However a few of this columnist’s PAS friends have some reservations about Khalid’s ability to run the show.
And here’s why: it is due to his sloppy running of the Hulu Selangor by-election four years ago in April 2010 when he was the election director.
In that by-election, Zaid Ibrahim was contesting for PKR against MIC’s P Kamalanathan. The MIC man won by over 1,700 votes. Previously the seat was won by a PKR man in the March 8, 2008 general election. He passed away due to cancer.
In the Hulu Selangor polls, Khalid lacked organisational skills.
This columnist’s PAS friends mentioned that members of Gombak PAS and Selayang PAS had to be roped in to put up PKR flags!
Many of these PAS members were out of pocket due to travelling expenses. The organisation of ceramahs was also messy. There was no proper scheduling, only last minute planning.
In one instance, only Azmin Ali (Gombak MP), Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai MP) and a group of Pakatan Rakyat supporters turned up. Eventually the ceramah had to be cancelled due to lack of audience. It was embarrassing indeed.
This happened because there was no publicity done to promote the ceramah. No one came because no one knew about it.
This was in contrast to the Sibu by-election held in May 2010 which was won by DAP.
It is not a boast but a fact that DAP’s ceramahs in Sibu were well-organised and well-attended because DAP’s Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara MP) had given good publicity to the DAP ceramahs.
Word-of-mouth, flyers and social media were utilised to inform the public one day in advance on the time, date and location of the ceramahs.
In the ceramah itself, announcements would also be made to inform the rakyat about the next ceramah programmes. The planning and organisation was good.
Back to Khalid. He was inefficient in Hulu Selangor. Not many programmes were arranged for the PKR candidate to promote himself.
Khalid must stay focused
Groundwork was faulty and chaotic. Pakatan grassroots members were running around calling for assistance and reinforcements due to lack of organisation and manpower.
One of this columnist’s PKR friends who worked for their party newsletter ‘Suara Keadilan’ had mentioned that Khalid will never be selected as election director again but lo and behold, now he is!
His party leaders must have forgotten about the fiasco in Hulu Selangor wherein Khalid was totally inept as the election director.
The Selangor Menteri Besar must thus redeem himself by being an organiser par excellence this time around. He can be said to be fortunate because Kajang is not as large as Hulu Selangor as it is only a state seat whereas Hulu Selangor is a parliamentary seat.
Khalid must now strive harder to plan properly. Bigger and better publicity must be given in advance for the ceramahs that are to be held.
Organisation must be precise and efficient. Ceramahs must start on time, failing which a 15 minute wait is not too bad, 30 minutes is already stretching people’s patience. Voters must not be kept waiting for too long. It is a test of one’s organisational skills.
It is also a good thing that PAS Unit Amal can be counted upon to help out in traffic control and security.
In Hulu Selangor four years ago it was chaotic for PKR. There was no proper theme focus and tagline for the by-election campaign and therefore the content of the ceramahs was ‘rojak’. There must be a focus theme in the message to be given to the voters.
In Kajang this time around, PKR must impress upon the voters that their vote is not only for Kajang but that their decision on the ballot paper is also representing the voice of all Malaysians.
The voters must be made to understand that the outcome of the Kajang by-election is not confined to Kajang only but has implications for the whole country’s political landscape.
Menteri Besar Khalid had better be up to the mark as the election director.
He definitely has got his work cut out for him. Granted that it is not an easy job but people will be watching him closely.
He has to be focused, clear-minded and be able to multi-task at all times. He has to be like an army commander. Will he be able to pass the test this time around?
By Selena Tay, FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment