Snap elections poser as Umno, MCA drum up racial rhetoric

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

The latest rash of race-championing rhetoric from Umno and MCA leaders has raised eyebrows, in particular arch rivals in the Pakatan Rakyat are now reassessing the possibility that a snap general election might be closer than they previously thought.

“Chua Soi Lek and Muhyiddin are both trying to fan communal sentiments. The BN leaders seem to be gearing up for general election, not just the Sarawak state election,” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

It has been widely anticipated that Sarawak will hold its 10th state election in October/November this year, while the general election might follow a year later.

Pundits have predicted that Prime Minister Najib will only call for national polls after March 2011 so as to fulfill the 3-year minimum service requirement for lawmakers to be entitled to government pensions. But which month after March 2011 is the latest focus of speculation.

Racial politics versus non-racial politics

Ethnic tensions never far from the surface in BN-ruled Malaysia heated up a notch after Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin attacked MCA leaders for urging the government to lift a ban on the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims.

It triggered a swathe of ill feeling amongst the Chinese, who lambasted MCA president Chua Soi Lek for not standing up to Muhyiddin, the Umno deputy president.

This has been a core point of unhappiness among the Chinese community, who in the 2008 general election rejected the MCA for its subservience to Umno on practically all issues. MCA leaders were accused of putting Cabinet posts, cushy jobs and fat salaries ahead of their community’s interest.

Two years have passed since that landmark year which saw MCA’s share of parliamentary seats whittled down to a mere 15. Many believe it is not impossible this number could be chopped down to even zero in the next polls, because despite the fiery rhetoric to counter Umno, few have faith in the sincerity of the MCA leaders.

“This is what happens when parties adopt a racial stance to mobilize support and intentionally create divisions along religious and ethnic lines. After a while, people lose faith because they can see you blowing with wind. There is no commitment to issues or principles,” PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub toldMalaysia Chronicle.

Rhetoric as they enrich themselves

The latest fracas unfolded a day ago when Chua accused both Umno and PAS of using religion to win more votes, undermining economic growth in the process. It sparked fierce verbal retaliation from PAS but the most extreme comments came from Umno leaders such as Khir Toyo.

Apart from rampant corruption, pundits have long warned against the BN use of ethnic and religion-based policies to segregate and compartmentalize society. After 53 years, the evidence that they are right and the BN wrong is compelling.

Even the Prime Minister’s Department has warned Malaysia could go bankrupt by 2019 if it did not embark on major cost-cutting measures involving a slew of subsidy cuts to essentials including electricity, water, petrol, cooking fuel, sugar.

"It is what corruption and divide-and-rule politics lead to. As BN leaders scream and shout, they are also busily enriching themselves at the same time until now the country's money box is nearly empty," Tian said.