Malaysian by-elections: The people win..

It is interesting to note that the by-elections, the first one in Machap and the current one in Ijok, may not bring the Opposition any wins. However, the people are still thankful to the Opposition for forcing the government's hand in fixing up the place.

In Machap, the government, afraid that the Opposition would bring up all the maintenance (or lack of it) issues, went in and fixed up every single pothole and street lamp within the period of the election.

This made such an impact on the people of Machap that they actually noted their thanks through an advertisement in the local Chinese daily, Sin Chew Jit Poh. The message basically passed forward a notion of thanks to the Opposition for getting the government to act and fix up all the issues brought up time and time again, perhaps within a period of years, if not decades.

But just looking at it, it seems that the Malaysian government is now going to win out elections based on financing and fixing up all the problems that were not even highlighted to a national level. What is interesting to note that these projects, upgrades and maintenance projects are all labeled as "an Allied Front government project".

What the heck is that about?

It's basically a note to the locals, typically saying that "the Opposition won't be able to do this for you, so vote for us".

And that's the veiled threat that's published time and time again in the media. Everywhere you go, you read these pricks saying:

"Vote for us. A vote for them means nothing will be done."

"The voters should vote for the Alliance candidate so that progress can be made in this constituency"

Sorry, but wtf?

A pesky co-working friend recently highlighted that the Ijok by-election, which is being held currently, has received RM3.5 million for this election from the government.

It's basically a district-size bribe!

"Here. We give you cash, sewing machines, we fix your street lamps, we re-tar your roads...now vote for us"

Glad to hear the government getting off their asses to win an election, especially when their assemblyman had to die to get things done.