From DAP http://www.malaysia.net/dap

A chance to show BN we want clean government

By Dr. Tan Seng Giaw

The Sanggang by-election on April 2000 gives the opportunity for the voters to tell the ruling Barisan National, National Front, BN, that they want a clean, transparent and trustworthy government without corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

The racial composition in the Sanggang (Mentakab, Pahang) state seat reflects that of Malaysia. It has always been held by the BN for the past 42 years. The late Assemblyman and Pahang Sate Executive Councillor Datuk Abdullah Kia died of a heart attack on 26 February 2000. Nomination was on 21 march 2000 and the by-election is on 1 April 2000.

Needless to say, in this contest between PAS (Barisan Alternatif, the Alternative Front, BA) and UMNO (BN), the latter is using money, machinery and media to drown the Opposition. The electon rhetoric and house-to-house campaigning of BN concentrates on scaring Chinese and Indian voters against voting for PAS with Islamic Sate, Hudud Law (the cutting of limbs) and lack of services. This tactic worked in the November 29 General Elections last year.

No doubt, BN continues to incite the primordial fear of people in order to perpetuate its hegemony. It still holds more than two-third majority in Parliament and Pahang State Assembly. Giving a Sanggang seat to the Opposition would not affect BN hegemony. But it would be symbolic.

By rejecting BN, the voters will be voting for more progress, more development, more justice and more transparency. If anything, BN will then try harder to impress the people in order to win back the seat in the next election.

After many promises in the last elections such as building more Chinese schools, BN has yet to fulfill these promises. BN has announced the allocation of RM 325 million to help 400,000 (or what is the actual number ?250,000) rubber smallholders who are experiencing difficulties because of low rubber prices. What is happening after four months? No doubt, largesse is being mouthed again. What is going on with the rubber-replanting schemes?

Mentakab still floods. On the eve of the by-election, it seems that BN has pledged RM500,000 to mitigate flooding and a further RM6.5 million under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001to 2005) to upgrade the drainage system.

The voters know that there are corruption, cronyism, nepotism, injustice and wastage with BN that has been misbehaving such as the rude sign shown by the Pahang Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) on the nomination day.

People in Japan, India, South Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan have shown the rulling parties the exit after years of misrule. It is a matter of time that Malaysians show the BN how they feel. Let us make Sanggang a start.