YOURSAY | ‘We are seeing the rise of a new ethno-nationalist coalition.’

The Verdict

Vijay47: How fickle are the winds of change? For a while, as the early results were rolling in, I felt that a new Malaysia was on the horizon and that finally, we were on our way to creating the proud nation we believed we could all contribute. Then, even if not devastatingly, the tide began to cruelly turn.

I am not in the least bothered that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Langkawi) and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah lost, though I did pause a moment to hear that BN’s Sungai Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin had fallen.

A small cause for celebration was that BN’s Putrajaya candidate Tengku Adnan Mansor had suffered the loss he long deserved. But from then on, it was terrible news all the way.

Shockingly, PKR’s Permatang Pauh candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar did not win even if her parents did, one (mother Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) in Bandar Tun Razak and another, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in Tambun, from which he should have without question emerged as prime minister.

Far worse news was to come. It was as though two burning daggers had pierced my chest to learn that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had won.

I would have rather that Pakatan Harapan lost all their seats in exchange for these two threats to national well-being being stopped in their tracks. It is depressing to realise that the people of Bagan Datok would welcome a person like Ahmad Zahid.

It is frightening to think that the people of Marang did not hesitate to give support to a religious fanatic. Lord knows where these two will take us, certainly hell than ‘syurga’ (heaven).

My drive and enthusiasm have forsaken me. I am going to sleep now, without even waiting for the Batu and other results.

My only hope is that when I awake tomorrow, it would be to read that those gullible sheep in Sabah and Sarawak have finally realised that for 60 years they were deceived by thieves and cheats in Malaya and that it is time they decide to make a fresh, sincere alliance.

Sarawak BK: I think the big news here is not just BN's humiliation, but the rise of a new ethno-nationalist coalition as their replacement. (When framed this way, I think the ousting of Nurul Izzah is also just as significant, and not in a good way).

That, I think is not good news for Malaysia, and if you told me beforehand that this would be the price to pay to ensure the end of the court cluster, I'm not sure I feel entirely comfortable about that.

Those of us in Sarawak (and not just Sarawak) should view what is happening on the scene of our national politics with concern. Hopefully, this is not the long-term trajectory we are embarking on.

We really need moderates, of every political stripe, to step up, work hard and make their voice heard.

Apanama is Back: It looks like this could be game over for Malaysia. While the ‘frogs’ are punished heavily and the ‘menace and nuisance old politician’ lost his deposit, with his son also meeting with the same fate, Harapan may not even hit 80 seats.

This is because some of the PKR and Amanah candidates who were incumbents lost in this GE15. So far, Bersatu seems better off than PKR. Umno-BN is a gone case. MIC and Gerakan are dead!

I can say one thing here. Voters are becoming smarter this time around, especially first-time voters.

Anyway, let me have my rest. Infighting may take place, especially in Perikatan Nasional. Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is waiting for a phone call from Peninsular Malaysia since they are now the kingmaker.

Embun: Bersatu chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin's viral statement that Harapan was an “agent of Jews and Christians” who were out to colonise Malaysia could have swung many votes to PN. Our voters were gullible and would believe in him, especially the kampung folks.

It is indeed worrisome what will become of Malaysia if we have an ultra-Islamic party ruling the country.

We hope GPS from East Malaysia would consider carefully which party to align with to avert Malaysia from descending into religious extremism of one religion.

Philmond: It looks like the ultra and ‘ketuanan’ (supremacist) type have decided to ditch Umno and shifted their votes to PN as they believe in their message and find them “cleaner”. PAS has been making lots of inroads and this is starting to bear fruit for them.

Still, all is not lost if only our East Malaysian brothers will join hands with Harapan to stem this rise of extremism before it is too late.

Bersatu’s Gombak candidate Azmin Ali and his merry gang of ‘pengkhianat’ (traitors) – candidates Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal) and Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat) has been shown the door out.

Ku Li (Razaleigh), do enjoy your long overdue retirement. You can go and visit Mahathir too.

Public Transit is Better Than Highways: If this election has taught us anything, it is that we have a long way to go towards a nation led by the principles of secularism and moderation. However, voters are swayed by the proposition of race and religion and that fear-mongering worked.

Moving on, we should remind ourselves to not chastise voters to make the decision to vote for unsavoury leaders, but we would need to start the very difficult and uphill task to engage with youths and old folks nationwide to promote governance on the basis of principles and policy, rather than rhetoric or radicalism.

If we start painting voters who do not align with us as 'stupid' or 'low-class', the divide would be even greater among all Malaysians. We should strive to unite, not divide.

Come GE16 or for more elections to come, we will come out stronger than this.

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