Opposition parties should learn to accept defeat<\/p>\n
V.K. Chin
\nThe Star
\nAsia News Network
\nSelangor, Malaysia<\/p>\n
The opposition must be dreaming if it feels it can overturn
\nthe results of the 2004 general election, which was won by a
\nlandslide by the Barisan Nasional coalition.<\/p>\n
Two of the biggest losers in the election, PAS and Keadilan,
\nare conducting road shows throughout the country in the hope that
\nthe 11th election on March 21 will be declared null and void.<\/p>\n
The sad truth is that these opposition groups are still in
\ndenial and could not accept the fact that the people had rejected
\nthem. It is time for them to face reality and take the loss on
\nthe chin.<\/p>\n
They should accept the situation in the right spirit and not
\ndisplay their immaturity as such behavior will do their
\nreputation and image little good. If they should blame the
\nElection Commission for their own debacle, then they might be
\nbarking up the wrong tree.<\/p>\n
There might have been some hiccups in the implementation
\nprocess by some election officials but this was due to the non-
\ncompliance of the procedures rather than the fault of the
\ncommission itself.
\nIn any case, the incidents occurred in isolated areas and not a
\nnational trend. The commission has proposed the setting up of an
\nindependent panel to conduct an in-depth study of the process to
\ndetermine the causes of some of the mix-ups.<\/p>\n
What the opposition parties could not accept was the defeats
\nsuffered by their candidates in both the parliamentary and state
\nconstituencies.<\/p>\n
If there should be serious electoral irregularities, then the
\nBarisan would have a complete sweep. While PAS had lost control
\nof Terengganu, it had managed to retain control of the Kelantan
\nstate government though by the narrowest of margin.<\/p>\n
The opposition, especially PAS, should accept defeat with good
\ngrace like the Barisan did in the 1999 general election. The
\nBarisan did not cry foul just because it was decisively thrown
\nout of Terengganu.<\/p>\n
Instead of looking for a scapegoat for its loss, the coalition
\naccepted the wish of the people and continued to work hard to
\nregain the confidence and support of the voters in the state and
\nelsewhere.<\/p>\n
This pragmatic approach had paid handsome dividends as the
\nBarisan was able to return the favor to PAS by taking back
\nTerengganu and routing PAS candidates in other states.<\/p>\n
It is better for PAS to realize that the people had enough of
\nits brand of politics and were prepared to support only the
\npolitical party which could bring them economic development and a
\nbetter way of life.<\/p>\n
Instead of sulking, the opposition parties should take a leaf
\nfrom the Barisan and continue to work hard to regain the people's
\nsupport. Going on road shows is therefore a waste of time and
\nenergy, which could be better spent doing something positive and
\nconstructive for the good of the people.<\/p>",
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