What for, Penang snap elections?
Self-interest, dynastic preservation and bruised egos behind desire to dissolve state assembly.
By Lee Kok Seng
It has become a practice for the opposition to abuse the electoral process as and when it suits them. Parti Keadilan Rakyat has done this once too often, and have found the outcomes not to be as expected. But this has not deterred the DAP who are bent on forcing a snap election in Penang.
Let us briefly review how the opposition has abused the electoral process, particularly in Penang.
In 2009, PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim decided to force a by-election in Penanti, Penang, which political analysts at the time described as resulting in a “meaningless victory for Pakatan” With only 46.51 per cent voter turnout, it was a total washout; considering the elections were held in the opposition’s “home ground”.
According to the Elections Commission, the 2009 Penanti by-election voter turnout was the worst in history since 1955.
The MP, Mohammmad Fairus Khairuddin, was accused of non-performance as well as corruption and Dr Mansor Othman was fielded. Ironically Mansor was also later rapped for non-performance and removed as Deputy Chief Minister 1. Millions of dollars of taxpayers money went down the drain on a by-election that should not have been held.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s current plans for a snap election could also produce a similar “washout”. So I ask Guan Eng, can such a result be considered as the people’s mandate for you to stay on?
The rakyat are fed up and tired of the shenanigans of the DAP and the opposition in general. After the Sarawak state elections, and the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, the people in general do not want to face another a state election, which would cost taxpayers millions of ringgit.
After Penanti, came the two Permatang Pauh by-elections in 2008 and 2015, which were all about Anwar.
In July 2008, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned as Permatang Pauh MP to force a by-election that allowed Anwar to stand as the PKR candidate. He won in a landslide victory with a 15,671 majority.
The next two by-elections however, were forced by Anwar to bolster his position, after realising his dream of being prime minister was not within his grasp in the near future.
That it was a waste of public funds and inconvenience to the public was not even considered by Anwar. All that was motivating him was the position of Selangor Menteri Besar of the richest state, and its coffers. Also, he felt as MB he would have more stature with Putrajaya and internationally.
Of course, Anwar never considered even for a moment, what a fall it would have been if he was convicted of sodomy after being appointed as MB.
His ambitions were frustrated when the Court of Appeal overturned his acquittal of the second sodomy charge on March 7, 2014. Visibly shaken by the Court of Appeal’s decision, Anwar, who did not give up hope of having control of Selangor, then made his dutiful wife, Wan Azizah, step in.
The Kajang state seat was vacated by the sitting assemblyman, Lee Chin Cheh, and Wan Azizah won the state seat with a slightly reduced percentage. Voter turnout was also lower by 16 percent.
Kajang was one of the most expensive by-elections, costing the EC almost RM1.6 million.
It must be noted that the Kajang by-election involved only one constituency. The proposed Penang state assembly elections would involve 40 constituencies, and the expenditure would be about RM50 million.
Lim, please consider whether such expenditure is justified to bolster your bruised ego.
The Kajang move did not bring the desired outcome. Placing the Menteri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim, who was doing a good job, on the sacrificial altar also did not work to Anwar’s favour. The Sultan of Selangor, aware of the political maneuvering by Anwar and gang, instead appointed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali as menteri besar.
The Kajang move was a colossal disaster.
With such factors confronting you, Lim, and knowing forced elections may not produce the desired results, do you still want to go in that direction?
Well, if Guan Eng is bent on forcing a snap election, despite this history of failed forced elections, then his claim of getting a fresh mandate and of the elections being a referendum on his arrest seem rather feeble.
At the moment Pakatan has a clear majority and therefore a definite mandate.
Referendum on his arrest? Even with the whole of Penang citizenry backing him, the charges against him will not change a bit. He could well be found guilty as charged.
It is unbelievable that a seasoned and astute politician like Guan Eng could have got himself entrapped in such a political mess.
Buying a house below market price from Phang Li Koon may not seem wrong to many people. It would not be wrong and in fact would be thought to be a good deal if Guan Eng had been an ordinary citizen, which he is not. Related to the sale are issues about alleged preferential treatment in land deals.
The DAP party elections have since been delayed to ensure that Guan Eng still has an iron grip on party decisions as secretary-general, allowing him to choose “all his men” whom he can trust. There has also been talk that he is also seeking an avenue to ensure that his legacy continues.
Talk that Betty Chew is likely to be fielded as a candidate is increasingly rife. Also circulating is news that his father, Lim Kit Siang, may consider being a candidate.
Guan Eng’s machinations are motivated by self-interest and self-preservation.
But PKR is reluctant to agree to the snap elections as it fears it may lose some of the seats it holds. This is more so as PAS has indicated it will contest in all constituencies.
Deep hemorrhaging is visible within Pakatan Harapan. Will Guan Eng seek to assuage the bleeding and put the interest of Pakatan before self-interest, or surgically cut off PKR?
At the moment, Guan Eng is cautious because he needs the support of PKR to dissolve the state assembly. Further, he needs the approval of the Governor too.
Though the Governor is said to be on good terms with the chief minister, he will put the interest of Penang and the nation first. He may, and should, take a leaf from the Sultan of Selangor’s book and withhold approval.
It has been well documented that by-elections draw a lower vote turnout. Pakatan, ie DAP, will win. But what are the implications if it is returned with a reduced majority? It would be more damaging if Malay and Indian votes are reduced.
What would a reduced majority mean to Lim’s claims of fresh mandate and referendum?
No one needs to dot the lines as it is quite obvious but I will, as Guan Eng and DAP seem to have lost their thinking caps.
The cost of a snap election could be incalculable to DAP.
Lee Kok Seng is an FMT reader.
*With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.*
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