YOURSAY | ‘Why didn't Harapan woo Ramli before nominating their candidate...?’

Harapan may wrest Cameron from BN if Ramli elected, says source

The Wakandan: This must be one of those BN tricks - disseminating fake news as they have nothing to lose.

If their candidate Ramli Mohd Nor is said to join Pakatan Harapan, the Orang Asli community presumably will elect him over the Harapan’s candidate, since the end result will be the same.

However, more importantly, once elected, he will be a BN MP unless he defects, which is never a certainty. The only beneficiaries of this news is BN, and it comes to reason that they must be its source.

In any case, if the story is true, then Ramli should disqualify himself or BN should disown him. As to whether he will be the best thing for Orang Asli, him being from their ethnicity, that’s yet to be proven.

The nature of politics in Malaysia is such that an opposition MP cannot do much for his constituency simply because he is not in the government, which decides, plans and directs policy with regards to the constituency.

This campaign does fall back to the stereotype election campaign, that is, if you want development then the people should be on the side of the government, which will be able to allocate local development largesse. That’s the immediate thing that the government of the day can do.

However, if you want voice, then maybe the opposition MP is freer to criticise the government. The choice for the Orang Asli is difficult but being a small community, it makes sense for them to be friendly to the new Harapan government for practicality sake.

Mafeeah: Indeed, this BN source has ulterior motives so that votes go to Ramli and not DAP candidate M Manogaran.

It’s to tell Orang Asli voters to vote for Ramli and he will still get to be in government. Cameron Highlands voters, do not fall for the trap.

Frank: After all the betrayal upon betrayal against Orang Asal, the probable defection by Ramli should be expected.

Let them know that others know how to play the game too. After all, so many of us are New Malaysians! In Ramli we trust?

Spinnot: Using so-called "anonymous source(s)" to spin a story is a tactic which has long been used by the presstitutes of the West to sway public opinion.

Cogito Ergo Sum: There is nothing wrong with running a sources story. In this case, it is a speculation by a ‘BN source’ in how he or she thinks the election will play itself out.

The important thing is that the subscribers are kept informed of the possibilities that may happen. It may turn out to be true or it may not.

But now, we are aware that this is another possible outcome.

ChuenTick: Misinformation/disinformation or the truth? Who knows for sure until after the by-election and the results pan out in the scenario postulated.

But it will be a betrayal of the rakyat's wishes. So what - even if Harapan has shown it does not give a hoot what the rakyat's wishes are after assuming power.

I hope Ramli wins but I hope he will not join Harapan. The Harapan leadership should be taught a lesson - don't take the rakyat for granted!

Anonymous 1689721435778173: Harapan should not try to lure Ramli over if he wins. There is no need to. It has sufficient seats in Parliament. It is a matter of principle.

Lord Denning: This is how it is going to play out: Orang Asli votes - 60 percent BN, 40 percent Harapan, (moderate swing to Harapan); Chinese votes - 90 percent Harapan; Indian votes - 80 percent Harapan (significant swing to Harapan); Malay votes: 60 percent BN, 25 percent Harapan, 15 percent no show (small swing to Harapan).

On a low turnout, Harapan will win a majority of 1,500 to 1,800 votes.

Sinan Belawan: The state assemblypersons are more powerful than MPs in the context of representative democracy.

MPs need to be based in Kuala Lumpur, attend parliamentary sessions, review policies, etc, while an assemblyperson attends to day-to-day matters at the state and local levels.

Native customary rights (NCR) to land and its resources are central to the lives of the Orang Asli. Land is a state matter.

So, Ramli needs to state in his campaign how he is going to resolve Orang Asli land matters. Pahang is a BN state and that gives Ramli, if he becomes the MP, opportunities to engage with BN assemblypersons and the menteri besar (Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail is assemblyperson for Jelai, one of two state seats in Cameron Highlands) on NCR to land.

Quigonbond: Great. If that's the case, no point voting for Ramli.

But just one caveat - what does Ramli stand for? Is it more racial/religious supremacy? What vision does he have for Malaysia besides being an Orang Asli?

Harapan should know what he stands for first before winning him over.

Anonymous_1543410736: As far as Ramli is concerned, the interest of the Orang Asli is more important than any political party's agenda.

Ramli is not a politician. This is the largest Orang Asli seat in the country and he is an Orang Asli and if a deputy minister's post is on the table, why not?

The Orang Asli’s interest can better be served with Ramli in government than on the opposition bench fighting a lost cause. It is no different from Sabah and Sarawak not joining Harapan but working together for the interest of their people.

The strangest thing about the analysis above is why didn’t Harapan offer Ramli the seat instead of Manogaran. Did they really see that an Indian candidate with an Indian demographic of 15 percent of the electorate calling the shots in this by-election? This is really weird.

Tok Mat (Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan) seems to be playing a smarter game in this by-election. He not only called it right by choosing Ramli as the candidate but he is also playing a humble game in the highlands.

In the end, it will be too much for the Malays and the Orang Asli to reject BN.

Jonah 2: Psychological warfare? By the way, anyone running the country?

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