SHOW BN THE EXIT DOOR

Just before March 8 2008, where Malaysians went to the poll, Barisan Nasional (BN) felt that the results will be similar to the Election Results 2004, and at its worst will at least attained a two thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat. They were even confident that Kelantan that had been under Parti Islam (PAS) for the last 18 years will be regained. And nothing was said or heard that four states on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia will go to the opposition parties.

The results of the Malaysian 12^th. General Election had been described as political tsunami by many, and indeed surprised not only the Barisan Nasional but also the opposition parties, as well as the Rakyat, the business sector and even the world.

It was unheard before the election that people in the street will talk badly on Barisan Nasional, and it did happened just a day later. They were talking upon the disaster falling on the Barisan Nasional loud and clear, and seemed to be contented with what happened to the Barisan Nasional. And that was what were happening all over the country.

The victory that the Barisan Rakyat attained in the general election – can it be sustained or will the states be taken back by Barisan Nasional in the next general election, as what happened to the state of Trengganu, which was under PAS for only four years. As a matter many would have expected PAS to regain the state, and it didn’t happened.

Despite using dirty tactics and foul plays, Barisan Nasional only managed to secure 180 seats in the Dewan Rakyat short of 8 to secure a two thirds majority. Remours are going around Barisan Nasional are shopping to secure 8 members of the opposition members to join the Barisan Nasional. There were also remours are also going around that some members of Parliament may crossover to the Barisan Rakyat.

The self destruction of Barisan Nasional has just begun. The lost of several seats in the recent election had been attributed by many factors. The internal conflicts that existed among the Barisan Nasional parties are very real and are worrying the leaders. The choice of unpopular candidates over the incumbents, had not caused them to stay away during the election campaign, but in extreme cases, they had been going from house to house and getting the votes not to vote for Barisan Nasional candidates contesting in the election.

This was something that had been overlooked by Ahmad Badawi in particular. Thinking that Barisan Nasional will make a clean sweep in the election, attempts were made to ignore the requests from several branches on appointment of candidates whom they preferred. Abdullah had been receiving the wrong advices in particular from his son in law Khairy Jamaluddin on the selection of candidates.

The lost of several seats were attributed by the lost of seats contested by Gerakan, MCA, MIC and PPP which saw the leaders from these parties losing in the election even contesting in safe seats that had been BN’s stronghold for a very long time.

As in Kelantan since the last 18 years, BN attempt to regain the state failed miserably. The same will go for the four states that are taken by Barisan Alternatif. One of the sure way to keep out BN from taking over the states they lost, is for Barisan Alternatif to fulfill the promises that they made during the election. The fulfillment of these promises will closely be watched by people of the states that remain under Barisan Nasional, and in the next election, they may cast their votes for Barisan Alternatif candidates. The Barisan Alternatif should have a roadmap not only in sustaining the states that they now controlled but show look into possibility of getting other states under their control. The should also focus on Sabah and Sarawak, and if getting these two states under their control an impossible task, the least to lessen the number of seats to be won by Barisan Nasional parties in both states. And the works begin from now.