In a direct response to the PKR recently concluded party elections, the "Third Force" headed by Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Haris Ibrahim formed what we have come to know now as MCLM-"Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement"
You can read their agenda and programs by clicking on the name above.
My only question is, based on the recently concluded Tenang by elections, how does an organization like MCLM can make themselves attractive to the Malay electorate? Can someone like HAris Ibrahim command the respect and support of the Malay voters in a constituency like Tenang?
The Malays are paranoid when it comes to Malay rights. PAS tried to be ambivalent. They adopted a "clean campaign" free from mud slinging and bad mouthing tactics.
Most importantly, PAS decided not to play the "Malay Issue". Whatever issued that was played, it was either related to PAS's candidate's credibility (which is head above shoulders compared to that of UMNO's) or national issue which cuts across the race barrier. No Malay issues was played throughout the campaign.
As for UMNO, in addition to the lies, falsehood and slanders they threw at the PAS candidate and leaders, they went beserk playing the race card. Everything that came out from their mouth is nothing more than the dangers that Malays faced with the DAP coming into power in the form of Pakatan Rakyat.
When the ballots were counted, granted that UMNO only increased their tally by 332 votes (close to 2% of votes casted), they managed to keep the Malay votes they received in 2008 intact.
They lost on the CHinese and a bit on the Indian votes but then again most of the Chinese voters could not come out to vote because of the floods. The rescue boats were the sole use for ferrying UMNO voters.
So, UMNO can boast that they have managed to keep Malay voters from shifting sides. THe effect of tsunami 2008 on the Maly electorate has been mitigated. Now, they can move towards getting the Chinese and Indian votes.
My question to MCLM is that: What contribution can you bring forth in order to gain increase the Malay tally for Pakatan Rakyat (or against BN)?
This topic may point out to whether MCLM is really relevant to the current Malaysian political scenario.
tb
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