The Malaysian Insight

UNTIL the next general election, Malaysians will hear about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal from Pakatan Harapan politicians at ceramahs.

The opposition coalition will continue to hammer the issue, using it to convince voters to listen to PH and what it has to offer Malaysia.

“1MDB is the lightning rod, which will get voters to listen to us,” DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP, who has become an authority on the scandal, said the controversy would give Malaysians a reason to pay attention to what PH had to say.

A reason to listen

Pua said good manifestos alone meant little if the people were not interested.

“We had good manifestos in 2008 and 2013, but the people didn’t want to listen. There was no reason for them to listen because they were somewhat happy with Umno and BN.

“Now, they have a reason to listen (to us),” he said.

Recognising the importance of having good policies to offer the people, Pua said the opposition was going on a two-pronged approach.

“The other team, my colleagues, are working on the manifesto and the policies that PH will introduce should it wins Putrajaya.

“It is a two-pronged approach. We are not going to forget that, as many have commented and asked about our policies.

“They will come. At the same time, we just have to tell the people what Barisan Nasional and (Prime Minister) Najib Razak are doing,” he said.

PH is on a two-month national roadshow to explain the 1MDB issue to the people. The target audience is the Malays in rural areas, where most still support Umno and BN, as well as PAS, which is not a PH component member.

PH’s first 1MDB ceramah in the roadshow was held last Thursday night in the small town of Penaga in Kepala Batas, Penang – an Umno territory.

Pua, his DAP colleagues Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari and Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Amanah Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil and Penang Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia information chief Yaakob Osman were the speakers.

1MDB is also a people issue

Kasthuriraani, who is DAP Women wing’s publicity secretary, said 1MDB was also an issue that affected the people like cost of living.

She said if people, including rural folk, were not interested in 1MDB, they would not have attended the ceramah in Penaga.

“They were shocked by the explanation on the scandal. They also want to know where the money went. What we need to do now is humanise the issue,” she said.

In her speech at Thursday night’s ceramah, she spoke briefly of PH plans, such as scrapping the North-South Expressway toll, and introducing free education up to university, and a zero-rated goods and services tax.

“Those are things PH and (the old opposition coalition) Pakatan Rakyat have always wanted to do. They are promises we intend to keep.

“PH will also continue to talk about education, cost of living and other people issues,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Faiz said 1MDB was the issue that could change the federal government, because “the whole Cabinet is responsible for the scandal”.

“We need to stress on this issue more because it has to do with the people’s problems. PH will check the deals made between 1MDB and financial institutions and others.

“We will chase those responsible, seize their assets, press charges and recover the money,” he said.

Other scandals and issues will also be addressed

Faiz and Yaakob of Bersatu said PH would address other issues of integrity such as Felda, Tabung Haji, Mara and governmental institutions linked with power abuse; as well as the rising prices, cost of living, affordable housing, employment, education and development.

Going forward, Yaakob said the coalition would introduce administrative reforms and push for more transparency.

“We must introduce better financial and economic management to ensure standard of living and prices of good and services will remain affordable, and improve policies on affordable housing, education and job creation for Malaysians, not foreigners.

“We must look into how development, supply and service contracts are awarded to prevent leakages, and bring in foreign direct investments that benefit the nation and Malaysians,” he said.

Yaakob said the opposition-run states of Penang and Selangor were good examples and training grounds that showed voters how Malaysia would be under a PH-controlled federal government.

PH, he said, could offer the people be a better government than BN, having a combination of experienced leaders from the older generation and young leaders with dynamic ideas.

He also said PH had Bersatu this time – a party where most of its members were not politicians by profession but people who joined the party because they wanted to do something for the country.

“Bersatu is a movement that aims to change the country for the better. Many used to hate DAP, but now we stand shoulder to shoulder with them for the sake of Malaysia. I think this is the combination that was missing in the last two elections.

“With Bersatu in PH, we can help PH reach places it never could before like the Malay heartland and Felda areas, which are places we understand. Through this, we hope we can deliver enough votes and seats for PH to take Putrajaya,” he said.

Bersatu was started by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who quit Umno to fight his former party over the 1MDB scandal.

The longest-serving prime minister, who turns 92 on Monday, had also been going to ceramah events to talk about current issues, including the 1MDB scandal, to convince the people to remove BN from Putrajaya. – July 8, 2017.