SakAK47’s Impressions from the Frontlines

April 25, 2010

Hulu Selangor  — Impressions from the Frontlines

by SakmongkolAK47

For the last two days I have been in Hulu Selangor (HS). If you were to approach HS by way of Tanjung Malim, you will arrive at the village of Kalumpang. This is a Malay populated area within HS. The influence of PAS is unmistakably clear here. You come across the he banner bearing the serene face of Nik Aziz.

The message on the banner is simple- berdoalah untuk kemenangan Dato Zaid. That is really, at the end of the day, what Zaid can count on to win- lots of prayers.

I have been writing a few articles on this election in HS. The first few articles were mostly on the factors which I thought can contribute to BN’s defeat. These include for example, the choice of candidate, the strategy of hurling personal insults, and the inherited sins of the past.

The last two articles, I wrote of the only approach that can appeal to Malay voters. I believed the Malay voters play of determining role in this election- not the Indians or the Chinese. The only way is to appeal to the Malay emotions. What does UMNO represent to the Malays? We in UMNO know and those against UMNO know- that there are so many defects and shortcomings to the UMNO first formed in 1946 and then reformed by Dr Mahathir. If Zaid finds it virtuous to own up, it is more pertinently virtuous for UMNO to acknowledge its shortcomings. It is mature and confident enough to allow it to be tried in the court of fair play.

What UMNO really represents the end, is a reservoir of emotional solace to the Malays from which Malays can derive emotional sustenance. That they know there will always be behind them, a political party from which they can solicit comfort. Expressed as it were in terms of protection, in terms of affirmative action, in terms of having the structures of government controlled by Malays.

Even if these were abused, the existence of UMNO will provide to Malays, a reservoir of comfort. And even if they have not been applied justly or rightfully, the forms of protection all of which constitute emotional comfort exist in potentia, or in posse– able to be drawn upon when needed. This assurance and a continuing belief that UMNO is there, provide the solace to Malays. Perhaps this was the missing link so inarticulately expressed by the neuro-surgeon who stammered nervously during his celebrated renunciation of his faith in PKR.

UMNO represents a reservoir of emotional comfort that exists in posse that can easily be converted into in esse. It’s almost impossible for me to talk about BN bringing development to HS. The reality and I hope this is acknowledged by BN and UMNO, that in Selangor, it is the Opposition. Here, it is the PKR government that can offer development. This emotional link up is a powerful tool I think that UMNO and BN can relate to the people in HS. It’s also the same tool that can address the hopes and fears of the non Malays in HS.

UMNO-BN can’t underestimate the capabilities of the state government in addressing the immediate needs of the voters in HS. The DPM and other UMNO bigwigs may make a lot of noise about the crossovers of PKR legislators over to BN- those are only for psychological boosters but these people don’t vote in HS.

While we celebrate these crossovers, UMNO-BN must also be mindful of the number of UMNO ketua cawangans meeting Zaid Ibrahim almost daily asking Zaid to solve their land problems. In return they pledged support for their Malay brethren.

This, election, will be too close to call. The BN can just come out with a win. It shall be a win that leaves a bitter after taste.