We would have liked intelligent policies and political maturity from Pakatan Rakyat; instead they have treated the public to a campaign song, music videos, and a glitzy launch event. One would be forgiven for thinking Pakatan leaders were auditioning for Malaysian Idol.
Unfortunately for them, the country cannot be run on slick music videos alone. We need leaders with substance, strength of conviction, and a national vision – none of which were on display at the DAP election theme launch on Tuesday night.
Pakatan tried to stuff the stage with leaders like DAP’s Lim Guan Eng, PAS’s Khalid Samad and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. But their collective bravado sounded hollow amid the frenzied waving of light-sticks.
It is clear that Pakatan is trying to win our vote by entertaining us. But there is so much more that Malaysia needs than a music concert, a video channel on YouTube, or populists slogans.
Perhaps Pakatan should look at the sweeping reforms being implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The biggest change of our country’s governance is underway while Opposition leaders spend their time composing little songs. The country has moved on, and Pakatan is in real danger of being left behind.
Instead of catching up with the government’s reform agenda, Pakatan is trying to dress up its own inadequacies and to distract voters’ attention from the Opposition’s poor track record and its petty internal squabbles.
DAP national publicity secretary Anthony Loke told the 700-strong audience (that’s all they could muster?) that his party’s election campaign song would be used to attract young Malaysians and educate them about the importance of voting. Really? On the importance of voting?
Pakatan should instead educate all Malaysians on the reasons, if any, why the youth should consider voting in the first place for an Opposition coalition that is headed by the aging trio of 71-year old Lim Kit Siang, 64-year old Anwar Ibrahim and 64-year old Abdul Hadi Awang.
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah joined in the fervour of the moment and tried to rouse the crowd in her own inimitable way.
“We have to change this government … enough with lies, cheap publicity shots, propaganda,” she declared, while indulging in not very credible propaganda herself at an event designed to generate cheap publicity for Pakatan.
Not to be outdone, Guan Eng held an autograph signing session later that evening for Opposition supporters who waited in a queue. The illusion of a music concert was now complete.
This latest strategy of Pakatan to try its hand at old-fashioned political circus is bound to fall flat. Voters are looking for substance, not hollow glitz.