I love how Dr Lim Keng Yaik chooses his words. He is simply entertaining, be he is joking or lashing out. So, when he was on TV speaking on the war of words between his party, Gerakan and PPP, I could not help but pay attention. So far it seems, the upper hands belong to Gerakan while PPP, in a way, is sharing Keadilan’s fate in the aftermath of the 2004 Malaysian general election. Casual reading would suggest that this conflict between the two parties began when Gerakan gained control of the top Barisan Nasional — the coalition which both Gerakan and PPP belong to — post in Taiping despite the fact that the President of PPP, M. Kayveas is the member of Parliament for Taiping. If one digs deeper, one might discover that the ultimate winner is neither Gerakan or PPP.
Being minor partners within the most successful Malaysian political coalition controlled by UMNO — the most influential member of Barisan Nasional — both depend on UMNO’s kindness. At the moment, as a result of the last general election, UMNO is strong enough to withstand any pressure. In fact, had UMNO won one more federal seat in the election, it would have controlled more than 50% seat in the Dewan Rakyat. So let me say this: UMNO calls the shot. That is especially true with the mudball fight between Gerakan and PPP.
One article in the New Straits Times implies that this tit-for-tat would have not been possible if UMNO had not taken Bukit Gantang seat from Gerakan. In return for surrendering the seat to UMNO, Gerakan received Taiping. Indeed:
Recently, Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe was appointed the Taiping BN chief — a post that by convention should go to Kayveas in his capacity as Member of Parliament for the area.
Tan’s appointment is said to pave the way for her to shift her base from Bukit Gantang, a parliamentary seat she now represents, to Taiping, the constituency next door.
Bukit Gantang, if the “agreement” made prior to the 2004 polls is to be believed, will be allocated to Umno. This would leave the PPP with no seats. [PPP’s flickering, fading political light, NST, Chow Hum Hor]
So, what will happen to PPP?
By the look of it, it seems that PPP is coming close to extinction, just as Keadilan had not too long ago. While Keadilan is on the rebound, the story of PPP has yet to be written. For UMNO, it escapes the squabble with a better deal, leaving both Gerakan and PPP to fight against each other.
