(This is one response to an earlier post expressing concern about what is happening to the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government which I think is important enough to share in the public domain to elicit a wider discussion. – Kit)
There is certainly the “need to be worried” matter in Selangor. One quote going around from some prominent businessmen is that ” It took BN 50 yrs to become so arrogant, but it took PR only 1(one) year to be just as arrogant”. Nowhere is that business sentiment more acutely felt than amongst some housing developers.
The aetiology is of course multifactorial. Many unscrupulous and other less-than-straight developers had ridden on the past (less transparent) govt to execute projects that left much bitter aftertaste/heartaches amongst unconsulted residents in a forced topdown approach. Unfortunately in yesteryears (and even recently) REHDA had not come down hard on these recalitrants, thus much of society had tarred all and sundry developers in the same manner.
After March 2008, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme end, made more evident/entrenched when many politicians(largely from PR) oversold/overbought excessive and simplistic ideas of ‘fixing-up the developers’ and ‘being-with-the-people’. Some end up losing the capability to size-up/tease-out the secret personal agendas of ‘certain rakyat citizens’, lose their objectvity and easily slide into and maintain the same opposition mentality of protest, championing the “cause of the ‘rakyat'”. In Selangor, some join the ranks of protests against the state govt. These populist politicians are easily egged on by a few self-serving residents, the latter being only too pleased to titillate these populist-politicians.
The Selangor PR is thus moulded by these events/forces. I dare say 2 (two) camps exist, the ‘pro-rakyat/pro-citizen’ vs the ‘pro-business/pro-developer’. Magnified by a revulsion to 52 yrs of authoritarian abuse/pendulum-swing/greenie resurgence, no marks to your guess in who the dominant influence is! In DAP, we(or rather many) are under the literal influence of the word “socialism” which oftentimes bespelled them to an exaggerated stance. This oversimplified erroneous state (rakyat vs business/developer) negated and undermined the roles of the ‘genuine citizenry’ and the ‘fairly-honest/ethical deveopers’ and let-off the scruples of federalism/corrupt-politicians/crooked-parasitic-developers. A distracting tai-chi thus effectively allowed the bad guys off scot free, as the good resident groups now pit themselves against the developer/business community! Poor Khalid(Tan Sri), God have mercy on him.
The dynamic outcome of the summation of these two forces appears to determine the direction of policy-setting and influence development(or its lack) as well as its type in Selangor. So when the “rakyat” forces prevailed, we see a proliferation of socialist-like policies/programmes, eg Usia Emas, Tawas, Beras/gula handouts, etc. But money do not grow on trees. It runs out pretty fast. Soon we may agihkan kemiskinan. The economy is slowing. The pasar-malam (relatively recession-proof industry) hawkers are lamenting on business-drops of up to 50%.
Bitter reality is harshly sinking in. Pro-development policies and programmes must emerge. The actual implimentation of the economic packages is mandatory to stimulate economic activity and just as importantly to give hope to the rakyat and generate an image of doer-mentality (after a March announcement, a 6 mth time-gap of little action is deafeningly embarassing). The only recourse is for PR to proclaim a “pro-development/pro-business BUT transparent” approach.
PR must facilitate economic activity with transparency and accountability as its fundamental underpining. The focus must be to encourage investors, not to throw a wet blanket at them. Our priority must be to the man in the street( small-time businessmen, employee such as clerks/technicians, form 5 to college graduates), who needs jobs and job-stability. Only economic activity can give them a chance. They have little savings reserve, unlike more established older persons. More so in these trying times, all Aduns/MPs must make it their job to try to create/maintain jobs and get developers to interface with residents. But the traffic-clogged roads became anathema to development! How about the “moratorium to development” proposal?
Such an approach not only is not useful but spells disaster. Simply because there can be no moratorium to new people(numbering in the thousands) entering the job market, each with their own dreams. And their parents’ hopes behind their securing a job, etc. This is reality. And how long can we delay their entry into the job marketplace. Can we? Can PR pay for creative delaying ways?
The above largely account for the lack of ‘development’ direction in PR/DAP wakil rakyats, and the lack of ‘development’ support afforded to Tan Sri Khalid. The sluggish economic pace is slowly and surely becoming evident. This will soon haunt us and the Rakyat will then punish us for inept management of the state. Businesses will also decry on our talk-no-action approaches, our report cards showing only donations-of-small goodies but grossly lacking in major matters. Najib will then smell like a rose.
PR/DAP must wake up. The process of governance is no popular task. The bullet must be bitten. Painful unpopular decisions must be made, sometimes ‘offending’ local residents for the benefit of the larger community. History will be with us if we act transparently and honestly. The rakyat(local) will eventually respect us and support us, though there will be initial protests and revulsions. Remember the stakeholders include businesses, the larger community, and Tuanku(who wants Selangor to be a Developed state). But please do expect a reduced electorate majority the next time(election) around! Your MB (Khalid) need your genuine support to make painful decisions of governance. It is not good if two-thirds of his time end up in fire-fighting. Time must be vested to facilitating economic growth. Aduns must help him(MB) out.
This tension (rakyat vs businesses, with politicians leaning to either) is compounded by internal/factional local intraparty/interparty politics. Thus in one kawasan, unnecessary resources were wasted to parry factional political interferences. I assure you BN/MCA were chortling away at the circus. The kawasan citizenry suffered. Alas, how often decisions were made in the name of the ‘party’, when factional interests was the day. Such ‘party decisions’ stifle authentic growth as it only pandered to factional ‘growth’, solidifying vested interests.
The PBT(local councils) should have been excellent avenues for wakil rakyats to deputise able & mature people to administer and monitor the Councils. Alas it had become the ground for .to dole out political favours and expand factional interests. Quality is thus compromised for political(factional) loyalty. Poor quality councillors are of no match for entrenched inept pengarahs and YDPs. Here again is another circus, as energy was spent on politicking instead on proper council decision-making activities.
Be aware that this MACC-Aduns investigations may well throw many off the more urgent tasks of governance (providing service to kawasan, administering the Selangor State,etc) and instead get unproductively entangled with endless press conferences (to parry consecutive wild accusations churned out by unfriendly press. Aduns need to be focussed on the real issues. It is time to be pragmatic, but to do so transparently and accountably. That is our STRENGTH and our ace.
A good analysis but short on how to resolve the problems.
Transparency as the answer? Its easier said than done. Transparency works well when either there is one party who has the lion share of the information OR there is a mechanism in place to check dishonesty among conflicting parties. The situation is NOT the case here in Selangor.
Take a look at Kampung Buah Pala, LGE got trapped because he did not have all the facts early and even those that he was trying to help and helping him were NOT completely honest. Ending up, LGE himself had to avoid being totally transparent and shoulder far more of the blame than he deserve.
The urgency to have a method of resolution, a disciplinary committee of PR that forces transparency all ALL parties is paramount and yet won’t solve all the problems.. On top of that there need to be open discussion on issues among conflicting parties within PR. No such thing as ‘I don’t have to answer to him/her because he is from the other party’. If they have a conflict on beer, even if they want to sensationalise it in the press, they still have to do it with each other AND in front of the press. Someone has underworld link? Put it all in front of a group of party members across party lines..
Believe in democratic process within PR, it should work until you get to the Federal Govt..
As everyone will say that politicians are all the same as politic is about power and power is about resources. PR runs state need to be realistic and “berpijak di bumi nyata” less idealistic as the real word doesn’t behave as such and those who continue dreaming will soon be shocked by the outcome of their own stupidity and lazy brain.
But YB Kit, if we are sincere in taking care of the rakyat and national interest, then even if it is a one term wonder is OK!!! be it and the PR states government should embark on changes looking at the bigger picture and we should never regret as at the end of the day as we know that we have tried to do the best. For those opportunists in the group, I think it will never go away so be it as sooner or later the rakyat will find out if the leaderships fail to act on it so believe in democratic process and off course YB Kit… In GOD we trust. Lawan tetap Lawan.
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It is not difficult – all that need to be done is to explain with as much detail as possible rather than left everything hanging in the air subjected to speculation.
People are well educated and they can distinguish and differentiate only if PR govt.s are willing to take time to educated the people.
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Practise what you preach but not preach , preach and keep on preaching……do not afraid of your own CAT ….
A large part of your problem is that your response is no more credible than the question. You have to move out of blogging – it served its purpose in the 12th elections, but it’s now as much a source of disinformation as anything else.
Of course the private sector will be upset by a change in public practise – they are already optimised for what went before. Some of that upset will be caused by businesses benefiting under the new range who were excluded under the old. You need some way of making those stories known. I suggest getting a 4th level domain in some-pakatan-state.gov.my and using it as a state-government focussed platform. The celebrity blogging scene has gone stale.
As an aside, I realise Asian governments have a well-publicised policy of “non assistance” (or whatever) in other states’ internal affairs, but what can we look forward to from a PR federal government on issues as internationally controversial as, ooh, say … the cruel and unusual treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi by the military junta controlling Burma?
Hi Kit,
Do not fret. Self examination is good.
I saw March 8 as Malaysia’s attempt to change. You people ( PR ) is at this point in time the vehicle for change. But you have many flaws. Firstly, PR’s common platform has not been well worked out or publicised, so the public have vague notions, but not a good idea. Secondly, many of your reps elected on March 8th were there by ” accident”. They were ill prepared to be reps, and so we have a real hoch-poch of reps. Party discipline became lax. Thirdly, the 50 yr old tyrant, who also controls the press, will not let you have even one peaceful day. For them democracy is when I win and govern. All other results against me, I will sabotage until I win, by hook or by crook. They have already stated very clearly, ” we want Selangor back “. Fourthly, the press is with the 50yr old tyrant. Without your own mass media, you will have great problem trying to tell the ” rakyat ” what you stand for and what you are trying to do, while those opposing you, and telling the rakyat how bad you are, rightly or wrongly. Fifthly, we are still awaiting for a stateman from amongst you all. It is easy to grandstand from the opposition, but to rule and be a statesman and leader, that’s another level all together. Let the leader from amongst you arise.
Well, self examine, but do not fret. Rome was not built in a day, but you sure need to work very hard. At the moment, the rakyat is not impress with your performance.
But, now we have two parties, checking on each other. That’s also a good change.
PR must have a think tank to deal with the problems and find solutions.
Now it is more obvious we cannot have the rotten system of 52/46 years to continue to do that and this rotten system is also trying to impact the premature PR group. So who suffer? everyone.
So it is timely for Interim Government for Good Governance for totally new people and the other groups can watch if they like.
A cooling period for tsunami of 8 march 2008 as BN=Be eNd is a bad loser- normal.
pw: quahogs Irene
My view is that PR has been in opposing mode all this while. So when PR won the significant states such Selangor & Penang, PR weaknesses in GOVERNING are now expose.
PR leader must acknowledge these weaknesses, and take continous corrective measures, engage or get the experience from the former governments. Unfortunately egos and self gratification prevent them. This is the sad part.
The truth is opposing and governing is a COMPLETELY different mode all together.
Being in combative, emotional, hatred, suspicious, anger mode would not help in governing. No doubt BN has not been great at all in the past, but certainly there are some good points to learn from them and engage them. But if PR continue to take a combative approach, hatred will sure invites hatred, and nothing positive will come out from it, and PR will grow no where.
So far, what we seen after 8 March 2008, PR has been on witch hunting and extracting dirts of BN and just want to ensure BN vanished. But this is unrealistic!
In our eyes, PR is seems to be anti-development, look at the series of protest. But hey, money doesnt grow on tree. If every one is against development, we do we expect our PR YBs to stay, in kampungs or squatters house. This self centred and selfishness approach have to be reviewed.
As always, there are 2 sides of a coin. But if good understadning, wisdom, fair and equitable approach are engaged, situation would definitely progress better.
People said just before you kick the bucket and while you are lying on your death bed, you start to reflect and reminisce.
Is PR again a one-term phenomenon?
Self implosion of strange bed fellows?
Time to administer the last rites?
Firstly, it is important to note that the PR govt inherited resources from the BN era with well entrenched habits and cultures that need many many years to correct. So, I think it is not fair to say that the PR govt is failing.
Unfortunately, most people do not realize that the time frame for any economic and social policies to realize its fruition is in the medium to long term. Short term policies are knee jerk policies. We need medium and long term policies for sustained progress.
Secondly, to say that the PR has gotten arrogant in 1 term is also not fair. It depends on who one speaks to. If you asked developers who are used to getting projects via contacts and under table monies, then yes, PR seems arrogant because now they need to compete for it.
But if you ask the man on the street, well, at least the BN is now on its toes. We must also not forget that some of the PR people were also ex-BN people. So, old habits die hard.
But certainly, PR also need to address a few issues in order to govern effectively,
The PR needs to speak with one voice. It must find a way to communicate its projects and policies to the Selangor rakyat as the mainstream newpaper clearly cuts them off. Only negative reports on PR are covered.
PR needs to have a very clear objective on what it wants to achieve by the end of the 1st term in governance. So, it must have a clear plan that must be made known to the rakyat.
PR should minimize their efforts in exposing the negatives of the previous govt and instead be fully focussed in governing Selangor. Please don’t be played into the hands of Khir Toyo.
Its time to govern and not fight street battle with BN. Like what the Chinese leader said – It does not matter whether its a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches rats, its a good cat.
Uncle Lim,
You have just seen the start of the backlash of a cultural shock.
Malaysians, PARTICULARLY DEVELOPERS (who are very used to having their ways with the BN) are feeling this shock.
Also, Malaysians (including politicians in the BN) are used to flout the law. So much so, that for all anyone cares, there is NO LAW IN THIS COUNTRY.
Now, that the electorate has given the BN politicians the shock of lives, they are using whatever means to blacken the reputation of the PR.
They have vast resources (albeit provided by the taxpayers) to do so.
Recently, it was reported in BN controlled newspapers that the government wanted to answer accusations in the blogs of BN improprieties exposed by bloggers.
I’m afraid that this is another ploy to fool Malaysians.
Take Uncle Lim’s blog. It has been around for umpteenth years and, as a regular visitor, I have NEVER seen a single alphabet from the BN government rebutting what was posted in it!
We know what the BN government is all about although it’s very, very, late in the day! And I must say that only the extraordinarily naive or stupid or both, will ever vote for them ever again.
The tactics that they are using against the PR only show how EXTREMELY DESPERATE they are to remain in power!
If, after five over decades of ruling this country, they still haven’t got it right, they should be shown the boot!
I for one have the greatest respect for the PR and I WILL definitely cast my vote for them!
YB Kit,
I think many PR supporters hae not realise the very limited powers of state goverments. Though known as a federation, Malaysia,
as some said recently, is more an unitary goverment. Look, almost 90% of the total public revenues are collected by the Putrajaya:
Income Taxes, Customs and Excise Duties and Petroleum Revenue. State Goverments’ resources are limited: land, forest, water and little others. Even water (eg.Selangor) had been drained off into private hands.
PR should step up public education on this reality.
YB Kit,
I think many PR supporters hae not realise the very limited powers of state goverments. Though known as a federation, Malaysia,
as some said recently, is more an unitary goverment. Look, almost 90% of the total public revenues are collected by the Putrajaya:
Income Taxes, Customs and Excise Duties and Petroleum Revenue. State Goverments’ resources are limited: land, forest, water and little others. Even water (eg.Selangor) had been drained off into private hands.
PR should step up public education on this reality.
I think PR’s problem is simple:
PAS
It has its religious ideology that at times gets too extreme, caused by certain irresponsible individuals not keeping in line with the spirit of PR BUT they do have a good base and experience in terms of being a political party. Tok Guru is also a very fair man.
PKR
This gang has too many politician-wanna-bees, basically half baked politicians that are led by a dubious man who is bent on being PM only to have is revenge. With little to no experience as a political part being popularity is the name of the game.
DAP
They very experienced but have a few members who are inexperienced and that causes problems for DAP. DAP needs to learn to bring in people who have experience in various areas to assist them and not always use party members only who are green. They also need to learn to use Public Relations so that the public understands what is being done by DAP.
Weakest link is PKR. PAS can work things out with the wisdom of Tok Guru but when you have PKR members like Wee, Johari, Azmin and Nordin … its very scary.
Not to forget that many anti-BN forumers have complains about personal dealings with Ronnie Liu and Theresa Kok even. So what gives?
Put in every PR & supporters’ blog the VISION & MISSION of PR prominently!!!
I have the nasty feeling that very soon Naj is going to launch his version of Mao’s “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” on the hapless masses of this country. It will be called the “Great 1malaysia Witch-hunting Revolution” and the cells in Kamunting will be filled to the roof before long. Opposition leaders will be labeled “anti-islamists,” “black elements”, or “black gang elements.”
Hi Admin, why my comment is not appearing???
[admin – because it went into the SPAM list]
Yb,
I think the selangor is facing the same situation like every pakatan rakyat state.
The ultimate problem is Pas. They are just extrement and willing to make policy that is not business and people friendly. Just see the beer issue in selangor. A lot of the selangor coffee shop people is not very happy about this.
The problem is even more serious in Kedah. Just see the 50% bumi quota. Developers and house buyers there are defintely cursing pakatan rakyat. If Kedah is ever to fall back to BN, Pas is to be blame.
for your info, Bn leaders are taking advantage of Pas extremist policy to drive away non-bumi voters in selangor and kedah. The lastest can be seen in malaysiainsider.
So, Yb, please do something before Dap also fall in next GE.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/34903-kedah-gerakan-youth-wants-kit-siang-to-explain-meeting-with-mb-azizan
There is no byline to this slimy opinion piece and it certainly wasn’t by LKS whose thinking is always lucid and whose syntax is always straightforward. I suspect it was written by some digruntled developer’s agent who is unhappy about a few abortive hillslope developments in Selangor in the wake of the December landslide. After so many decades of getting away with literally MURDER, these greedy maggots who can see nothing except MONEY MONEY MONEY are bound to be unhappy when confronted with ADUNs who believe in weaning their constituents off a money+power agenda and introducing a new agenda based on beauty+truth. The tone of the whole piece is myopic and self-serving. I have NO PATIENCE for developers and opportunistic entrepreneurs with absolutely no undcerstanding of the purpose of existence apart from making profits and more profits at the expense of the natural environment and basic principles of social justice and equality.
It’s mundane-minded people like this fellow who make Malaysia so MEDIOCRE!
Ummmm… just a question, may I know who’s the author of this “response”? It doesn’t read like Kit’s writing even though it was made on behalf of “DAP People”.
Nonetheless, it is well-written and certainly an important reading for PR (members). Socialist is no populist, economy development is interlinked with human society development.
However good the PR development plans are, they cannot get properly implemented without wholehearted cooperation of senior management of the civil service. The present civil service has been inherited from BN and it is well known that a large majority is pro BN. What happened in Perak clearly indicates that these pro BN civil servants are very willing to help BN sabotage any PR government. In fact it appears to me that the sabotage has started with the recent illegal seizure of beer in Shah Alam. Khalid Ibrahim’s PR government will need to get ruthless with any civil servant whose actions are not in tune with the PR agenda.
Unfortunately for PR such civil servants are almost completely 100% bumiputra. When there is the need to get rid of such recalcitrant bumiputra civil servants, the difficulty is how to do it in a way that the procedure cannot be made by BN to look like an anti-Malay crusade.
I find that some of the PR people were really silly (forgive me for being bold and straight); they created issues for BN to capitalize on. Good examples were selling of alcohol in Shah Alam and PAS-UMNO unity talk. These two issues had disappointed many PR supporters and brought enormous damage to the coalition.
I hope PR in future will exercise care and weigh the consequences before attempting to debate sensitive issues publicly.
PR in Selangor, Kedah, etc is going to face a big problem in next general.
For an analysis, the reason is simply because it is run by Pas.
Selangor is actually not as bad like in Kedah.
The 50% bumi quota in Kedah is like a time bom…..going to explode in the next general election. I believe most chinese in kedah already so sick with PAS that they can ask PAS to kiss their votes goodbye.
Same goes for DAP in Kedah. The last time DAP Kedah say want to leave pakatan Kedah is a wrong move. Now, people is saying that it is all show by DAP Kedah and you.
Even gerakan youth chief tan keng liang is making you accountable for declaring kedah issue had been settled. But the problem is according to him, the bumi quota issue not settle yet.
The bumi quota issue in Kedah is really dragging DAP and the whole pakatan rakyat down.
It is best if this is settled, even if it means telling the MB Kedah to go fly kite!
the image given to the people in selangor and kedah is that pakatan rakyat is more racist and extreme than UMNO and geng.
S, YB I hope this can be rectify before next GE.
And DAP must play an important role in safeguarding the interest of PR (Pas & PKR is no longer reliable)
adoionline’s (August 12th, 2009 11:59) tirade against developers and hillside developments reminds me of the various protests against building houses and condos on hill slopes and hilltops and also against the revocation of forest reserves for housing development.
The people who protested most vehemently against the hillside and hilltop development were those who owned existing houses on the nearby hillside and hilltop. To them once they have bought and owned their hilltop and hillside homes , the remaining part of the hill must be left undeveloped for their enjoyment.
Similarly with those who protested against using a forest reserve for housing development. The land on which their houses were recently built was part of the same forest reserve. Since they have already bought and owned their houses they demand that the remaining forest must be left untouched to as their backyard.
PAS is looking for reasons to leave Pakatan Rakyat with the help of UMNO.
First, they are creating impression that all DAP Aduns are corrupted and worse than those of UMNO’s.
Second, they make DAP looks anti-Islam.
I think sooner, isu babi will come out.
But DAP must also repend. Why do you want to keep protecting thugs like Ronnie Liu ? Even PR supporters cannot tolerate such character. If I were in his constituency, I will not come out to vote.
Pakatan may not be in putrajaya yet nonetheless what we now have in the country is something close to a two party system. And we can see two problems here. First, umno has failed to see it as such. Umno sees 308 as a temporary setback merely. That is why they are concentrating all their efforts in regaining lost ground from pakatan. And they are doing it by all means (including the illegal power-grab in perak and the setting-up of fictitious blog-site purportedly in the name of certain opposition member and so on). The objective is to deny pakatan the chance to settle into their roles and job. Secondly, 50 yrs of umno rule is too long. Not only an elite grouping of umnoputras has sprouted, an entire business culture too has developed based on umno’s corrupt style, money-politics and cronyism. Corruption has been institutionalised in this country and it is being carried out openly with legal documentation. The people became too impatient with umno and expect immediate change to take place the moment pakatan comes in. The bbc had a programme not too long ago on the subject and during an interview this comment was made (not verbatim): “if you fight corruption, corruption would fight back”. So the situation is actually a lot worse than mere criminals. At least criminals would normally scatter when the law comes. Corruption is actually able to stop even the process of the law in its track. So here, pakatan is fighting not only umno’s dirty efforts to unsettle things for them, pakatan is also at the same time fighting corruption and countering all fightbacks by corruption. Umno knows this and that is why umno does not want to let pakatan have time to settle.
Taiking, that was a very incisive analysis. You really enlighten me.
This post is kind of difficult to read and to understand what’s on the writer’s mind. Anyway we can make out something from the title and some key words in the rambling opinion.
If you ask me, PR has been gravitating towards BN or more specifically the Alliance party. The equivalents are as follows :
PAS -> UMNO DAP -> MCA and PKR -> UMNO, MIC, Gerakan, PBS.
Notice the recent shenanigans and how it is reflecting the antics of the Alliance / BN parties? If PR start to behave like BN component parties, will it make any difference if we vote for either one?
Hi guys,just remain calm,have faith in PR in all the states under its rules.Please don’t allow some bunch of losers to disrupt its unity.No one said before its easy to run a state or federal government,right !.Even president Obama is facing pretty of lots of problems,kind of problems he didn’t or could not see when he ran for presidents some six months ago.Despite all these,the people still have confidence in his leadership.Similarly ,lets hope we too can remain calm and have confidence in PR leadership.
Frankyapp … Problems are fine, we all will face it, bigger ones will come too. However, the deeper issues are mainly the incessant bickering and the so called lack of SOLIDARITY within PR after 18 months. That is the main issue for many PR supporters.
THe reality of being the govt. is beginning to sink in. But many of the elected PR members are still far behind … they are still in the ‘opposition mode’, … making poluplist statements, adopting populist stances, their feet stuck in the ‘opposition mud’, unable to free themselves from such thinking.
The first part of your analysis is realsitc enough but how many of these new ‘wakils’ share the same sentiments. Many are thinking of being reelected, so they sink deeper into the ‘mud.’ They coil from making and taking the right decisions (decisions that will ultimately benefits more people instead of decisions that favour selective groups).
What PAS, PKR and DAP (the ‘C’) need to do is to have a common approach to this problem. Do the other two parties in the coalition share your views, analyses and suggested solutions. There must be that common view, do you have it?
The ‘C’ elected members must be brought together and be eductaed on this. Let us face it … in the GE12, not all the elected members are people you would put up if your selection process had been more stringent. So, this must be done to set their mindset attuned to the ‘C’s’ platform which you need to survive as governments in the states you have won. Do the parties in the ‘C’, have the clout to do this with each elected members or are the elected ‘wakils’ the ‘little napoleans’ in their own parties?
The ‘C’ does not have much time to turn around the situation. It also does not have the luxury of uniterrupted reviewing, planning and restrategising. Pressure from Umno is unrelentless and increasing, you need to act fast.
The the squabblings amongst the parties in the ‘C’ needs to be recognised as a BIG stumbling block in its desire to remain as governments in the states it had won, left alone its desire to win the federal government. Do the parties want to remain as one, or is each now realising the existence in such a form not relly viable in the long road? Have the parties in the ‘C’ face this issue squarely in the face?
Is each party in the ‘C’ able to monitor the inflitrations of ‘Umno’s symapthisers? Umno seems to have done a very good job in destablilising the ‘C’. Except for the recent statement by Zaid Ibrahim, the ‘C’ should pay more attention to counter the onslaught created by Umno. Umno is gaining steam and if the ‘C’ is sluggish in its response, Umno’s fabrications against the ‘C’ would be perceived to be true by more and more people. Is the ‘C’ garnering its resources to fight in this area?
For your survival the ‘excos’ in the ‘C’ state govts. need to be received. Those found wanting need to be replaced. Does the ‘C’ have this tacit agreement, or will each party cry ‘bloody murder’ if its ‘wakils’ are removed. The parties may view this differently but to the people it plays a signifcant part when evaluating a political party. The people do not want to see the ‘C’ to be the same as BN. Has the ‘C’ accepted this perception of the people? Is each party just going to continue to protect its own people and side with them no matter whether they have been right or wrong? Do PAS, DAP and PKR have the courage and the maturity to adopt this stance?
To consolidate its position the parties in the’C’ need to start its search, evaluating and selection process for the next GE. It cannot hope to win if the candidates pick are to be of the same standard and quality of those that were picked to stand in the GE12. The people understand the situation then but this time around the ‘C’ will be commiting suicide if it follows the same procedure as before. Have the ‘C’ start on this?
The people want to see the ‘C’ win big in the GE13 but this time around the people are also placing demands for their votes.
I see a lot of PAS bashers, but I seriously think every single party should look at themselves, and improve. DAP is not really up to expectation in governance as well, so I think this article serves its great purpose in reminding the DAP politicians to buck up and govern…
But then it’s easier said than done… One problem I found with the politicians, not necessarily DAP politicians, is that they tend to say more than work, often they failed to do what they promised, and they are always more critical and agressive to their political enemies than themselves…
there is more reason for DAP to leave PAS.
Pas is a liability to everyone and to all their partner. Last time their partnership with UMNO also failed.
After that, Dap partnership with Pas ten year ago also was a disaster. I am not suprise this time in Pakatan, Pas also will cause trouble.
DAP won’t leave PAS because this will jeopardize the chance of LKS to become the 1st ever deputy prime minister in Malaysia
“One problem I found with the politicians, not necessarily DAP politicians, is that they tend to say more than work, often they failed to do what they promised, and they are always more critical and agressive to their political enemies than themselves…”
Bentoh … When this becomes an obsession is it not dangerous? What were they elected to do? Serve the people. So serve they must! Some have been busy hammering others only and not looked at themselves at all when all around them is not too well.
nckeat88 … sorry to say that LKS with his current attitude will make a lousy PM or DPM or minister. He is still as some have said, to be in OPPOSITION mode. LGE would be a much better candidate. DSAI … God forbid because he will bring his amazing Kulim MP to be part of the cabinet.
the weakest link is definitely DAP
with racist, chauvinistic, chinese-centric leaders like lim guan eng, thomas su and jeff ooi, PR risks to loose all states spare kelantan in the next election
DAP has been a tremendous burden to PR lately. its anti-malays and anti-islam stance is too evident, thus shying the malays away from PR
not only the malays, the indians are also getting sick and tired with DAP
if DAP does not change its attitude, it will be blamed should PR lose the next election to BN
p/s… 50% bumi quota in kedah is only applicable to TANAH RIZAB MELAYU. other lands are not affected. in other states, tanah rizab melayu means 100% bumi. what else do the non-malays want? 100% tanah rizab melayu for them? gosh… no wonder the malays are flocking back to UMNO. thanx DAP and non-malays for your “forward thinking”
It is true that unsustainable development approved by the former BN administration led to much bitter aftertaste and heartache among the residents of Selangor. It is also important to remember that since 8 March 2008 this pre-approved development has also led to the death of the innocents (such as two young girls Ulu Yam and the mother of a two-month old child in Bukit Antarabangsa). The apparent “arrogance” of the PR government in adopting precautionary policies cannot be equated with the arrogance of BN which stemmed from greed and perceived immunity.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PAKATAN RAKYAT GOVERNMENT?
Nothing is wrong as far as I can see. It is just inexperience of the PR politicians that gave rise to the perception that something is wrong. That the citizens are unable to see the “big picture” is understandable but the “ADUN” should have a clear perspective of what needs to be done for the greater good of the state. Populist sentiments should be discouraged and idealistic politicians should understand what governing really means. The Menteri Besar should make sure that policies are clearly understood by each and every ADUN otherwise he is not doing it right. If the ADUN’s are divided into two camps as well… it is worrying for it shows that they have not understood policies… over to you Menteri Besar.
ON LEADERSHIP:-
DO WHAT IS RIGHT. NOT WHAT IS POPULAR. FOR A RIGHT DECISION WILL HAVE THE RESULTS TO SHOW. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT NEGATIVE LABELS LIKE “IT TAKES PR ONE ONE YEAR TO BECOME ARROGANT”. GOOD LUCK
This is a good start:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/12/nation/20090812155554&sec=nation
Again, DSAI is the master of spinning too, he knows how to glass things over with a nice shiny glaze. Mr Racist MP of Kulim has never been dealt with.
Looks like PR guys are doomed in the states that they are supposed to run
1Malaysia has found a solution to disintegrate PR
And to show that PR people are useless in running states efficiently
Cut off federal funding to PR states
Make reports of corruption to MACC so that MACC rottweilers will raid PR people’s offices
Gasak everything and haul PR people for questioning
Rottweilers are powerful one – can grab and do anything without warrant
Also PR will do favor to BN by self-implosion and destruction
So, macam boleh last?
To be active in politics needs duit
Where got money drop from sky? Sky juice ah?
Benefactors also want pay back time
So, want to be transparent, no u scratch my back i scratch your back, how?
Easy to be opposition, kepala pusing as the ruling party
the writer is having too much in his head.
sometimes it is easier to whine and complain a lot but giving concise, relevant and logical solution is a very difficult thing to do.
yes, he is concerned but he is not of much help in terms of giving constructive and understandable suggestions.
Yes PR is making a lot of mistakes. But then again whoever expected perfection from a new government is just dumb.
Pro-business? We don’t want PR to be pro business. We already have a pro business political party. It’s called BN. You want pro business, then you can vote BN.
And then you can see what the excesses of pro business policies eventually leads to. The decay of our various social services: health services, education, police, judiciary, public transport etc. All because the BN government was too busy building high rise buildings, F1 race courses, ultra modern administrative centres, FTZ and ports. As if somehow, these would indirectly lead to an improvement to the health, education and social services.
Yes you need money for development. But as we have seen in Malaysia, spending lots of money in the wrong sorts of development can be even worse than having little money. Wasteful spending leads to inflation that makes the poor even poorer without them being able to do anything.
Do we need that many luxury condos? Are Malaysians so rich? Or are they being sold to rich foreigners?
The problem is Hassan Ali.
We just have to remember him and outvote him come the next election.
The people must be discerning. Choose good people to the legislature.
katdog … every government needs to be pro business, no business means no money for everyone. Businesses depends on other businesses so money does get shared around.
Yes, Malaysians are rich enough to buy most of the condos, I do work for developers and Malaysians are still buying.
Your biggest enemy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, may not be wrong by commenting that Pakatan Rakyat is just a loose organisation formed with the marriage of conveniences. You people simply have too many irreconcilable differences. For instance, DAP cannot even find the commonality which you may share with PAS on the issue of Alcohol Ban in Selangor. How are you going to reconcile yourself to PAS’s firm party stand on the issues of sexual immorality and of banned dirty food such as pig abbatoir, pig farming and pig butchering?
Have you people forgotten to sit down to do some goal-setting as the first step for setting up a healthy and well-managed organisation? Try to focus the goal of commonalities which DAP shares with PAS and temporarily forget about the ideological differences. Let all the ideological differences be reconciled at the local government level by permitting divisional autonomy to the local governments. Allow the Muslim community to have the ban on alcohol and make their living environment a dry kampung or a dry district, which may impose local council by-law such as banning sale of alcohol on Friday or banning sale of alcohol at all year-round! However, do continue to permit sale of alcohol in the non-muslim populated areas.
It is only after you already have a set of rules and regulations for the residents to follow, then people are able to evaluate your governance performance based on the predetermined set of rules and regulations. “Divide and rule” was once a very popular strategy being adopted by the British colonial government. I believe this strategy will create governance miracle for Pakatan Rakyat too!
Onlooker … why so much hoo haa about beer in Selangor when Kelantan does not have such hoo haa? Its because certain politicians wanna show that they also can talk big and they have clout.
We cannot divide an rule anymore, Malaysia needs to be ONE. It has to be as divided we fall, BN has been playing that for too long with MIC, MCA, UMNO etc. It has to be One Nation and One People.
“It has to be One Nation and One People.” (Speakup)
You can only achieve such a noble national objective when you are able to get some statesman like LKY to administer the Government. LKY will refrain himself from religiosity practice. However, if you get Hadi Awang to refrain himself from religiosity practice, his political career will surely be buried as soon as the monent when he stops to behave like a God-fearing person!
The stiff-necked Sunnah followers in Malaysia simply will not allow you a chance to have One Nation and One People. To make things worse, DAP is labelled by Umno as a racist Chinese Chavinist Party. DAP will never be able to take over the power of government by its own strength without the assistance from PKR or PAS if in the next few years DAP has to fail to rebuild its political image from the damage created by Umno’s seditious label!
We are talking about resources. Natural resources. Financial resources. Human resources. Mass media resources. Resources of space and time. Recurrent resources such a income tax etc.
If PR does not have full control of theses resources, it will face a gigantic task to resolve issues created by BN which has full control of these resources for over 52 years.
I think PR is doing very well with only 17 months in power. They have the sincerity. This is critical.
Problems are not problems if they can be solved. It is only a problem if there is no sincerity to solve it.
I have not seen BN manifests itself with the sincerity to solve Malaysians’ problems.
As long as PR politicians have the sincerity and political will to change for better, why as voters want to deny this golden opportunity.
To allow the individual local government to make its own choice of whether to make its district a dry district or a wet district, Pakatan Rakyat State Government will be able to focus its attention on other imperative issues such as launching economic activities spurring programmes like building a pool of agro-tourism resort attraction points to attract flight-fearing Singaporean Tourists and to encourage food-based cottage industry in order to promote the states such as Selangor and Penang as the regional hub for export of halal foods to Middle East countries.
The young high school graduates, college graduates and university graduates will all need to find a job somehow or rather. The PR state government should focus its attention on promoting the Service Industry as this industry will be able to absorb a lot of idle workers when Malaysia already loses its competitiveness in the field of Cheap Labour-intensive electronic assembly industry and garment knitting industry.
Being pro-rakyat doesn’t mean one ignores businesses. It’s merely that one takes care of the rakyat’s needs first than businesses second.
Its a lame story that businessmen constantly try to ply by claiming that business-first policies will eventually trickle down and benefit the common man and so that should be the priority.
We have seen what havoc pro-business policies of deregulation in America brought about. Businessmen claimed that they could be more productive and efficient if given the freedom to do their business. They went on to make millions in bonus and salaries trading toxic debts which led to a financial meltdown. yeah i guess the Americans are really grateful they had those pro business policies to drive their country’s economy.
To me, its about balancing the needs of the rakyat and providing for the needs of businesses. One should never assume providing for one or the other automatically guarantees that the other will be also provided for.
So if we want more pro business policies we can always go back to BN. Why do we need PR for that? Right now, we need PR to reverse the deterioration of the rakyat’s quality of life. The businessmen has already had their fill with 50 years of BN. It time they learned to make money without under the table dealings to get ‘fasttrack’ approvals without proper papers in order.
Pro business does not mean sacrificing teh rakyat ok. It only happens when GREED creeps in. Want a socialist state? Well China and Russian tried it but CORRUPTION killed it too. There is a difference when GREED and CORRUPTION comes into play.
Don’t throw the baby out with the water …
OnLooker … I like to dream I guess.
As for LKS being a PM, I have my doubts. He is too much in Opposition mode. Its ingrained in him, perhaps LGE or KuLi or maybe, just maybe Zaid. The rest … like I say, I don’t see it. Not even Karpal and his sons. All like to fight fight fight, call names and hammer only. They can gain coffee shop style popularity but when faced with deciding for 26 million people and trading with 6 billion more in the world, its a new game.
That’s my take … let’s see what happens after Thursday’s big PR meeting, will it be another just talk only session for the press or reality? DSAI will spin spin spin again after Thursday’s meeting.
Remember The People’s Declaration before GE12? That died …
I believe the Article is trying to accuse the Selangor Administration in acting too political against Developers. The writer is urging for more Economic Developments. He seems to demand more independency for PBT (Local Council) with the claim that they are more “able & mature people to administer and monitor the Councils. The writer is “warning” that MACC is playing or can play nasty so as to hinder the proper running of the State Gvoernment.
However, the writer failed to provide concrete example what should be condeemed as Political or factional.
My personal opinion are:
1. Housing Development has been heavy stained by a notorious History in Malaysia over the last 20 or more years. Ranging from malpractices in a) land alienation by the Land Offices/Offiers, b) Projects approval with “closed eyes” from various departments, including the Municipal Councils c) The “closed eye” of the Housing Ministry & the Local Government in Monitoring or Acting on bad Developers. Or, even the full range within a project.
Most, if not all of those bad, are connected to those cronies of BN or MCA. Value wise are xx billions, if not xxx billions.
Taking Subang Jaya (City) as an example, 58.3ha of public reserved land for Green or recreation Area had gone to nowhere. 5.83 of water retention point had gone to housing and a Town park under private Title. At today’s value, they are at least some 20 billions RM!! How about those in Puchong, Kelana Jaya, Sungai Buloh, ………
THEY ARE xx TIMES THAN PKFTZ!!
2. Abandoned Project is another notorious “Development”. X billions if not XX billions as can be traced under
http://www.hba.org.my/articles/buyer_watch/2006/more_laws.htm
http://www.hba.org.my/news/2003/1003/hope.htm
OR simply http://www.google.com/cse?cx=006815108908916691720:b14ewuoxh78&q=abandoned+project&sa=Search
Selangor is one of the worst state.
Many had been ignored and some only given some light recently
http://www.hba.org.my/news/2009/05/abandoned.htm
This has not only bring economical losses, but, bankrupted the credibility of the Government. If the State Government under PK is not acting on it, can PK resume the credibility so as to Govern?
3. Should anyone taking over a Management conduct Due Diligent to find out what are their Liability before proceeding? Same must be done with the Government!
When Housing Development being one of the key economic section, should the State Government continued with the liabilities from the Previous Government without plugging the loophole? And, continued to see that Land being wrongly alienated or even “stolen” and asset of the “House Buyers” being abandoned, Public Area being within a City being “manipulated” or even “Town Park” to be under “Private Title”.
4. Many Roads in Selangor has been turned into “Toll”. But with a swipe of pen by the Federal Government, they were turned into the hand of the Concessionaires. Shouldn’t those road be asset of the State Government? And, Toll be for the State! Even such road within Urban has no reason to be Tolled!!
5. The Writer should list out which Developer or Projects in Selangor had been wrongly acted!! I agreed that they should be Transparent!! So that I can see if some had been left out! It should be handled administratively and not Politically such that PK Government should set-up a Complaint Bureau to collect Public Complaints and list out the Projects or Cases to the Public! Is Subang Jaya Town Park and Wangsa Baiduri on the List?
6. However, with MACC, POLICE, the Jurdiciary Systems manipualted by BN, People should be educated that little can be done unless PK can change the Constitutions and Laws and to brush up the Administration and Personnel systems. By exposing the matters Administratively, People should understanding that only PK will and dare to act!! But, need a big change in Politics!!
PK SHOULD WORK ACCORDING TO LAW, RULE AND REGULATIONS TO DIG OUT THE WORMS with no Fear of Threat and Mal-practices of the BN cronnies!!
7. Can the Writer name which City Council has “able & mature” people to monitor and run the Council?
8. PK has a number of drawbacks due to their lacking of experience in Administration. They are most probably stuck by those BN’s officiers who do not want to co-operate or willing to work along Rules and Regulations. The only way is for PK to take in Complains from the Public so that the PK government have cases in hand to show what PK has to do and rebut any ill-allegation or accusation by anyone!! At the same time, see how “supportive” are their staffs.
PK must be strict to keep only staffs who are willing to work along Rules and Regulations and no more hanky panky!!
Let the People expose the wrong-doings of the BN cronnies and not the Politicians! Please set up the right Blogs for Complaints! Do modify the blogging culture! DO NOT SIMPLY DELETE ANY POST but do make Remarks and do Feedback!!
PK needs to communicate with the People with Transparency! BE CAT!!
We have this is in the People’s Declaration
http://www.malaysia-today.net/The_Peoples_Declaration.pdf
which reads inter alia
“the special position of the Malays and the indigenous rakyat of West Malaysia,
of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate rights of all other races;”
And yet we have a nut case on this blog saying ‘Malay’ is a term invented by the Brits to satisfy the administrative needs of the time.
Some of you guys know squat about what you’re writing here – and I don’t mean SpeakUp.
Let me quote verbatim on what was earlier written on the issue:
“It is clear that the term Malay was only introduced by the British when Malaya became a colony. So when Malays feature in the constitution, the history of the country should date from British’s control of this land. Equally when the term Malay is defined in Article 160 of the constitution, the history should only date from Independence Day. The Malays now are clearly not Malays of pre-Independence, and do not have the right to claim benefits from past history.”
Jaswant … this weekend free or not? I buy you dinner at KL Hilton … hahahahaa … just kidding.
Seriously, do enlighten me why the issue of the word Malay is so important? I read this a few times and it eludes me (also means I am blur la).
Don’t ask me. Ask the smart ass who wrote that. Where’s the other smart ass?
by House Victim:
Please set up the right Blogs for Complaints!
See? Public issue tracker. Get one. Use it. On the selangor.gov.my domain. Blogs for politics are yesterday’s success, today’s liability.
It works like this: a Selangor resident logs in (or they can phone a council number and ask them to do it for them) using their MyKad (anonymous access only for readers) and submits a new issue – ‘drains blocked in Jalan Saya Disini”. Front line staff accepts issue and assigns it to Drains Department. Nothing happens. Resident complains. Front line staff assigns it higher up management structure – to a named member of administrative staff. They commit to meeting with Drains Department to resolve backlog of issues. Plan of action made available to resident with date of expected action, issue reassigned to Drains Department. Date passes. Resident complains. Issue assigned back to administrator with short (4 hour) time to response. No response. Assigned higher up management structure. Angry bloke who thought he’d been voted in to work on his golf swing is disturbed while ‘using same hotel room again’. He guarantees drain unblocked by next morning or quits. Next morning, expensively suited man alights from Mercedes holding spade and bucket, then returns to office and sacks some people. Issue is closed.
At regular intervals, examine issue tracker to see which departments are falling behind and reshuffle posts, ‘restructure’ them or do whatever it takes to make them meet residents’ expectations. Those departments that are meeting or exceeding expectations, give them bonuses or reassign their staff to produce the good results elsewhere. Having a public issue tracker that makes the stats available to residents too will allow residents to know which departments are good and which are bad, which may help by providing feedback outside of the workplace.
Without any reliable information to go on, any minister walking into a department and shouting “shape up or you’re all sacked!” is at best not going to be very productive, and at worst viewed as an autocratic outsider. If you try to implement any kind of handwaving, ambiguous meritocracy, you’ll just end up with a slightly different version of the current ‘sucking up for benefit’. You have to have the data to make good decisions on – and so do the residents.
OrangRojak – Public issue tracker !! Yes!!
(PCB used to have one. But, it is just a show!!)
After close to 10-15 years of “multimedia corridor”,
1. How many office is taking or even communicate by email?
-AG is shy to give out email address of the officers handling cases for clients. Even declaring “it is their Policy not to meet clients!”
-PCB (under PM Department) dare not even confirm on receipt of emails.
-Many Parties have email and same for their Politicians, including PR. But, they don’t even afford confirm receipt of email!
2. IF PK Governments and the Politicians cannot even use the Multimedia or at least e-mail and Blog to increase their Transparency and Efficiency and also Monitor as mentioned by OrangRojak, can we see Malaysia really in the “Multimedia Corridor”?
The System can be readily available, BUT, the culture is not there!!