Jeswan Kaur | October 17, 2012
Free Malaysia Today
With the Auditor-General’s report vouching for Pakatan’s ability to ‘do a good job’, does BN have any other trick up its sleeve to bring the curtains down on its arch rival Pakatan?
COMMENT
Poetic justice – that best sums up the 2011 Auditor-General’s report that has given the opposition Pakatan Rakyat-controlled four states top marks for fiscal management.
The Auditor-General in its report had praised Selangor and Penang for collecting a revenue of RM62.50 million and RM192.19 million respectively.
Both states recorded a surge of 46.8% and 4% respectively as compared to the previous year.
The AG’s report also praised Kedah and Kelantan for their revenue collection but said that the states needed to improve their debt management system.
The DAP-led Penang showed the way in terms of revenue collection, chalking up RM192.19 million or 46.8% increase compared with the RM410.70 million generated in 2010.
Selangor, the country’s richest state, increased its revenue collection by RM62.50 million or 4% for the same period.
A paradoxical scenario indeed for in spite of the vehement attacks by Barisan Nasional on Pakatan’s ability to administer the four states under its fold, the opposition coalition, as revealed by the Auditor-General’s report, has proven its rivals wrong, shutting them up in the most fashionable way through an impressive performance.
Be it Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s leadership or Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s straight-forward style of managing the state, both have proven their capabilities.
The Penang state government under Lim launched the Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) concept – the aim, among others, to propel the state government to achieve an efficient, responsible and clean government; CAT also encompasses positive work ethics and inculcates a team spirit based on performance.
However, Lim’s tenure as Penang chief minister has been no bed of roses for no effort has been spared by BN’s controlling arm, Umno, to malign him and cast doubt over Lim’s ability to carry out his duties as chief minister.
And there seems to be no end to the image-smearing undertaken by the BN.
Just last month, Lim was accused by Gerakan Youth vice-chief Tan Kah Leong, BN Tanjung Youth chief H’ng Khoon Leng and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng of doctoring a tenancy agreement on his rented residence.
All three were left licking their wounds when Lim, through the document, revealed that the house was rented for RM5,000 a month and he topped up RM1,000 from his pocket to make up the difference from his RM4,000 a month housing allowance.
Pakatan deserves a chance
Before that, Umno tongues wagged that Lim was apparently involved in an extra-marital affair with his former staff. Prior to that, there was the ludicrous claim made by the BN rumour-mongers of Lim’s son being involved in a sex scandal.
Still, despite such pressing times, Lim persevered and was determined not to let the Penangites down – now the 2011 Auditor-General’s report is testament to Lim’s dedication to his work.
The scenario has been somewhat similar for Khalid, who time and again has been lambasted by Umno for being inept.
Khalid, whose over two decades of corporate experience and integrity has given him an edge in administering Selangor, has had his fair share of nightmares, be it the state government’s refusal to go ahead with the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant or controversy concerning mismanagement of funds to bail out Talam Corporation Bhd via purchases of land belonging to Talam.
The 2011 Auditor-General’s report also speaks well of two other Pakatan-controlled states – Kedah and Kelantan.
For Kedah, this rice-bowl state considered as one of the country’s poorest, while being far from achieving its debt target, has somehow managed a “satisfactory” balance sheet.
The oil-rich Kelantan, too, was rated satisfactory due to the increase in its consolidated fund by RM86.17 million or 58.1% to RM234.47 million as compared with the RM148.30 million recorded in 2010.
The PAS-conrolled state also saw investments in 2011 increase by RM95 million from RM16.33 million in 2010 to RM111.33 million in 2011.
With the 2011 Auditor-General’s report vouching for Pakatan’s ability to “do a good job”, does BN and Umno have any other trick up their sleeve to bring the curtains down on its arch-rival Pakatan?
The 2011 Auditor-General’s report that applauds Pakatan-controlled states for their good performance should be sufficient evidence to convince the rakyat that given a chance, Pakatan can deliver and do better than BN.
BN’s sour grapes
Call it “sour grapes” or hypocrisy, a BN federal minister, Nazri Aziz, decided to act “decent” and congratulate the Pakatan-led states.
Nazri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, went so far as to say that the Auditor-General’s report proved that the BN government had no bad intention against its political rivals as accused by some quarters.
“If we want to hide facts, we would have hidden all the praises meant for Pakatan-led states,” Nazri had said.
Is Nazri then implying that BN is not averse to applying dirty tactics to suit its convenience?
And it does seem that Nazri has either been sleeping on the job or is in a critical need of a wake-up call when he remarked that the federal government never harboured malice against its political rivals.
Condemning Pakatan and calling it a liar and inept, as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak keeps doing – does this not allude to bad intention aimed at killing off Pakatan’s chances at the coming 13th general election?
One thing is for sure and that is the rakyat cannot trust Nazri for he is known to swing like a pendulum when it comes to getting into the good books of the country’s leader.
By the way, what does the Auditor-General’s report has to do with BN’s “intention”? Can the report be tampered with by the federal government? Is this what Nazri is subtly saying?
Whatever Nazri’s rhetoric may be, it holds no water as far as hard work and a commitment towards serving the people go – this Pakatan has in a mere four years recorded straight As unlike its nemesis BN which never seems to get its act in order.
Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.
The Penangites should throw shit to MCA and Gerakan people face for their shameless attempt to smear the good name and good works of LGE.
While it is human nature to be euphoric to bask in such praises by the AG (Auditor General, as opposed to the other infamously famous AG), I would like to bring PR down to earth. It is always easier to show improvements over a mess up administration such as that corrupt legacy left behind by BN. But it will be harder and more challenging for the BN states now to maintain this good performance, let alone improve on them further. But improve they must because it is necessary to continously to raise the bar out of BN’s reach.
Whilst writing, while in the alternative media we get to hear the truth of the AG’s report, on TV all we hear are the negative comments of the AG about bad performance by certain agencies in PR controlled states.
Correction :
“….challenging for the BN states…” should read as “challenging for the PR states…”
CSL the politician say that the averse AG reports will not lost the voters’ heart. To be him the people are still with BN other wise it will happen 50 years ago, so that his belief. What else he can say and comments on for a party who has been seen to be weak and just another puppet of another? Sure 50 years + has gone and BN are still there to rob due to many reasons. One of course the cake when it started was big enough but as the greedy BN rob and eaten by themselves over a period of 50 years, not say cake even mountain will become a flat fields. The ingredients for the fall of an empire are the same and it is exactly what have shown in the annual AG reports. So it was a matter of timing. CSL’s belief that the time is still with them. So instead of giving their positive criticism on the weakness revealed and ways to make amended he choose to say the say old tune that all seem is ok if not it has happened 50?
years ago.
He has to bear in mind that though it normally take more them 50 years to fall in the olden days but it will sure take much shorter for BN to fall in this IT age. So if he and his party still believe that 50 years if not enough for BN to fall that was simply of the arrogance and sort of culture within them with the belief that they can use all dirtiest ever manner to win the next GE. That CSL’s dream on …………
50 years is enough and the time is coming and it will be sooner than CSL team can think of
This report was delayed for two weeks before publication.
Those two weeks must be the longest weeks in the lives of all the corrupted scums.
Won’t be surprising they must be having sleepless nights during those weeks.
They will never ever even approach the performance standards of the PR because their ideology is entirely different.
Their raison d’etre is corruption, scams and scandals!
While those of the PR is C-A-T!!!
And this cat is very good at catching the mice!!!!
Professional body like the Auditor General Dept has to be 100% accurate in its findings and conclusions.
Umno B keep saying the opposite.
This public will know whose reports to trust.
Year in year out…AG reports have nothing good to say about the Govt.
‘….does BN have any other trick up its sleeve….’
They have plenty as we all know and they will use all kinds of tricks to stay in power. How has PR addressed the phantom voters, new citizen voters, transfer of voter issues etc to ensure they can win? Has PR overcome the many disadvantages e.g. control over the media, unequal constituencies, use of government machinery etc etc ?
Many people inform me that many other dirty tricks are in store waiting to be unleashed when the time comes. PR better be ready and not be overconfident. If it loses, it will be curtains for it as there will most probably not be a next time.
Having good fiscal management and the like in PR states although commendable might not be sufficient to win over many die-heart BN supporters. Many more things are needed. A good example is Sarawak where BN continues to hold sway despite some losses.
Penangites can be proud that their state is performing well under LGE. Its not by increased taxes, but by preventing from losses and wastage of funds.
Civil servants in Penang should also take pride of being in the winning team. What PM promises, 1.5 months bonus, is for you to celebrate, for doing a good job.
You will have different feeling if your state’s report card is lousy, because you are part of the team.
‘Once a liar, always a liar’. The three Gerakan members had called, ‘wolf’ will never ever recover from that wound, because people will not believe their words, ever.
No wonder Gerakan falls. Big headed prawns.
To the PAS controlled state of Kedah, you can do better!
I come from Kedah, and I would like to ask you this.
Before you took over, what was it like?
After you took over, what had changed, and what have not?
The answer to my question is, change was, PAS took over.
Not changed was, the civil servants.
So you see, their attitude have not been changed.
Do get some advise from Penang CAT. Nothing to be shy. We Kedahan should be proud to be the main supplier of rice in the country. The name ‘Rice Bowl of Malaysia’ (Jelapang Padi). Our Sultan is the Agung for the second time already.
Or have we lost most of the padi land to housing under BN rule? Even the ‘ikan sepat’ fish, once abundance, is no more to be found along the drainage system.
The last time I went back, many housing estates have come up on ex-padi fields along the road from Alor Setar to Jitra.
Religion is important, but many people lost their shoes, Nike brand, when doing their prayers.
So, PAS, do watch over our Kedah, don’t let BN steal it from you this GE13
There is one failure of PR states – UMNO/BN has got the heros of PR states LGE and Khalid Ibrahim so tied up in what they do, they don’t have enough time to help in Sabah & Sarawak where they can convince the voters there to turn on UMNO/BN
To PAS in Kelantan, I have to tell a short story.
In 1984,my ex company gave me a promotion, and sent me to Kelantan. I cannot remember who was ruling Kelantan then,BN or PAS.
My neighbour was an engineer in an electronic firm, assembling electronic parts,which operates 24 hours.
However, not long after, he informed me that the factory will be closed because the state government does not allow females to work on night shifts.
So, young girls and boys who were working only day shifts will also lose their jobs, now that the factory will be closed.
My story ends here.
So you see, a decision by an imam or group of imam caused hundreds to lose their livelihood.
They should have known that only when the rakyat have a job, then only they have money to spend, and the shops can have business, and the state can have taxes.
After some years, I was transferred to Malacca. I was informed that there was a block of flats, where mainly factory girls from Kelantan and Terengganu were lodged. The men will be living in a separate blocks.
No wonder the economy of Malacca was booming, helped by the east coast youngsters, who could not find jobs in their own state.
Again, same like in Kedah, ‘What has not changed?’
Civil servants.