Yoursay: Guan Eng, don’t succumb to knee-jerk reactions

YOURSAY | ‘Stay focused on improving the country’s finances instead of harping on racial issues.’

Lim warns Umno-PAS union will target non-Malays

Quigonbond: I'm not sure if this kind of statement is helpful, even though it is plain to see that it is precisely what Umno-PAS is doing.

I would have hoped Pakatan Harapan would say the following things:

1. It is freedom of association for both of them to be ‘married’, though the immediate conclusion appears to be to ensure former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak can make a comeback;

2. If Malays continue to support them, maybe there is something Harapan is doing that isn't right. However, doing something right may not be doing something that's popular. In that regard, Harapan will still persist with its moderate agenda, wide-ranging reforms, et cetera;

Harapan has the mandate for five years. Give it time, let it be judged at the end of those five years. Harapan is confident that if the reforms are in place and the economy is flushed of endemic corruption, it will achieve greater and balanced prosperity.

The Malays will learn that extreme identity politics is not the only way forward; and,

3. The government will come down hard on incitement.

Then go on and fight on principles and vision. Lose the next few by-elections if you have to. But under no circumstances should you succumb to knee-jerk reactions and pander to the far right.

TCM: Lim, in this instance, I think you should not have played up the issue of non-Malays against Malays.

You have said that you are Malaysian first, so why now play to the tune of those you know are intent on sowing discord?

Your message of a united Malaysia sharing the fruits of the Malaysian economy is a good message, although it has now been lost in your headline-grabbing statement.

Stop being an opposition politician and be a statesperson. MCA is not a threat to DAP, so stop fighting with them.

The choice of the word “war”, especially along racial lines, is in poor taste. Lim has since amended his statement but the fallout is already felt.

Panorama123: We are all ‘anak bangsa’ Malaysia. Lim, just focus on Finance Ministry matters and leave political statements to others.

Once the economy is doing well, voters will support Harapan fully. Kleptocracy, racism and lying politicians will not survive long.

Clever Voter: Indeed, Lim has a responsibility towards the country's financial wellbeing. He should have the intelligence to refrain from making such statements.

He needs no reminder that dignity and humility are best preserved in such situations. It's unnecessary to stoop so low.

Dai Jek Kong: Lim, you have disappointed so many of us who have supported you all along. Come on, will you stop being an opposition leader? You are now the finance minister, so can you please behave more responsibly and maturely?

Stay focused on bringing the country out of its current financial state instead of harping on such issues. This is not going to help Harapan’s cause at all. It only makes it worse.

Khafir_Pendatang: Malaysian politics has entered a new phase: Malays versus non-Malays.

This will frame the political discourse. Not the economy. Not reform. Not development.

Although race has always been an undercurrent in our politics, now it will be the primary focus. There will be increased insults and criticism against the Chinese and Christians. Indians, too, to some extent.

It is a natural evolution for Malaysian politics. It’s just a matter of time and that time has arrived.

In many ways, it is a "war" (Lim’s remark as originally reported by Malaysiakini, but cleverly changed). "Us versus them" will dominate our political landscape.

Yes, the Malay power structures including Bersatu and PKR, along with Umno-PAS, will attack and scapegoat DAP ("DAP" is their code for Chinese).

Anonymous 2408491459228145: Lim, please do not fall into the trap set by Umno and PAS. PAS had been talking about the unity of the Malay-Muslim ummah in this country. They failed miserably in GE14, as shown by the results.

Our hope is on the young and intelligent voters in mixed semi-urban areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Educate them as shareholders of this land. By-elections do not reflect the true picture of the nation.

Lone Star: Forget about the Umno-PAS agenda, Harapan just needs to carry on with the Malaysian agenda. The rakyat will know what to do.

Forget about ‘Malu Apa Bossku’. The rakyat is the boss, so Harapan should just be rakyat-centric.

Teh Tarik: Elections are often won based on appealing to voters’ emotions, rather than cognition.

Examples are Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US president, where the emotional issue of immigration was the deciding factor.

People will vote based on emotion, even if it is to their detriment.

Similarly, in Malaysia, any perceived threat to Malay and Islamic rights is emotionally more powerful than the kleptocracy issues under Najib.

Another strong emotional issue is the threat of losing Malay special rights like scholarships, government and government-linked company (GLC) jobs, subsidised housing and car loans, 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), et cetera.

Harapan should not waste time on over-emphasising the issue of blatant corruption under the previous administration, as this does not appear to be a strong emotive issue among the majority of Malays (unlike the non-Malays).

Instead, Harapan should focus on assuaging the emotional aspects of fear and insecurity, which seem to be a major component of the Malay psyche.

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