The BN’s refusal to return government jets, helicopters and vehicles proves that they will focus on the 3Ms of Media, Money and Machinery in ihe coming GE

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has made a mockery of democracy and public institutions by stating that an interim government has the right to use government machinery as long as campaigning for an election has not started.

According to Rais, it is only when the Election Commission announces nomination day and the campaigning period that government machinery cannot be used for party purposes.

This follows an earlier report by Malaysiakini that three vehicles belonging to the Information Department were used to facilitate the opening of BN's election command centre for the Batu parliamentary constituency on Sunday.

Unlike the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government which has returned all official vehicles in order to avoid conflict of interest and abuse of power, the BN is unwilling to return their government jets, helicopters and vehicles back to the government. If the BN does not do so, it will prove that they are willing to abuse their power by focusing on the 3Ms of Media, Money and Machinery in order to win the coming General Election.

In terms of the Media, we have seen how issues have not only twisted but how fiction can be turned into fact. For example, the BN-controlled New Straits Times falsely reported that I backed down from facing BN Penang chair Teng Chang Yeow in Padang Kota when it was he who actually backed down from his own challenge. At the same time, The Star has not only refused to publish our explanations but also maligned the state government by alleging that we invested RM3 billion in China when we have never invested a single cent.

This is in addition to Rais Yatim’s ridiculous offer of 10 minutes of airtime on RTM to explain our manifesto, which is in itself an insult and a mockery of democracy and freedom of the press. How does he then explain how the BN manifesto could be aired “live” on every TV station and published in every newspaper?

In terms of Money, we have seen their deep pockets at work. It has been reported that BN and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) are the top spenders in advertising, having spent at least RM73 million last month on advertising, well ahead of the RM43 million spent by classifieds, and the RM25 million each spent by Nestle and Unilever Malaysia.

We have also seen how they are spending money through the pro-BN 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club have given RM2.2 million journalist and welfare groups including the Penang Press Club, Penang Journalists and Photographers Association (Pewaju) and Journalists Union of North Malaya which received RM50,000 each and 103 NGOs which got between RM5,000 and RM50,000.

While donations to various groups and welfare organisations are good, why is it that these donations are only made during the election period and not institutionalised and given every year, as practised by the PR Penang state government?

Lastly, the BN are also employing their machinery, such as vehicles, resources and institutions in order to give them a huge advantage. We have all seen in recent times how the Election Commission (EC), which is supposed to be an independent and impartial body, have made statements that not only condemn the opposition but also accuse civil society movements such as Bersih of being a tool of PR.

Although we are faced with these challenges, we believe that while BN have the 3Ms of Media, Money and Machinery on their side, PR have the power of the people on our side. The next General Election is not merely a battle between BN and PR but a battle between the BN and the people of Malaysia.