According to a statement issued today, Adrian Lim’s first tip was that the Opposition needed to understand what exactly it was that voters wanted as some were uninterested in what was going on in the political world.
“In times like this, it is time to understand that to some, free kitchen appliances are much more important than ‘let’s send a message to Najib’.”
His second tip to the Opposition was that not all voters were concerned about issues affecting the nation, such as the 1MDB controversy, and that it was integral to understand what it was that was concerning voters.
“In times like this, we should face reality that what concerns us (1MDB) primarily is not necessarily everyone else’s primary concern. Don’t expect voters to embrace our concerns, embrace their concerns.”
His third tip was that the lack of cooperation among the Opposition parties was turning away those who could have been persuaded into joining their cause.
“In times like this, it is time to accept the fact that backstabbing and showing who has a bigger *** turns off the fence-sitters. Don’t be cocky.”
Lim reiterated this in his fourth tip where he stressed the importance of being inclusive and working together as a team.
“In times like this, it is time to remember the spirit Anwar Ibrahim fought for – semangat permuafakatan (inclusiveness).”
In his fifth tip, Lim said the Opposition could forget their aspirations of sitting in Putrajaya unless there is cooperation among themselves.
“In times like this, it is time to recall that in GE13, the Opposition parties were united. Don’t dream of Putrajaya without remembering the cooperation in GE13.
“Nobody (no opposition party) is bigger than another, except in BN where Umno takes almost all. Opposition politics is dynamic, and it is about cooperating with the different voices on the little things we can agree on.”
His sixth tip pointed to the fact that Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters weren’t only found in Sabah and Sarawak. The ruling coalition has a strong following in Peninsular Malaysia as well.
“In times like this, we must remember that the so called ‘fools’ & ‘bodohs’ voting BN do not only come from East Malaysia.”
His final tip was that it was important to keep up to date with all media and not just the pro-opposition media since the other media were also being circulated to voters.
“The media is one-sided and tells you what they want you to know.
“Utusan writes what it wants its readers to think. Similarly, so do the other opposition media. It does not paint a full picture, it paints the other half of the story. You must read opposing ends of the arguments to know how differently people think.”
Lim, however, pointed out that the Sarawak and twin by-elections did not signal the end for the Opposition parties as they still had a chance in the coming general election as long as they could learn from their mistakes.
“If you need solace, it is that both the Sarawak elections and the twin by-elections do not determine federal power, and it does not resemble fully the sentiments of a general election. People know BN is there to stay and Najib will not be gone at least until GE14.
“Hence, you still have a shot at going down the same road with a 50:50 chance in GE14, or quickly realign and re-strategise, go back to the negotiation tables, come to terms, have a press conference, hug it out and cry it out, and we may have a whole new dimension to the political scenario.”