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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright March 2023
Come Summer 2023, the Malay Peninsula will be inundated by a Big Green Wave that is expected to cover the North, the East Coast and parts of the states on the West Coast of the Peninsular.
It is anticipated to be a friendly wave by some who regard it as a means to bring about a welcoming change.
However, to others the Big Green Wave of Sumner 2023 may not be seen as friendly at all. In fact, it appears to be threatening to those who are afraid of losing their power and positions, and will eventually affect the current status quo.
We are referring to an extension of the Green Wave that started in Padang Serai, Kedah on the border of Penang in the latter part of 2022 soon after GE15.
Many in the DAP controlled state of Penang has an image printed in their minds of thousands of young men on their kapcai seen carrying huge green flags along the towns and villages, prompting some to post on social media these images with a caption, "The Green Wave is Coming. Be Scared. Be very very scared!"
What started as a green tide is now perceived by some political parties as a big wave. Rightly so, because that was one of the biggest show of power ever mounted by Perikatan Nasional with PAS green as a symbol of political strength. A real clever move by Sanusi the PN Election Director and currently MB of Kedah who has been a thorn in the side of Penang state government ever since.
This Green Wave is perceived as a threat to multicultural and multireligious society by the government of the day, more so by DAP. DAP controlled Penang that borders Kedah is most nervous about losing their grip on the state of Penang should the green wave sweep through all the constituencies on the mainland.
"Anxiety is particularly acute among Malaysia’s non-Muslims who worry about how their rights, lifestyles and cultures will be affected if PAS gains greater power to promote its religious agenda. This is compounded by the twinning of political Islam with the recent attempt by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to push a campaign on protecting Malay rights that, he claims, are being undermined by Datuk Seri Anwar’s multiracial PH coalition." - The Straits Times
What the non-Muslims are anxious about is actually highly anticipated and even welcomed by the Malays in the North, the East Coast and some other states along the West Coast of the Peninsular. All the above states will go to the polls to elect their representatives to form the state governments of Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan, Kedah Kelantan and Terengganu.
While the Green Wave may make inroads into the DAP stronghold of Penang, the current ruling party with almost 100% non Malay support on the island is seen likely to return the incumbents to power come Summer of 2023. However, DAP's majority in the state assembly is likely to be reduced with all Malay constituencies on the mainland expected to support the Green Wave movement.
Lim Kit Siang Senior Advisor of DAP has expresseed similar concerns soon after the outbreak of the Green Wave at Padang Serai. The CM of the state too shares this opinion. On the other hand, in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, the inroads might be more overwhelming.
The PN Election Director, Sanusi Md Noor says, "I am confident of us capturing Selangor, Negri Sembilan and parts of Penang as well." In fact, Sanusi is confident about taking over the two states saying that poster boys for Selangor and Negri Sembilan have been picked.
"We have our poster boys who will be highlighted as MB candidates. But who they are exactly, I cannot reveal just yet," he said at the breaking of fast and fund raising dinner for Pas Relief's Aid For Turkey and Syria.
The threat of the Green Wave is real and it's coming. PH knows that and PN is perceived as possessing the upper hand in winning the hearts and minds of Malay support in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
"PN’s narrative (in 2022) was to present itself as a clean and corruption-free alternative to Barisan Nasional, and a defender of Malays and Islam. Many Malays are wary of PH’s ally, the Chinese dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP), fearful that their rights may be eroded with the latter in power."
Clearly PN is a cleaner and more trustworthy alternative compared to UMNO.
The current government's withdrawal of the oil royalty for Kelantan and Trengganu as well as the cancellation of Kulim airport in Kedah may be seen as being less sympathetic to these Malay dominated states. They will be used to influence Malay minds in coming months leading to the state polls.
Meanwhile, Zahid the President of UMNO himself tainted with corruption charges and his recent antics in UMNO by rejecting the general assembly's concensus of "No Anwar, no PH no DAP" are still fresh in the minds of the Malay grassroots.
Similarly, recent purges within UMNO may not sit well with voters and is likely to drive them into the arms of PN, the only party that's left that seems to champion the Malay cause.
In addition, there's the Mahathir factor that is "fanning" Malay sentiments which have bristled feathers among people in the administration leading them to dissuade owners from allowing the Malay Proclamation to hold its dialogue.
These would help boost Malay support for PN in Selangor that is still reeling from the sacking of UMNO's strong man Noh Omar, who might play a role in moving votes towards the Opposition.
Harakah remarked that all Parliamentary constituencies won by PAS in Selangor have many state assembly seats that are likely to be won with ease. Thus helping them make further inroads into the state government long held by PKR. Similarly for Negeri Sembilan, details of which are yet unavailable. But the forecast is at a minimum PN is likely to win at least 50% of seats in the state assembly. If they chose KJ as a poster boy then perhaps PN and the green wave might be able to capture Negeri Sembilan as well.
Green Wave is coming and PMX government is building barriers to hold back the damage.
From now till the Summer of 2023, you'll witness various remedial steps taken by the government of the day to thwart its advance.
But the Big Green Wave is coming anyway!
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