BN has lost the war of Popularity

Popularity is Power from the people!

A popular government has the solid backing of the CITIZENS. A popular leader doesn’t have to bribe anyone for support; just a mere word and he can mobilize thousands in one solid show of solidarity and affection endorsing their choice for those whom the citizens prefer to lead them.

When the leader/ leaders possesses the allegiance of the marjority of a nation’s people behind them, commanding their trust, respect and overwhelming support and affection.

WELL, THAT IS POWER! 

What the rallies seem to have accomplished

If popularity is any indicator, I doubt that the BN lineup can come anywhere near to the appeal that Anwar and his brothers in arms command. At merely stating that there is to be an assembly, the people just come out in droves to see them in a show of support and solidarity, without promises of free food or any other enticements apart from the fact that they want to see in person this man and his comrades in the flesh and hear their views. And if needed, to rally behind them in a show of strength and mass support.

 Time and again, this has been demonstrated via the rallies throughout the nation.

 Detractors may feel that the assemblies don’t seem to go anywhere but sifting through all the logic and reason, somehow there is a grudging conclusion that perhaps it does meet a purpose. Shoring up the sentiments of the people, deposit as it were, to be withdrawn in a crucial time. Whipping up the sentiments of outrage amongst the people that they have been defrauded.

 Perceived foul play is a thorn in people’s mindsets.  Everyone of whatever ethnicity feels indignant to have their sense of decency and fairplay mocked, and when ingrained into their psyche, it will stay there for a long time and will be  vented explosively when opportunity comes. The rallies can also pressure the BN ruling coalition to toe the line and not procrastinate anymore if they are really seeking to reform for the better.

The rallies have made superstars of the Pakatan line up. Nurul, Che GU Bard, Tian Chua, Mat Sabu, Tony Pua to name a few, apart from already idolized top guns. And not only exclusively from PR but the personalities from NGOs as well.  The rakyat can easily relate to these personalities, these perceived  champions and identify with them as one of their own. They have captured the imagination of the Rakyat as underdogs championing their cause for justice and righteousneous although, it may be an idealistic notion that may not have bearing to bread and butter issues affecting livelihood

 
Nonetheless, it appeals psychologically to the core essence of decent people with moral values. Touches on raw nerves and pent up emotions that has been set aside in the people’s psyche for years under the iron handed authoritarian rule of the BN. This is an accumulation of those many years of pent up frustrations of the common layman on the street  who have been exposed to, heard about or victimized in one form or another , the excesses of the ruling party , commited with impunity for half a decade ,in total disregard of the rakyat’s  opinions , as if they  didn’t matter. So what is witnessed now in these rallies is the venting of the people’s exasperation and disapproval of the abused practices inflicted on the country for so long.

It takes two hands to clap and make a sound. Pakatan is but just one hand, the rakyat make up the other .If the people are not supportive and in consensus with the cause, very few will attend the rallies. They will stay away not because the authorities tell them to do so or that it is illegal, but simply because they cannot commit emotionally. But on the contrary, looking at the numbers in attendance, in spite of warnings and veiled threats by the powers,  generally  law respecting and abiding people attend the gatherings,  it shows just how  disapproving of the government ( judging from the ground sentiment of the rakyat ) the people are.

 More importantly, it also reveals the intensity of the emotions that is felt by the people. The “Tidak Apa, Biar saja!” attitude has shifted to “ Ta boleh dah.! Sudah lah, cukup la itu, Ta boleh lagi.”

And this represents  the marjority voice of the Rakyat, including even those who prefer not to attend and have voiced out their protest through the ballot. They may want to move on in despair that they were denied the opportunity to UBAH, but doesn’t mean that they have given up all hope.

A voice of Gen Y.

 Especially  among the idealistic  young generation who have  heard accounts about what it was like under BN from the older generation besides interpret ting for themselves how much truth those accounts carry in current times.

They make up their own minds based on testimonies and evidence presented and come to a conclusion by their own accord influenced by their own intellect.

 They may not have felt the brunt of the excesses in comparison to their parent’s generation, but doesn’t mean that they do not feel offended or concerned when their sense of values in what is acceptable and decent in our society and culture is aroused.  More so when perpetrated by those entrusted to lead us and make the correct decisions on our behalf with our best interests at heart.

BN losing the war of perception and popularity

Ask any average man on the street to name any BN ministers or legislators with as much charisma and popularity as that of those in PR and chances are there will be very few names to match that of the house hold names of those in PR.

It is a war of perception ,and on the media front especially the social media , BN is suffering huge casualties in the popularity battle for hearts and minds .

Race card again, does it help?!

And harping on the race card to rally the Malays doesn’t seem to help much either, if anything , BN runs the risk of offending their own coalition members and chasing them away to the other side out of sheer exasperation and despair. Not to mention that it has already successfully created the image on the mindsets of those on the other camp on , how despicable and low those responsible will stoop , to preserve their power and control and how desperate they are in fear of losing that power.

The race bashing may appeal to ultra racist elements within UMNO but just how significant are their numbers? Amongst the 3 million or so UMNO members, many are ordinary people with ordinary lifes that has been integrating with the other communities and to an extent are interdependent on each other to advance and progress.They have been doing so for years and to tell them now they have been dancing with the enemy may offend their sensibilities when they know for a fact it is not so. And neither do they feel threatened by the other communities.  Continue to dispense with this spiteful racial rhetoric  of Us vs Them ,so blatantly designed to incite and manipulate , turns decent rational people who can reason ,off.

UMNO has with credit raised up the economic standing and  intellectual abilities and  capacity of the Malay marjority, yet ,with informed intellect, comes a clearer perception of world views guided by common sense and rational thought.  Education does away with ignorance. It removes the proverbial coconut shell. Educated or informed people cannot be lead by the nose anymore. They can decipher very well or understand, emotionally if not intellectually, what is mental colonialism and oppression, simply because they are now  intelligent and mature enough.

Get off your high horse!

The elite of UMNO and BN need to step out of their gilded horse drawn carriages or their limousine motorcades and mingle with the Rakyat to regain a sense of the pulse of the people. They are so clearly out of touch with what is going on, on the ground, what the Rakyat has evolved into  after  56 years post independence and how they really think and feel about the state of affairs in the nation.

From the makcik nasi lemak to the pakcik warong, Muthu’s dobi to Ah Seng’s workshop to the SMIs, Towkays and Dato’s of Sdn Bhds. What and how do they feel about the past 50 years under BN.? Why so many of them voted as they did during the PRU13??

 In a nutshell , BN is as unpopular as a rotten egg in a crowded room. The stink from 50 years of abuses cannot be washed off overnight. But if they can discard the smelly parts then there may be hope yet.

Please don’t rock the boat and just allow us to be  Malaysians 

In the urban areas, where the economic power houses and life sustaining organs of the nation that generates the wealth exist, the message has been sent loud and clear, No More!  Enough already!  Let’s get on with living as Malaysians and collectively transform it into a nation to be envied for prosperity and cooperation of her patriotic people, who have a very strong sense of nationhood and love for their homeland. Using our very diversity as a formidable strength to challenge the world and emerge celebrated. We can have our cake and eat it too, distributed fairly to all to ensure all will have a piece.

Whether that task can be done by PR or BN is a  moot issue. More pressing are the ideals of the marjority  seeking a better quality of citizenship and way of life in our homeland.