After what happened in the Anak Bukit and Pendang by-elections, the writing is on the wall. If the Barisan Alternatif and other alternative parties do not get their act together, the coming general election will see the Barisan Nasional being returned with their old massive parliamentary majority.

Since 1999, the following events have pushed the BA and other alternative parties back to where they were; the events are not necessarily listed according to chronological order or order of importance:

  • The DAP leaving the BA. This has weakened the BA overall, whatever PAS may say or think.

  • The Anwar factor is waning. See what has happened following the 710 decision? Is there not a deafening wall of silence mainly?

  • What happened on Sept 11 has contributed to the voters turning back to BN for "security".

  • The MCA factions have stopped feuding, even though it may be only for the present.

  • The Sabah party, PBS, is back in the BN. This, together with the poor penetration of BA in Sabah and Sarawak, will mean that the two states will be off-limits to BA. And there is a good proportion of parliamentary seats in these two states.

  • PAS passage of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) Bill in Terengganu. This will again push the non-Muslims back to the BN. It is obvious that almost all non-Muslims will be frightened by the enactment of hudud laws as PAS has said that these laws will eventually be imposed on even the non-Muslims.

  • The mass media are almost fully controlled by the BN with the purchase of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by MCA. The BN will continue to ensure that the print media and TV continue to be BN propaganda machines and will use them to paint the alternatives blacker than black.

  • The ISA 6 continue to be under detention in Kamunting and are effectively silenced.

    • The lines of fence sitters are growing longer once again. The BA that they have hoped for to provide a viable alternative just does not appear to be coming forth. Time is getting shorter by the day and the next general election will soon be upon us.

    When will this viable alternative materialise? What can the BA and alternative parties do to stop the BN juggernaut?

  • PAS must realise that with Malaysia's multiethnic population, it is not possible, nor acceptable, to impose an Islamic state on all. Just like BN leaders telling the Chinese and Indian Malaysians that they are 'immigrants' after all these years; is PAS telling the non-Muslims that they are not wanted?

  • If PAS insists on continuing with its Islamic state agenda, then PRM and Keadilan must come out to declare their objection to this and if necessary leave the present BA and join the other alternative forces to fight the BN and even PAS.

  • The alternative parties must also join forces with non-political parties and NGOs who would like to see a government that is multiracial in composition and outlook; a government that is all for justice, accountability and transparency, and will strike against corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

  • The alternatives must also stop hitting at each other in the media. The smallest of fumbles by the BA in the past, present and future will from now on till the next general election be amplified and turned as nasty and as unpalatable as possible by the BN-controlled media.

    • The BA must be realistic, it must concentrate on making sure that the BN loses its present massive majority rather than have thoughts of taking over. It has to take one step at a time.

    The BA must wake up soon and remould and remake itself so that it can be a viable alternative to BN. And it has so little time for this; the fence-sitters are waiting.