The Sum Of All Fears, For PAS and Pakatan Rakyat

After 7 by-elections in 16 months, where Pakatan Rakyat (PR) humiliated Barisan Nasional (BN) by winning 6 of them including Manek Urai yesterday, it would be fair to conclude for now that PR is finally running on fumes. Running on fumes because PR, through its component PAS, only managed to edge BN with a majority of 65 votes when the result of the Manek Urai by-election was announced on Tuesday night.

We are not talking about any State constituency here. Manek Urai can be likened as Fort Knox for PAS in Kelantan. It has held the seat for five consecutive terms, that's almost 25 years, until the incumbent State Assemblyman, the late Ismail Yaacob passed away a few weeks ago, forcing a by-election which looked set to be another avenue for PR to further sink its teeth into the jugular vein of a watered down BN. At least that's what people thought, since PR was on a roll after it captured five states in the 12th General Election held in March last year, and also won another five out of six by-elections that followed within the next 14 months.

But surprise, surprise. Not because BN won. But because PAS won, but with a mediocre majority. PAS won by 65 votes, compared to 1,352 votes which they commanded just 16 months ago during the GE.

BN has humiliated PAS, and where it hurts most - in Kelantan.

Where did PAS go wrong? A number of things. One, because of the development pledges made by BN. Two, perhaps because the Kelantan Malays are sick and tired of being left behind and deprived of what Malaysians in other states are enjoying. Three, the prospect of being granted oil royalty payment by the BN-led Federal Government. And four, which I think is the most logical one, is that the Kelantan Malays are angry with the internal rift plaguing PAS. They are upset that both the President, Hadi Awang and Deputy President, Nasharuddin Mat Isa are not seeing eye to eye with the Spiritual Leader, Nik Aziz. Not only that, even several Vice Presidents and PAS' Central Committee members are not seeing eye to eye with the number one and number two, all because of the unity government proposal by UMNO which Nasharuddin openly supported, with full blessings from Hadi.

Perhaps this is a slap on the wrist for PAS. What we Malays call pukul manja. Minor punishment. If that is the case, then it's a bit too early for UMNO and BN to "pop the champagne". But if this is an indication that Kelantan folks want change, then UMNO and BN must continue to keep the pressure on PAS until they crack.

The game plan for UMNO and BN now is to slowly but surely regain confidence and trust from the rakyat. It's a long process, but sometimes in politics, patience will prevail. UMNO could be likened as what people in America refer to as the GOP or Grand Ole Party (when they talk about the Republicans). Yes, the Republicans have had their fair share of humiliation from their arch rivals the Democrats, but they are still pretty much alive and kicking until today, 155 years after they first came into power in the US.

For 52 years, UMNO has spearheaded this country and turned it into what it is today - dynamic, prosperous, well known, forward looking, exemplary, peaceful and harmonious.

We can't simply throw that away just for the sake of change. We already gave PR a chance and look at how they have messed things up in the five states and also stirred trouble at the Federal level.

It's time for Malaysia's Grand Ole Party to rise again. And when they do rise, like a Pacific Northwest grizzly bear standing to full height, I promise you, that will be the sum of all fears for Pakatan Rakyat...