There are rumours that Umno, knowing that the emasculated MCA would have no chance of defeating DAP one-on-one in many parliamentary seats, is mulling fielding its own candidates, including in Gelang Patah, Johor, where DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang has declared his candidacy.

I say bring it on. For decades, DAP has been living in its comfort zone and the upcoming general election would present a golden opportunity for the Chinese-based party to prove its multiracial credentials.

In other words, the Mother of All Elections on May 5 would indicate whether or not the country has come of age and is ready for a political culture that transcends race and religion. As far as DAP is concerned, there will come a time when it can no longer avoid facing directly the Malay constituency.

NONE In short, claiming itself to be better than MCA in safeguarding the interests of the Chinese community than MCA does is not enough if DAP truly aspires to be a national party for all, and I am heartened to know that Lim Kit Siang is not shunning the challenge even if his rival would be Abdul Ghani Othman, now the caretaker Menteri Besar of Johor.

Judging from the series of Pakatan Rakyat rallies - big and small - that were filled with crowds from all walks of life across Johor in recent weeks, Lim Kit Siang’s chances of winning cannot be easily dismissed. Even in Kampung Melayu Majidee in the state capital, which is Johor’s equivalent of Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, as Malay residents turned out in droves to hear Anwar Ibrahim speak.

anwar announce hashim hussein contest johor bahru As usual, Umno thugs were seeking to create havoc while the police stood idly by. But Umno must not forget it once lost Johor Baru in 1988, when Shahril Abdul Samad resigned in protest over Mahathir Mohamad’s heavy-handedness and arrogance. PKR’s fielding the Johor-born Gen Md Hashim Hussein is the first and right step to testing the waters.

If the opposition pact can put in place a right strategy and send a consistent message, keeping at the same time any potential discord to a minimum, a significant change in Johor’s political landscape is not beyond dreams. Like Selangor, Johor is a mixed urban-rural state, in which the ordinary folk are confronted with rising costs of living and skyrocketing property prices.

Playing the race card may work with Umno loyalists, but it has been losing the magic spell with those who are made to bear the brunt of the government’s extractive policies that favour only the select few.

For decades, Umno has demanded only confirmism, following and no questioning. Pitting one ethnic group against another has been a tested formula and keeps everyone suspicious. There has been much awe, fear and even some respect from the people, but if there has been any liking that came into it, that is an accident.

A different ball game altogether

But politics has changed radically since March 2008. When Malaysia started to welcome lawmakers like Nurul Izzah Anwar, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Elizabeth Wong, R Sivarasa, Tony Pua and Liew Chin Tong, Umno began to panic. Never before did they have to deal with a bunch of young, smart and intelligent opponents who are least interested in talking about race but are focussed on policy, integrity and transparency, and it is indeed a different ball game altogether.

NONE No doubt, Umno will not take it lying down, so it has been attempting to do these talented Malaysians in with gutter politics and smearing. It is therefore no surprise to me that Umno has in place a set of strategies to defeat Nurul, Pua and the PKR hopeful Rafizi Ramli, for it is these people who, should they win, would play an instrumental role in changing Malaysia’s race-based politics forever.

To stop them now is prerequisite to securing Umno’s rule for posterity. Or so it hopes.

It is hence equally vital for Umno to ensure Lim Kit Siang lose in Gelang Patah. MCA is already consigned to history so it does not really matter how many seats Chua Soi Lek is happy to concede to Umno. The lesser the battle, the lighter the burden of losing.

I would give all my blessings to Lim Kit Siang, but I earnestly hope he would win against an Umno heavyweight, Abdul Ghani or otherwise. But for that to happen, Umno must do its part by ensuring a free and fair election which, of course, is too tall an order for a party that has known nothing but trickery and dirty politics.

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.