[For a higher res version of this image, click here.]
A friend pointed out how the flags at the junction near where I live seems to have gone from blue to green to blue in the span of a couple of days. After stumbling into a 'clash' between a horde of blue supporters and a horde of green supporters (all on similar-looking kapcais), I sort of figured out how such colour changes have been made possible.
It reminded me of campus elections when I was in university. One of the first rules all candidates and supporters were made to adhere to is: "Thou shall not touch other people's posters".
Aiz wrote about playing fair a while back. As I watched the results appear seat-by-seat on TV (I have since given up as the accompanying commentary was boring me to death and shifted my gaze to MalaysiaKini), I wondered whether BA (or the independents for that matter) ever had a chance.
Take for example, the full-page ads in the Star. All on prime pages (the first couple of odd-numbered pages most conducive as you don't need to flip the page to see the contents) were dominated by BN ads. Spots on TV were either commentary on how BN will do, or interviews with/about BN candidates.
Maybe playing poster hide-and-seek was the only way to get any 'airtime' for certain candidates!
But all that is past now, and just as I was about to wash off the stench of your typical political "marketing tactics" and turn my attention on the results, I realised that one TV station had all of their correspondences report from UMNO buildings in every state. Hmmm...
We all know that political reporting in Malaysia is ... well ... not as well-rounded as it should be. So technically, these things should not surprise me, although I do fear the day if/when these things do not upset me.
It seems that the ruling party is coming back with an even stronger mandate. Congratulations are in order. It also seems that the dynamics will now be very promising for them in that they have probably won back two states - one very rich with natural resources.
Many believe that the improvements we've seen lately in the Government-of-the-day had much to do with a wake-up call at the last elections. Proof perhaps that a formidable opposition is critical in ensuring a level of check-and-balance in a democracy.
But alas, this is not the case this year. What do we, the rakyat have left to ensure that promises are kept and the momentum of the new Prime Minister continues well after such a landslide victory?
Report cards that inform the people of the performance of their representatives are essential - we can't count on the political party to weed out the rotten apples. If we're heading towards an almost non-existent opposition in government situation like Singapore, we'll need another mechanism to ensure that complacency does not creep in (not that it hasn't already...).
Even in our work - performance reviews are done every quarter. No organisation, let alone a country, can afford to have one once every 4 years or so. I am all for live telecasts of Parliamentary sittings - let us see what our politicians (ruling party, opposition, independent, whatever) are like, how they perform, where they stand on things, and how they keep to their promises.
Here's to wishful thinking.
Posted by Najah Nasseri at 2004年03月21日 23:03 | TrackBackAs usual, I'm a little disappointed with the result. Nothing has change. Let's get this over with and get back to daily routine of cari makan, lepak-lepak, and by god's will find that elusive eternal happiness.
Posted by: rhomer at 2004年03月22日 10:22They asked for a big mandate. They got it. Now let's see what they can do with it.
Posted by: khalilur at 2004年03月22日 13:45Having observed a parliamentary sitting first-hand, and the 'quality' of debate thereof, I think the Malaysian public should by and large, be spared of the spectacle. But you're absolutely right- what do we have left to ensure that promises are kept?
Posted by: Nads at 2004年03月22日 15:35The eventual target for any government should be transparency. An elected position should be used for the common good (something that unfortunately has to be seen to be believed in this time and age). Screening parlimentary sittings, gives the people a true sense of what is done on their behalf.
In Singapore's case. All sittings are televized, I suppose the main reason there is very little to argue with is that the ministers are "made to earn their keep".
Once that visibility is established, it wont be long before a certain professional decorum is established. However you look at it, a country is very much run like a corporation, just larger.
I have to agree with Fische. Short of implanting RFID tracker chips on MPs and other "wakil rakyats" televising the proceedings might be exactly what we need to return voter confidence.
I wonder if anyone will actually notice this...?
Posted by: Ash.ox at 2004年03月22日 17:28ok ok so they won BIGGG!! now let's see them deliver.
to those who voted for BN, better make sure your BN won't be 'cakap tak serupa bikin' ok.
Posted by: lucia at 2004年03月22日 17:52cool pic of the flags..can u make it bigger like, a size of a wallpaper?..
Posted by: kaloynikovich at 2004年03月23日 10:08interesting discussion puan najah. i for one would like to see you actively involved in the political arena and see how you fare. what a waste of young professional brain if a talented girl like you (and fellow friends) remain an armchair politician.
Posted by: handyman at 2004年03月23日 14:23handyman, young professional brain is not wasted if a talented girl like najah is actively "participating" in what is considered as one of the civil rights of a citizen in airing their opinions as to the affairs of the state in which they they are part of it. Malaysia has long suffered from the malaise of apatheticcitizenry as to what the political elites been doing to the country.
It is wrong to assume that if one gives opinion on politics, one need to be a politician.
Posted by: lemonde at 2004年03月23日 21:24Handyman: I never claimed to be an armchair politician. I am commenting on things that matter to me, and I agree with lemonde in that airing my views as a citizen is a right - I am merely exercising my right.
Nevertheless, thank you for the vote of confidence. However, I feel that I do not have the strength nor the skills to survive as a politician. Perhaps an advisor one day though... ;-)
Posted by: Najah at 2004年03月23日 23:35Kaloynikovich: I've added a link of the image file (higher res) in the post.
Posted by: Najah at 2004年03月23日 23:52'absolute power corrupt absolutely'
it's so sad to see that while the Parliament is getting bigger (the members); the opposition gets only a small portion of it. we need a strong opposition to carry out the check-and-balance system.. ... the parliament will be very boring then...
