‘Najib has the edge over Anwar’

Athi Shankar

Academician Sivamurugan Pandian believes the Najib factor will prevail and pull BN over the finishing line in the next general election.

For the first time in Malaysian political history, Barisan Nasional will face the most serious challenge to its 55-year-old political supremacy.

But political analyst Sivamurugan Pandian believes the Najib factor would eventually prevail and pull BN over the finishing line in the next general election.

He, however, was unsure if the Najib factor can help BN regain its two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Since taking over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009 as the prime minister, he said Najib Tun Razak had managed to come out from the Umno’s racial political sphere to become a Malaysian leader for all.

He pointed out that Najib had enhanced his reputation via his walkabouts to reach out to various communities and young voters on his own.

He said Najib was now perceived to be addressing problems faced by various communities on his own, rather than depending on third party, or BN coalition partners.

He said Najib’s direct approach and personal touch had convinced the grassroots, including young Malaysians, that the prime minister has come of age.

“He has managed to erase initial scepticism on his leadership capabilities.

“It’s not an overstatement to say Najib has transformed himself from being seen as a Malay leader to a Malaysian leader,” said Sivamurugan, a lecturer at the School of Social Sciences in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Anwar’s political strength

He also complimented Najib’s political rival and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for elevating himself to be a Malaysian, rather than a Malay, leader.

He said one cannot deny that Anwar’s political strength was instrumental in the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat as an alternate government-in-waiting in the national political landscape.

“Anwar, apart from Hindraf, was a major factor behind the unprecedented results in the 2008 general election.

“He is a major factor keeping Pakatan together,” said the academician.

Sivamurugan has no doubt that the Najib versus Anwar factor would be decisive in the forthcoming election.

Although both have good oratory skills and strong support, he believes that the prime minister has an edge in the race, and this is not just because he was helming the BN federal government.

“Comparatively, Najib had delivered better than Anwar,” claimed the academician.

He said Najib had enthusiastically driven through his transformation plans and managed to unite and enhance cooperation among BN component parties.

He said Najib had managed to standardise the administrative operations of all BN-led state governments and delivered successive people-oriented budgets to allay public fear on bread and butter issues.

“Malaysians wake up each morning without having to worry about their daily meals and shelter,” said the lecturer.

Najib’s reforms

Najib, he said, was also perceived promoting moderate and tolerant religious policies.

He pointed out that the premier had abolished draconian laws such the Internal Security Act, Emergency Ordinance and emergency declarations.

He said Najib had also relaxed the law on students’ political activism and freedom of peaceful assembly.

He praised the premier for initiating an unprecedented bold step of heeding public demands on liberalism even though many in Umno opposed his reform policies.

“Najib will be remembered in history as the prime minister who repealed ISA and other draconian laws.

“Whether you like him or not, Najib has delivered,” said Sivamurugan.

In contrast, he said Anwar failed to deliver on his Sept 16, 2008 promise to take over the federal government and failed to implement Pakatan’s common policy framework – Buku Jingga – in any of the coalition-led state governments.

He said one can notice the vast differences in Pakatan state governments’ operations and policies in Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor.

He also chided Anwar for playing a “populist game” on the Islamic state issue propagated by PAS but opposed vehemently by the DAP.

Until today, he said Anwar had failed to resolve the contentious issue amicably.

“Apart from their Putrajaya agenda, Pakatan allies have nothing much in common. This gives an edge to Najib and BN,” noted Sivamurugan.