak nor is it likely to lead to fresh state elections.
It may not end the political crisis, but it could enable both sides to let off steam and state their case and, more importantly, let the electorate have a say.
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