Yesterday there was a piece, ‘Hope fades, perhaps opposition needs to be taught a lesson’ written by a member of the Bersih secretariat. Today, there is another piece, ‘Why Bersatu will fail’, written by a former intern of Malaysiakini.

I think in both pieces, the writers have missed the forest for the trees. Who does not know it is tough to be in the opposition in Malaysia, and for that matter, in most Third World countries. Sometimes we are too careless to cite the reasons why they failed, without realising the disadvantages and difficult circumstances they face.

Bickering among opposition politicians is expected. It is always more difficult to garner resources and to streamline party members when the party is not in power.

We should try to visualise for a minute BN is out of power and how the leadership is able to hold the coalition together in that situation.

It is too convenient to say that Bersatu will fail. After all, Umno is ‘strong’ and there is nothing ‘new’ on offer by Bersatu.

To me, it is a little dicey to compare Semangat 46 with Bersatu. Semangat 46 was formed by an active politician after failing to secure the leadership of Umno. Bersatu, on the other hand, is ‘led’ by a 91-year-old former Umno president after retiring from active politics for more than a decade I think the urgency and motivation are very different between the two.

Fighting against a well-entrenched political party in power for more than six decades is never easy. But this is different from saying that Bersatu, like all previous Umno splinters, will fail.

I would prefer to be a little more positive. Ultimately, the failure or success of opposition parties also depends on Umno - whether or not the party will reform and rejuvenate or continue to degenerate and disintegrate.

Right now it would appear that selling race and religion to the populace is the most expedient way to galvanise support. What else could Bersatu, and to some extent PKR, Amanah and PAS do, if not trying to emulate Umno.

After all politics is about gaining power first. We shall talk about the use of power later. This is part of life.