Abdullah’s sweeping wind of change
BARELY four months after taking over from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi marched the nation to the polls.
The new leadership’s message of change with greater civil liberties drew support, giving Barisan Nasional a record win, the largest majority since 1978.
While highlighting Barisan’s past record of providing stability, Abdullah effectively appealed to voters by promising to correct weaknesses to make its record even better.
Public rallies, banned since 1978, were allowed, subject to police approval.
Election campaigns were also monitored by the newly-formed enforcement squad. Deposits required for parliamentary and state seat candidates were increased substantially.
In the absence of major national issues, local issues - growing social problems such as urban poverty, inadequate housing, environmental degradation, petty crimes by youths, and drug abuse - became more dominant.
The issue of an Islamic state also dominated the thinking of many non-Malay voters.
Abdullah regained the ground lost by Dr Mahathir in the previous general election.
Barisan recaptured Terengganu which it had lost to PAS in 1999. In Kelantan, PAS only held a two-seat majority (which was reduced to one after a subsequent by-election). The PAS presence in Kedah was drastically reduced.
DAP lost Kota Melaka, its bastion in Malacca. Allegations of infighting made the rounds. There was some consolation for the party though as their top leaders Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh managed to get back into Parliament after being thrown out in the previous election.
The DAP increased its total representation by two, and Lim was again Opposition Leader in Parliament.
Keadilan had merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia prior to the election, and formed Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
However, PKR was almost decimated in the election. Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail retained Permatang Pauh in Penang, the party’s sole parliamentary seat.