The prevalent and still growing mood for change is a reflection of the people’s thinking – that enough is enough, 55 years of BN rule is long enough.

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat, at DAP Ceramah held in Bagan Serai on  Friday, February 08, 2013

There has been much speculation that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib may announce dissolution of Parliament in two weeks time to pave way for the nation’s 13 th general election in March. 

However, I will not be surprised if no dissolution announcement is made this month as Najib who has not been able to make up his mind about the election date will delay it further.

One thing can be certain though- that there will be more cash handouts and electoral promises in coming weeks.

It is no exaggeration to say that under Najib’s Prime Mastership, there has been unprecedented spending of money on the public.  

Former MCA President Tun Ling Liong Sik recently said that he believed that BN can still win the general election because of such unprecedented spending. 

I certainly do not believe that cash handouts will have much or lasting electoral impact because after giving so much handouts, the Prime Minister’s approval ratings have not been going up. 

In fact, his approval rating slipped from 65 to 63 per cent at the end of last year, according to a new survey recently published by the independent Merdeka Centre.

BN has now invited PSY but if this is a tactic to win support for BN, then BN leaders are going to be disappointed. 

There is no doubt that many Malaysians will enjoy PSY’s performance but they will sing Ubah Rocket style when election comes. 

Political landscape in Malaysia has changed after the 2008 general election.

BN must know that cash handouts will not win votes. 

Najib must realize that voters are judging BN not by what BN has or has not done for the last 5 years, but what BN has failed to do for the past 55 years. 

The prevalent and still growing mood for change is a reflection of the people’s thinking – that enough is enough, 55 years of BN rule is long enough. 

BN government can still dish out cash handouts, make electoral promises, carry out some law changes, shout 1 Malaysia slogan but it is unable to offer hope to Malaysians who have longed for A Better Malaysia for All.

It is time that Malaysians deserve a new government that can offer hope to the people. 

BN will definitely make the next general election the dirtiest in the nation’s electoral history, but Malaysians must rise up to the occasion at the next general election and vote a new Putrajaya government to usher in a new political beginning for Malaysia and Malaysians.