It will be BN versus PR, not Malays versus non Malays.

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat, at PKR Deepavali Function held at Puteri Wangsa, JB on Saturday, December 1, 2012.

It will be BN versus PR, not Malays versus non Malays.

It has been reported in an internet portal today that several Umno leaders expressed confidence that Umno is capable of wresting back all four Pakatan Rakyat-led (PR) states and even recapturing its two-thirds parliamentary majority in the coming polls, buoyed by a strong belief that the Najib government’s reformist measures have successfully impressed the Malaysian electorate.

 

I certainly believe that some Umno leaders like to make syok sendiri or cocky statements.

If the Umno President is so confident about thrashing Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the next coming general election, surely he would not have devoted much time and space to attack PR in his speech when opening Umno Convention three days ago.

I am sure that the Prime Minister is totally aware of the prevailing mood among the people and that is why he has made aggressive attacks against PR.

My advice to Umno leaders is “make all the syok sendiri or cocky statements you want, but please don’t bet with your ears.”

It was reported that Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob today boldly declared that Barisan Nasional will not lose the parliamentary seat of Bentong because of the Lynas controversy, and he is willing to literally bet his ears on that.

“I tell you, DAP cannot win in Bentong. Cannot win! If DAP wins in Bentong, you cut my ears and I’d jump into the Pahang river”. He was quoted as saying.  

I am sure if anyone had asked Adnan on the polling eve of the 2008 general election whether BN would lose its traditional parliamentary two thirds majority , he would have done the same bet.

Fortunately for him, no one had asked him the question.

With the next election fast approaching, can we expect the former MIC President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu not to come out to attack PR or sing praises of the Prime Minister / Of course not.

Yesterday, Samy had just done that.

He had challenged challenged the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government to reveal its achievements over the last four years rather than ride on Barisan Nasional’s past successes in the state.

He also praised Najib sky high.
But Samy Vellu has forgotten the seven critical issues which he mentioned in 2008.

In February, 2008, he had said that there were seven critical issues that had caused uneasiness among the Indian community and the government must immediately take steps to address them.

The seven were:

1. an equitable participation in the share market;

2. Indian intake in public universities;

3. better employment opportunities, especially in the public sector;

4. increase the number of government scholarships;

5. greater access to entrepreneurship training and micro-credit loans;

6. an effective urban poverty eradication programme; and.

7. the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to monitor and evaluate the delivery of public sector services in a just and fair manner.

We all know that the Indian voters played their kingmaker role and helped create the political tsunami in the 2008 general election that caused BN its worst electoral debacle.

My advice to Samy is therefore “go ask Najib what he has done on these 7 critical issues instead of attacking PR or heaping praises on Najib.

Samy may have short memory himself but the Indian voters will not forget the 7 critical issues which he had mentioned.

And Samy should tell Najib that the BN’slogan of Janji Di Tepati sounds hollow if these 7 critical issues are not resolved.

Umno Wanita Chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat had raised the spectre of May 13 four  days ago.

Let me remind Shahrizat that her dirty, low class and irresponsible tactic will not work.

The next general election is not an election where Malays are fighting the non Malays, but it is a battle where BN will be competing with PR for voter support.

It will be BN versus PR, not Malays versus non Malays.

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