THE 15th General Elections (GE15) must be held next year for the reason that Barisan Nasional (BN) might lose — although it does not matter to me when the next GE15 is held as it is the ruling Government’s call. It is strange that when many countries have scheduled their elections long before they are being held, Malaysia is still playing the guessing game.The insistence of BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that the GE15 should be held in the next few months, that is before next year, compels me to reassess my position.If BN thinks that it might lose the election if it is held next year, then maybe they are telling the truth. It has dawned upon them with the possibility of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak losing his appeal in his earlier conviction, the grounds might not be in favour of UMNO or BN.This is not to mention the littoral combat ship (LCS) project that has literally been abandoned after the colossal loss of more than RM6 bil drawn from the coffers of the taxpayers’ funds.
Who thought that the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal was the mother of all corruption? The loss suffered by the uncompleted combat ship project is more than double the 1MDB fund.Zahid, having himself implicated in corruption scandals, is fully aware of the impact of the LCS project on the ability of BN to win the next GE comfortably.
One thing is for sure, the LCS financial fiasco is definitely going to drag down BN principally its strongest component, UMNO.
The wrath of the electorateIt is unfortunate that the other component parties in BN might have to face the wrath of the electorate due to UMNO’s leaders’ involvement in corruption and shady deals. After Najib, Zahid stands the chance of being prosecuted and convicted.Yet, even with the heavy involvement of UMNO leaders in corruption and financial mismanagement, they have the temerity to call for an early GE15.The conviction of Najib might have a domino effect on other corrupted UMNO leaders. All that is required is the fall of one leader for the domino to take effect.
As it stands, UMNO leaders think that they might not be able to repeat the performance in the recent by-elections in Melaka and Johor.Furthermore, the court cases and the debacle associated with the LCS project have coincided to deal a blow against UMNO and BN.If BN might lose if GE15 is held next year, then this should be precisely the date for scheduling the polls. BN must lose as they did in the 14th General Elections (GE14).All efforts must be directed toward ensuring that BN never comes back to power at the federal or state level again. BN is a terrible curse on the nation, the alpha and omega of all that is wrong with the country.It is pure wishful thinking on the part of Zahid to say that BN might win the election if it were held within this year. I really wonder about his misplaced optimism. — Aug 21, 2022
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also deputy chief minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main photo credit: The Star
