I refer to the Malaysiakini report Unexpected 42% rise in non-Malay BN support.

The Bagan Pinang by-election, as expected, gave Barisan Nasional (BN) a much-awaited victory after a series of losses. However, it was the majority that came as a shock. Pakatan Rakyat was expected to put up a stronger fight to reduce the majority of BN but instead it disappointed its supporters by losing so badly.

Although so many reasons can be offered for their miserable showing, the underlying cause was complacency. Pakatan took the people’s support for granted, making the same mistake of the BN before. It is deeply disturbing how it can become so overconfident within a short period of just 18 months and with the BN holding a noose around its neck, tugging at it each time it makes a right move.

In fact, the BN, under the leadership of Najib Abdul Razak, despite all its shortcomings is trying hard to show that it is willing to reach out to the people at large. Its ‘1Malaysia’ policy, the liberalisation of economic policies and Najib’s personal efforts to woo the people especially the Chinese and Indians with pledges of equality for all are definitely positive moves although are scorned off by the Pakatan as political rhetoric which nevertheless may be so.

He may not have convinced the majority of the people of his sincerity in wanting to bring change but he is definitely succeeding with the help of the mainstream media. On the contrary, Pakatan does not seem to show the same enthusiasm and commitment as before to reach out to the people  with their ‘Ketuanan rakyat’ slogan.

Its component parties, PKR, DAP and PAS - who were very compromising before March 8,2008 - have hardened their stand after their win and coming into power in some states. Each is now intent on championing their own cause instead of fighting for the common good of the people as a united opposition coalition.

The general elections and the subsequent by-elections that followed clearly showed that in order to win, a candidate or the party he represents, needs the support of all the races. In most constituencies, the support from any one race alone will not be sufficient to win. This is a wonderful situation which gives every race a significant voice in deciding the winner of any election.

The Bagan Pinang by-election further reinforced this fact when BN’s candidate Mohd Isa Samad, won a landslide victory due to the overwhelming support of not just the Malays but the Chinese and Indians as well. In fact 67% of the Malays and 73% of the non-Malays supported Isa in this by-election. It was very encouraging, despite the tactics to divide them, that the people of all races were united in deciding who to vote for.

It further reinforces the fact that the people are willing to unite above their ethnic divides to vote for a candidate or party whom they love. Ethnicity was not major factor; it is only made one by political opportunists.

Najib and BN seem to have realised this need to garner across-the-board support from all the races but unfortunately, Pakatan failed to do so as they took the voters for granted. Fiery speeches and criticisms of their opponents alone are not going to convince the voters. They need to see concrete actions of their sincerity and capabilities. The people are aware of the unfair and unfavorable environment Pakatan is working but they must at see that it is trying to do its best under the most difficult of circumstances.

Time is not its side and neither are the media and government machinery. The only favourable factor on their side is the people support or ‘Makkal Sakti’ and even that seems to be eluding them as it is being hijacked by BN.

It is time for Pakatan to find the ways and means to win the hearts of the people not just by their words but more so by their actions that must be seen to be always consistent with their pledge to uphold the people’s interests at all times. It could have won on the demerits of BN but this cannot continue to so for long. It must strive to gain its own merits for long-term wins in future elections.

The numerous public spats over many issues between PAS, PKR and DAP did not go down well with the people. They only helped to highlight the differences between them - not the commonness. Most right-thinking Malaysians, and there many these days, had expected these differences to be settled amicably without the unnecessary negative publicity but sadly they were not.

This has created doubts in the minds of the people on the capabilities of Pakatan to rule the nation one day. Can they trust the nation in the hands of three warring parties, each fighting to impose an ideological system that is detested by the others? The people are more mature today and won’t make such an unwise move.

PAS must discard its fundamentalist ideas and its Islamic state agenda as even the growing middle-class Malays are getting jittery over them. The DAP must rid itself of its Chinese chauvinistic label and adopt a truly multiracial appeal at all levels. It must not keep blaming its problems on Umno-BN but be focused on solving the problems of the present.

PKR must strive to rid the BN mentality amongst its members some who are there just to reap the benefits of money politics. It is disheartening to see that each time we have a by-election, some PKR members cross over to the BN.

The components of Pakatan, namely PAS, PKR and DAP must seriously push through a formally constituted Pakatan Rakyat as a legal entity with its own elected leaders and supreme council that is represented by all the component party members.

This would enable them to contest as Pakatan candidates and not as individual PAS, PKR or DAP candidates. That would convince the people of their seriousness and capabilities in wanting to form the federal government. That would convince the people on their merits and the viability of a two-coalition political system of governance.

Of course, for a formal coalition to take shape there is a need for a lot of compromise on the part of all parties. The time has come for PKR, PASand DAP to make an  all important decision – are they willing to put the long-term interests of the nation and its people above that of their own parties’ short-term benefits?

The 12th general election has shown that they should and the recent Bagan Pinang by-election showed that if they don’t, they will perish and become a part of history which future generations of Malaysians will detest - detest reading about the missed golden opportunity.