Since the 70s, it is always BN and PAS and DAP on the opposite.
In the late 80s, Semangat 46 was formed, and together but individually, joined PAS and DAP opposing the might of BN.
Eventually Semangat 46 fizzled out and folded with its members rejoining UMNO.
Since those days, voters’ choices are always limited to these 3 parties /political coalition.
This is a common behavior among voters in Malaysia.
It shows that political leaders know that they stand very little chance of winning an election if they run for office outside of one of the 3 major parties.
Therefore, those who want to seek office through elections try to win nominations within one of the 3 major parties, rather than create a new party.
A large part of politics in Malaysia is that majority of the politics play the same game - getting people to think about ethnicity and religious issues as part of a group.
They never failed to scare people with these two repetitive issues causing one ethnic group to continuously seek comfort by joining the ranks of the group perceived as most capable of defending and protecting them.
We already know that the uncertainty of the upcoming election is causing stress.
Given the effectiveness of using fear as a political strategy, it’s safe to say many Malaysians are scared as well.
The election in Johor is just round the corner followed by Negeri Sembilan.
Whenever an election looms, voters will wrestle with a deluge of promises and policies from politicians and their parties.
As voting day arrives, it is time for some rational calculations at the ballot box.
Or is it?
Voters of all races and religions should ask themselves this pertinent and important question going into the Johor state election and also GE 16 in the near future.
Would voting for Bersama take away, in anyway, what is of real concern to them presently i.e rising costs of living, increasing petrol prices or withdrawal of subsidies for fuel?
When a politician from any of the political parties be it UMNO, MCA, MIC, PAS, DAP, Amanah, MUDA, Warisan says something that scares you, ask yourself if it sounds too scary to be true.
If you’re unsure, talk to someone you trust and examine together whether your feelings of fear are justified and whether they are the anticipated result of a strategy.
The old 3 party comfort zone is over.
Voters are done with political cowardice & moral compromise as shown by all.
Probably in future it would, but at the present moment, Bersama does not hold themselves out as protest candidates.
Based on the 12 points that they rolled out, they are presenting themselves as the future of accountable, community-rooted politics.
So far, what Bersama has revealed and presented to the voting public does not appear to be a one-issue campaign.
Based on unverified reports, Bersama only planned to contest 40 to 60 parliamentary seats nationwide in the 16th GE.
For sure, even if they were to win 60 parliamentary seats, it is still insufficient for them to form a government on its own.
But for sure, they can be a very effective opposition to whoever the ruling coalition governing the country post 16th GE.
The YBM podcast by Rafizi Ramli as it is is already stirring and waking up the conscience of a lot of Malaysians, voters and non voters alike.
Imagine if they are the largest Opposition looking over the ruling coalition of political parties and exposing their financial shennanigans and incompetence.
The coming election in Johor is a test bed to how receptive voters are to Bersama.
Deny BN / UMNO the majority for them to govern Johor on their own unhindered.
Vote for Bersama.
For sure Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi will be watching over BN / UMNO like a hawk over the governance and administration of Johor.
And the results in Johor most likely will be the bellwether and harbinger of things to come for the 16th GE.
FLK (leekhean.foo@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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