Stop ‘dreaming of a united front’, Umno

The two representatives of the Penang Malay Congress, who are standing in the general election as Independents believe that voters will vote for the candidate who sincerely wants to help the Malays emerge from the rut that they are in now.

Congress president Rahmad Ishak said Umno’s argument of championing unity among the Malay politicians is a short-cut theory.

“We should stop dreaming about a united front. We are not fighting for Independence, but rather who can best lead us forward. For state seats, it is on who can best address the localise issues,” he said.

According to Rahmad, the Malay electorate is now divided into four blocs, the traditional ones with BN, one with PKR, another with PAS and lastly, his group – the non partisan – who believe they can form the third alternative political front here.

He said if the Malay vote becomes diluted in Penang, there is a possibility that the community will not have a strong political voice.

“The time has come to select good candidates rather than the parties that they belong to, as ultimately, the voters want a person, who can serve, and not just candidates from strong parties,” Rahmad said.

Rahmad is contesting the Batu Maung state seat in a three-cornered fight against state PKR vice-chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Barisan Nasional (BN)’s candidate Mansor Musa.

The congress’ secretary Mohd Noor Sirajajudeen Mohd Abdul Kader, meanwhile, is contesting the Batu Uban state seat, which is a five-cornered fight.

Mohd Noor is a former deputy public prosecutor.

The other contestants are Baratharajan Narayansamy Pillai, an independent, Goh Kheng Sneah from BN, Dr T Jayabalan from PKR, and A Rajendra, another independent.

Plight of Penang Malays

Rahmad said he and Mohd Noor’s campaign revolved around raising the plight of Malays on the island.

This he said was not because the Malays were backward, but that there is a sizeable number, who are struggling to survive due to the unabated rise in living costs.

“It’s the same with the other races, but since Malays represent 51% of the population-base in the state, it is only fair that more attention be accorded to their cause,” said Rahmad.

He said it is the duty of whoever elected to find ways to off-set the rising costs of living on the island. This could be done by finding better paying jobs, reducing wastage, corruption, bureaucracy and alleviating the intense traffic jams which affect productivity and resolving the skyrocketing property prices here.

Rahmad is fully aware that it will be a uphill battle contesting as an Independent but he believes that the Malaysian voter psyche has changed since the 2008 general election.

“The outcome of the 2008 GE gave birth to a two-party system, but in 2013, it will unleash the emergence of strong candidates, who can give the third front a strong voice, “ he said.

He said PKR had been given a chance in 2008 to administer Penang, but remains a weak link although it is the birthplace of the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“We gave PKR a chance to administer the state, especially to address the plight of the poor Malays but they failed miserably because of poor leadership.

“Power corrupts! Look at what happened to Pakatan Rakyat. PAS and PKR are fighting among themselves to contest in seats here,” he said adding that in Malaysia, the voters have many politicians who are clever to talk and preach, but lack the finesse to act on their promises. -FMT