What has been done?

Writer: Lin Ying Han

Kwong Wah, July 19, 2016

The attack against Pakatan Harapan-led state government, especially the party and their leaders on Penang island, is due to their own problems and not because people are angry as the opposition has performed better than Pakatan Harapan. Under such circumstances, what has the opposition done in gaining public support?

Don’t compare on mistakes. The easiest way is to criticize and disparage the rival camp when they make mistakes. They want people to see that the rival camp is in a bigger mess so that public support would swing back to their camp.。

Compare instead on performances. Let people compare both sides and see for themselves who have done better so that they can cast their sacred ballots in the election to the party which has performed better.

However, this may be over simplistic as there are people who think that since they have given so much and eventually those who just do the talking win the votes. And thus, they slacken in their performance. They don’t want to lose out.

They shout “don’t compare who is in a bigger mess!” But in actual fact, they are competing to get into a bigger mess. As such, the prevailing view is that “we know Pakatan Harapan has problems, but we have not seen Barisan Nasional doing anything better in Penang, why should we support Barisan Nasional?”

They want a swing back of support but they are worried that after giving their services, people would still turn ungrateful and refuse to support them. And thus, they hope that Pakatan Harapan’s internal conflicts would deteriorate, that their leaders would continue to make mistakes and that Pakatan Harapan would continue their self-destruction.

Finally, they would issue a statement or hold a media conference to air their criticism and want the voters to make the right choice in the election. It is nice to indulge in such an easy game. But just do it mentally or another defeat is sure to come.

There are other politicians who have blind spots and see things only through political angle. On the prosecution of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, they are convinced that DAP would collapse once Lim is out. They forget that politicians come and go. Once Lim is out, others are queuing up to replace him. After all, in a general election, voters support the party and not the individuals. Lim’s downfall does not mean the downfall of the party.

The next general election is expected to be held soon. People should ask what have their own camp done from the 308 election to the 505 election and from 505 election until now.

Have the work done by their own camp been recognized by the people so that they would cast their supporting votes? How many seats they can win? Can they regain the ruling power? The answers are all there.

On the other hand, if they still entertain the thought of waiting for the durians to fall when the fruits are ripe. If they are waiting for the collapse of Pakatan Harapan, waiting for more mistakes by their leaders and waiting for a back swing of votes when people see through Pakatan Harapan, please change your mindset and attitude, there is no free lunch. It is time to perform in order to prove that you are worthy of support. Don’t just say “support me because I am not that messy.”