The Annoying By Elections That Is Permatang Pauh

The Annoying By Elections That Is Permatang Pauh

If there was ever a prize to be given for the most wasteful and pointless by-election ever in the history of modern democracy, the coming Permatang Pauh one would be a leading contender.

I'm sure by now some naive pro-Anwar lad would start getting wound up by this view of mine, but it does not mean that I am wrong. Across the nation, people are worried about the economy, crime, the state of our education system, the rights of citizens, some more equal that others, enough so that conferences, symposiums and workshops are being held nigh every weekend. But now comes a by-election and the entire effort of a nation goes into the toilet for 11 days+!

I was at a meeting last night where the organising committee of a conference planned for this weekend decided to postpone the event as a result of Permatang Pauh's nominations being held on the same day. It seems the PAS Muktamar being held that day was not as big a problem, as some Pas sympathisers would still participate in the conference, but now all the UMNO-related fellows have been asked to help at Permatang Pauh on the nomination day! WHY?

Everyone KNOWS Anwar is going to win the Permatang Pauh seat. In fact, this is such a blatant fait-accompli that it has been a task in itself to get anyone to run against Anwar Ibrahim (As an aside, the leading contender should surely be the current real PM of Malaysia, Kamaluddin Abdullah! Is he a Datuk yet? Maybe a Tan Sri?). The result is such a foregone conclusion that Anwar has been trying to show that it would be difficult for him to win... that's just so typically pathetic...

So why are all the UMNO guys so excited about Permatang Pauh? Not to stop Anwar from winning. Not even to get him a reduced majority; in fact, a reduced majority would likely be a miracle from Allah to curtail Anwar from coming to power... for any sensible person would expect a further rejection of Pak Lah to be the overwhelming signal from this by-election. Fat lot of good that would do us... Pak Lah is either too Thick Face Black Heart, or just simply too thick, to get it...

So why are all the UMNO people excited? Because this by-election will likely be the last major event before Ramadhan where all the contenders for positions in the coming UMNO AGM can line-up and show of their 'prowess' to the party power-brokers, the faithfull and potential allies in the coming race. And all at government and BN expense! Of course they're going to Permatang Pauh, not to beat Anwar, but to join in the big UMNO internal political campaign event!

And in the meantime, the rest of us concerned citizens, who want to see actual tangible results from activity... we've been waiting almost 5 years for some... are left begging! Again! This is just stupid. Politics at its worst.

"Oooh, but isn't this by-election important as it will get Anwar to Parliament? How is he going to take over government on 16 September if he is not an MP?", says the naive PKR supporter...

WOI, ANWAR WILL NOT TAKE OVER GOVERNMENT ON 16 SEPTEMBER LA!

The only way he can is if a whole bunch of UMNO fellows join PKR, turning PKR into an UMNO-ciplak (+ a minority of Anwar's Indian lawyers, and Tian Chua, as MPs) AND convince PAS and DAP to join the expanded UMNO-ciplak PKR in a coalition government. And so, Nik Aziz, Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang are going to agree to join a coalition with an UMNO-ciplak party?

NO WAY!

So, what is the point of the by-election then if Anwar isn't going to be PM, yet, anyway? Exactly... NO POINT! Waste of time and money and energy and hopes and dreams of a nation only!

And in the end, why is the by-election being held? Because the sitting MP, Wan Azizah, is fed up with politics and wants to hand the whole mess back to her husband who is the main beneficiary of her efforts and sacrifices all these years. In the end, what a stupid reason for a by-election... Ketuanan Rakyat? Rubbish...

kzso - reasons of by-election? the reasons are obvious. sodomy case and pm post!