By : SELVARAJA SOMIAH
THE SABAH State Assembly elections
or the 13th General Elections will be held before March/April 2013. The state
is witnessing a political undercurrent in favour of Chief Minister Musa Aman.
However, his critics and an analyst like Karim Gani stoutly argue against such
a claim. Karim says, “Musa’s charisma may be there, but there is no
undercurrent in favour of Musa.”
Here are some pointers
favouring Musa Aman:
# Undoubtedly, there is no
political leader in Sabah who has been as popular as Musa Aman since its
inception in 1963. Musa Aman had charmed the poor and Natives, his influence is
not limited in UMNO pockets.
Shafie Apdal is, largely, a
Suluk leader and Lajim Ukin is, largely, a Bisaya leader. Both have theirs
pockets of influence, but none could match Musa’s clout over young minds and
men and women be it in the urban areas or even rural.
In the last five years,
after appropriating the Best Chief Minister’s title, Musa has calibrated his
communication with people through the language of development. That has clicked
with people because the subtext of his act says that under Musa’s rule you
could make money and have a comfortable life without many political, communal
or social disturbances.
There is madness in
crediting Musa Aman for every good thing happening in Sabah. In the last five
years, the rains have been good, the KLSE is zooming up, agricultural income is
booming and real estate is making middle-class families millionaires. Many
middle-class voters say “Musa’s rule is auspicious.”
This shows that people are
ready to re-elect Musa Aman. In his statewide meet the people sessions, men,
women and youngsters gather to see him. Their faces evoke emotions. They look
pleased to see their leader. The relation of trust between Musa Aman and his
fans is certainly there.
In Sabah’s political
circles, DAP and SAPP compete in the urban areas. Traditionally, they oppose
each other with vengeance during election time as seen in the last Batu Sapi
Parliamentary by-elections.
So is Datuk Pairin and Dr
Jeffrey Kitingan both fighting tooth and nail for the indigenous KDM votes,
although Pairin at this moment of time has still got the numbers, but its dwindling. Musa
knows this, Musa also knows Pairin is loyal, Musa also knows Pairin is “HUGUAN
SIOU” to the KDMs and when push come to shove KDMs will still throw their
support to their Paramount Leader.
Musa has transcended
political rivalry and is expected to divide them successfully.
Then in Beaufort, as soon as
Lajim Ukin declared Musa his enemy, Bisayas and Kadayans thought why strengthen
Lajim by backing UMNO rebels? The Former Umno supreme council member Lajim Ukin
says he will set up a new political party as a vehicle to field candidates in
the upcoming general election.
Lajim, had recently
announced his resignation as an Umno supreme council member, Beaufort Umno
division chief and Beaufort BN chairman with immediate effect and declared his
support for Pakatan but remained an Umno member.
So funny, people are not
stupid, Lajim wants to have his cake and wants to eat it too. Like this, better
to trust Musa Aman, the community leaders, both Bisayas and Kadayans argued.
The Lajim stance is the only mysterious factor and will be known only after
elections.
When the Pakatan argues that
Musa’s leadership is not as much identified with the poor, natives as with
urban, middle class and upwardly mobile voters of small towns, it is quite
unbelievable.
But one can’t ignore the
fact that today is Musa moment.
# Musa’s pluses and minuses
are the only talking points of this election. Musa, being the experienced and
cunning election strategist, has written the role for himself and has won not
only his party but has captured the minds of UMNO leaders in Kuala Lumpur and
the Prime Minister himself too.
This is the amazing factor
of this coming election.
The coming 13 General
Elections in Sabah will be known as the Musa versus Musa election. Musa Aman is
in the battleground selling his own virtues, while Pakatan Rakyat and all the
other wannabe opposition parties in Sabah is moving in lanes and bylanes of
Sabah highlighting Musa’s vices, weaknesses and lies.
People are asked to vote for
Musa’s virtues or against Musa’s lies. Right now the Musa magic works. Musa has
staunchly identified himself with Sabah as Pairin did with Sabah in the 1985.
He is raising regional
parochialism to new heights by negotiating with the Federal Government for
higher oil royalty for the state, getting the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)
on the illegal immigrant to be conducted quickly before the 13th general
elections. In fact according to LITTLE BIRD when Premier Najib comes to Sabah
tomorrow 1st September 2012, Najib will announce and increase in oil royalty
for Sabah.
I don’t know for sure how
many percent but definitely its going to be more than 10%. This is definitely
going to create shock ways if what LITTLE BIRD told me comes true.
# In and around Tawau, and
other coastal areas in the east coast a large section of voters believe that
during the Musa government they have remained free of Abu Sayyaf and
kidnappings. Absence of kidnapping means more tourism related development and
more peace of mind for fishermen as safety and security is well taken care of.
People here say “Musa means development without fear.”
On other hand, opposition
voters, particularly urban opposition voters also acknowledge that when Musa is
in the CM seat, it means, “Miscreant is the monitor of our class” and that
guarantees peace in Sabah.
Musa unlike the earlier
governments has successfully foiled all the kidnapping in the east coast of
Sabah. This argument is appreciated by average people and they say previous
governments were not been able to stop the kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf in the
east coast.
# The Musa government has
created the “feel good” factor by giving electricity supply to most homes in
Sabah. There is a vital difference between the 2003 situation and now. Of
course there is still power cuts but its not as bad as what it was before 2003.
Musa has succeeded in
setting up new power plants and have changed infrastructure fundamentals big
time. Now with the setting up of Kimanis RM1.5bil gas-fired plant a 300MW power
plant to address the power supply issue in the state, things will get even
better.
Now, a large number of
people do mention that the government has given them uninterrupted electricity.
For Musa Aman, whatever good government or its wings have done in the name of
development is exclusively credited to “Musa” and is helping him to connect to
people at this crucial time.
# In last five years, even
the supply system of drinking water has improved. Kampongs do have reliable
system of water supply, now.
A large number of kampong
people say they have a tap in their homes for the first time in their family
history.
Again, there are problems in
many areas. In some place the water supplied by government is not of good
quality and at many places water is stored in tanks. But, there is perceptible
improvement in the entire drinking water system.
# One of the most corrupt
sectors of any state government is always the public works department. Sabah is
no different, but in the last nine years after Musa Aman took charge of the
state, a lot of work has been done and things move much faster now as many
corrupted officials have been removed.
The quality of new roads in
the interiors and kampongs have improved.
Musa is obviously not
bluffing when he says, “I am not corrupt, I don’t allow corruption”.
Barisan National is visibly
cash-rich.
Money plays an important
role in the hype through mass-communication and in the craft of building of
political perceptions for use of the media. But, still, the fact is that people
are in a mood to believe that Musa Aman is not corrupt. In this election, his
clean image will give him many marks.
# There are several reasons
why Barisan National will do well in Sabah again this coming 13th General
Elections although Musa’s government had reached its peak of getting 59 out of
the 60 state seats in the 2008 elections.
Musa Aman without any doubt
is pro-reforms and a moderate ruler. He has continued helping the under
privileged and poor. He has even helped single mothers and has asked his
administration to give them training. Now, trained widows are getting work and
even getting pension.
There are many such
situations where Musa has created new programs and projects for the poor and
the underprivileged.
His penchant to give
permission to new education institutes is appreciated, he gives permission to
self-finance education bodies and schools which plan to run on government
grants.
As a result the indigenous
people don’t have to pay for uniforms shoes and text books for their school
going children. Even milk and free food are supplied to these indigenous
children in the interiors.
So the overall thrust is such that Musa will score points.
The hidden social fight of
upper/middle class versus the poor people is taking a new direction in Sabah.
Musa is benefiting out of it.
He has successfully created
hype over his social schemes.
The re-gazette of 183,000
hectares of Class 2 Commercial Forests into Class 1 Protection Forests to
expand the expanse of totally protected forests in the state is another issue
largely going in his favour.
The craving for forest
protection in the state is so intense by Musa Aman that the story about him
cutting all the timber and corruption is not getting people’s attention because
they know its all lies to discredit him.
The e-government is a pet
subject of Musa and its help in systemising land records does make an impact on
the people. The Communal Titles a brainchild of Musa Aman, a move to issue
communal land titles to resolve ownership woes among the indigenous people has
paid off. It has ensured that indigenous
people receive the land they had cultivated or lived in for generations. It is
also a way to ensure that land owned by the natives could not be sold off.
To repeat on a broader
level, Musa is selling dreams in kampongs and towns where his development has
reached and where his economic thinking is helping indigenous people to improve
their lives.
The opposition has countered
his attempt to sell starry ideas, but his charisma and the massive development
seen taking place all over the state attempts to control the damage of robust
opposition in many places.
While in urban areas Musa’s
offer to have a ”Developed Sabah” is clicking with people who love the
multi-fold appreciation of their stock, homes and land prices.
If you look at the emotional
connection between Musa and his audience in his statewide meet the people
sessions, it is easy to predict that Musa is all set to win again.
Even Premier Najib recently
in Bongawan was impressed by Musa’s performance, both as Umno head and chief
minister and he complimented, “Musa is doing an excellent job leading the party
and the state government.”
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