COMMENT THE Hulu Selangor by-election is over, favouring Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalantahan over PKR's Zaid Ibrahim.
But it has still not stopped the talk that it had been a 'buy-election.'
The pun was first used by a news portal and picked up by party campaigners from both camps as well as some bloggers in the runup to the just-concluded contest.
At the height of the campaign it veered away from being a contest between two men and took the guise of a straight race between two governments - the Federal and Selangor state governments.
So, the question that subsequently surfaced was: 'Which government was 'buying' the electorate of nearly 64,000 in the parliamentary constituency?'
As expected, much of the accusations of 'money politics' were leveled at the Barisan-controlled Federal government which allegedly used ministry allocations to fund instant projects like tarred roads as well as contributions of bicycles, food hampers and fertilisers.
The Federal government was also accused of using the police force, RELA, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and government departments to help contain the influence of Pakatan Rakyat – and by extension, the state government.
Even the Election Commission, which oversees electoral procedures in the country, was accused of being biased against Zaid, the Pakatan coalition and the Selangor government.
However, the Pakatan coalition too - including Zaid and Mentri Bear Khalid Ibrahim - was not spared of accusations against it of vote buying.
As one blogger pointed out, the Selangor government, in an unprecedented move, decided to relocate the state administrative centre to Kuala Kubu Baru, albeit temporarily.
"What does that say about wanting to buy the voters over?" asked a writer in the blog, marahku.
The blogger added: "We know that Pakatan was handing out rice by the truckloads to voters and we also know that they had either distributed or promised RM500 per child to a maximum of RM2,000 per family.
"Pakatan was rushing land titles for Chinese voters and even promised land titles to Felda Tengi settlers when they have already received their land titles."
However, both the Federal and state governments have a common reply to the criticisms against them: "We are just being responsible to the people."
In essence, both sides were practising double standards.
If it suits their purpose they'd say; "We are just being a responsible government and looking into the people's needs."
But it has still not stopped the talk that it had been a 'buy-election.'
The pun was first used by a news portal and picked up by party campaigners from both camps as well as some bloggers in the runup to the just-concluded contest.
At the height of the campaign it veered away from being a contest between two men and took the guise of a straight race between two governments - the Federal and Selangor state governments.
So, the question that subsequently surfaced was: 'Which government was 'buying' the electorate of nearly 64,000 in the parliamentary constituency?'
As expected, much of the accusations of 'money politics' were leveled at the Barisan-controlled Federal government which allegedly used ministry allocations to fund instant projects like tarred roads as well as contributions of bicycles, food hampers and fertilisers.
The Federal government was also accused of using the police force, RELA, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and government departments to help contain the influence of Pakatan Rakyat – and by extension, the state government.
Even the Election Commission, which oversees electoral procedures in the country, was accused of being biased against Zaid, the Pakatan coalition and the Selangor government.
However, the Pakatan coalition too - including Zaid and Mentri Bear Khalid Ibrahim - was not spared of accusations against it of vote buying.
As one blogger pointed out, the Selangor government, in an unprecedented move, decided to relocate the state administrative centre to Kuala Kubu Baru, albeit temporarily.
"What does that say about wanting to buy the voters over?" asked a writer in the blog, marahku.
The blogger added: "We know that Pakatan was handing out rice by the truckloads to voters and we also know that they had either distributed or promised RM500 per child to a maximum of RM2,000 per family.
"Pakatan was rushing land titles for Chinese voters and even promised land titles to Felda Tengi settlers when they have already received their land titles."
However, both the Federal and state governments have a common reply to the criticisms against them: "We are just being responsible to the people."
In essence, both sides were practising double standards.
If it suits their purpose they'd say; "We are just being a responsible government and looking into the people's needs."
If it does not, the excuse is: "Look at them, they're buying votes again."
Anyway, the voters have given their mandate to the leadership of Barisan chief Najib Abdul Razak and to Kamalanathan - who opponents labelled 'Kamal Alan Nathan' as a spoof mascot of the Prime Minister's '1Malaysia' concept.
They have made their choice and, for better or worse, they deserve what they get.
Malaysian Mirror
26/04/10
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