Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
KUCHING: Barisan Nasional’s (BN) winning streak at by-elections held post-GE14 is a sign that the people are growing impatient and unhappy with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.
Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the back-to-back-to-back wins for BN in Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and the latest Rantau by-election reflects the groundswell feeling of unhappiness among the people.
“The rakyat (people) are beginning to see all the promises, pledges and good governance promised by PH prior to GE14 are just lies and they are now throwing the bat back at PH,” he said when contacted yesterday on the result of the Rantau by-election, which saw incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan retain the seat for BN with 10,397 votes in a four-cornered contest on Saturday.
Mohamad won with a majority of 4,510 votes over PH’s Dr S Streram, who polled 5,887 votes while Independent candidates R Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin only managed to poll 83 and 79 votes respectively.
Abdul Karim believed that the continuous losses by PH will also be reflective in the State Election, which is expected to be held in 2021.
“The fighters that we see in Chong Chieng Jen, Dr Kelvin Yii and Baru Bian – (they) are slowly beginning to dwindle as they are given ministerial duties,” he said.
Nevertheless, the PBB vice president said even though BN’s win gives Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) a boost of confidence to take on PH, it does not mean that GPS leaders will rest on their laurels.
“We have the added task of explaining to the rakyat about GPS because before this, they only know of BN.
“It will take a while for them to digest a new outfit,” he remarked.
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri
Meanwhile, Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said prior to GE14, the people had mostly been fed with ‘fake news’ and negative perception of BN.
“BN was not an expert in social media, which contributed a lot towards its defeat.
“But now that reality has sunk in, the real test is on the ground and a lot of promises made during the GE14 campaign are still unfulfilled.
“Initially, in the first few months, the people were excited, including me because I wanted to see change happen. Unfortunately, the blame game is ongoing until today.”
The former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department pointed out that a lot of programmes intended for the people were abolished at first but, after receiving backlash and criticisms, the PH government had to make U-turns or even rebranded some of these programmes.
“Some promises made were also unreasonable such as ‘today we win the elections, tomorrow the oil price will be lowered’ and many more, including restoring the status of Sarawak as equal partner.
“The people felt that the government does not pay attention to their welfare and they don’t address the real problems on the ground,” she stressed.
She emphasised that BN’s elected representatives have always been people-centric compared to PH’s elected representatives who have been continuously politicking.
“The people are getting fed up and they now realise that BN’s elected representatives have lent their ears and given them due attention.
“They are now looking back at who seriously worked for the people.”
Nancy said a case in point was the Rantau by-election where she noted that Mohamad’s humbleness captured the hearts of the people during his years as Rantau MP.
“Datuk Seri Mohamad, who was formerly Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar, has always been the favourite man for Negeri Sembilan.
“Regardless of the strategies used to shame him, the people still supported him,” she said, adding that BN’s victories in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih also served as an inspiring factor which encouraged voters to choose Mohamad.
Nancy mused that PH still has a lot to learn and though they might have won the perception before, the people will be reminded of their previous strategies which were politically motivated to place themselves in their current position.