Pakatan to avoid BN bashing
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has reportedly told party members that endless BN-bashing will no longer hold water with todays more discerning electorate. file photo
Opposition leaders have acknowledged that voters not only need to know what the ruling pact has purportedly done wrong but what PR, seen as the only alternative with a fighting chance to score Putrajaya in the next polls, can do to correct these wrongs.
PAS appears to have taken the lead in this respect, with its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang reportedly telling party members recently that endless BN-bashing will no longer hold water with todays more discerning electorate.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider yesterday, PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad commended Abdul Hadi for his advice, saying it showed the party president recognises the shift in the countrys political culture.
He (Abdul Hadi) emphasised it to us. He said do not only hantam (attack) for the sake of it. Do not simply shiok sendiri. We cannot be relying on BN-bashing alone. Voters are too smart for that, he said.
PR leaders have often been criticised for focusing too much on BN-bashing when on a stump during elections and falling short of offering sound alternatives to strengthen their case against the government.
But Dzulkefly said that leaders are now aware that voters need to be convinced that PR leaders are not just blowing hot air when they expound on BNs weaknesses and boast about their successes.
So we have a lot to explain to them. We must tell them of our offers in the Buku Jingga, tell them on how we can deal with economic woes! , the pr oblems of the countrys religious and racial divide ... that is what we should be campaigning about now, he said.
Dzulkefly revealed that Abdul Hadi had also said that two types of speakers must be present during PR political functions one to attack BN and one to promote PR policies.
The hantam (attack) one will go first. Then the one who speaks on PRs offers goes next. And we have a lot to offer already so we must tell people what they are, he said.
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said his party too has a new approach to tackling the crowds at ceramah functions.
We have addressed this concern and we have told our speakers. In fact, we discussed a new approach whereby if we have more than two or three speakers, they should each be confined to specific issues so there will be no overlapping among the speakers on one platform.
They must also be more focused and have all the facts ... not just an Umno-bashing session but also offer the people information on our policies as stated in the Buku Jingga and other issues like the economy, education and security, he said.
Similarly, DAPs national publicity secretary Tony Pua said his party leaders often focus on PRs successes in the states that it helms.
What we do at all our dinners, especially if you listen to (Penang Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng, is give a contrast of the administrations, under PR and under BN.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, after all. So instead of giving promises, which people can describe as empty, we tell them what we have done despite our limited powers and abilities ... things that we have delivered in Penang, in Selangor, he said.
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