Many of us in the Pakatan Rakyat are feeling sad over the loss of the PAS candidate in Bagan Pinang. To lose in this by-election is expected right from day one, as there are about 5000 postal votes in that constituency. How to fight when there are so many postal votes and the armed forces’ votes have a tradition of support for the BN??
However, we, members of Pakatan Rakyat, need to review our policies and strategies for the future of Pakatan Rakyat.
I found a critical Facebook Note by “Sun Line” and I can relate to some of the views expressed. We should read this with an open mind.
This is his piece.
Between Bad Moon Rising and Happy Days
Pakatan Rakyat groupies have been wearing black since Saturday, and it’s not because of 1BlackMalaysia.
They are doing so because they are in mourning as the stark reality bites and they finally realise that the PR has never been a government-in-waiting but was a mere substitute in a political footy game where the Umno-captained team leads 12-0 at half time.
Things can only get worse as Pas president Hadi Awang digs further into his little hole to hide from political knives that are being sharpen as his buddies begin to wonder if it’s him, and not PKR, that’s Pakatan’s weakest link and the root cause of some of PR’s major toothaches.
The psychological lessons of Bagan Pinang may, or may not, have altered Malaysians’ desire for federal level changes but they have certainly re-focused their need to demand accountability not only from BN but PR.
In the long term, Pakatan can not afford to allow its supporters to live with the thought that it has peaked at GE12 and go into GE13 riding on the losing end of a string of by-election successes.
In the short to medium term I can envisage Anwar Ibrahim using his political mastery to engineer a psychologically positive path for voters leading into the next round.
This may include plotting absolutely positively winnable by-elections to put key, yet-unelected, former BN icons into the limelight and representative positions to lead the charge into GE13.
If this was to happen, it’ll happen sooner rather than later as the clock ticks to the cut-off point in this term where a by-election is not a legal necessity in the event a seat falls vacant.
Be that as it may, we can expect counter punches from Pakatan faster than Rosmah can get her beehive style hairdo re-permed on a bad hair day.
Pakatan needs to let the public have a good feeling about it as the voters now feel jilted by politicians who courted them with promises of care but went astray during its never ending honeymoon.
Pakatan can jolly well start by sacking those troublesome reps to kick off its spring clean.
We need not sing Bagan Pinang to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising“.
It can be “Happy Days“.
It’s Pakatan’s call.
(This Facebook Note may be freely republished on condition it is unedited and “Sun Line” is accredited with a link back to the original. )
END
Just a simple reminder to all pakatan party:-
When you won the last GE, not because you are very strong and people really believe your policy. It was (and is?) merely because we hate BN much more.
So, stop being syiok sendiri and start work to convince us that you are indeed better than BN. So stop to outdo each other and start talking to one another!
I am just another fed up PR voter!
Pakatan Rakyat, Beware the 3C’s
It is with profound concerns that after much soul searching on the political developments in our country especially the By Election of Bagan Pinang, the short of landslide victory by BN reveals Pakatan has lost the confidence of the rakyat. Although March 08, 2008 had come and gone and Pakatan had captured 5 states with Selangor being the jewel of the crown, I would wish to offer my 2 cents worth of assessment, an adverse assessment of Pakatan governance through the ample encounters with one in particular that of MPSJ. Pakatan Rakyat, Please beware of the 3C’s: Councilors, Competency and Competition.
Councilors: On Dec.17, 2007 a court declaration was initiated in the High Court by the Pest Control Association Of Malaysia (PCAM) and Stopest Sdn. Bhd. to declare null and void against a flawed policy of MPSJ whereby all pest control firms must be registered with MPSJ and pay a deductible deposit of Rm.3000.00 before we can conduct our business in this local council. We were then commended and praised by some opposition leaders of our fearless determination to rid of rent seekers. To cut the story short, we were brought to believe that our woes and plights would end through a pleasant transition of government in Selangor. Unfortunately what a nightmare we have experienced, no thanks to some incompetent councilors in MPSJ who were mainly handpicked due to their political patronage rather than their competency or capabilities.
Although, an out of court settlement was initiated by MPSJ almost immediately after the 12 General Elections, the lackadaisical attitude and impotent display by the councilors speak volumes that much is to be desired. The case was finally settled with a consent order by the High Court on August 12, 2009 but it was not without fanfare.
Imagine, one particular councilor who is supposedly a party whip who can’t comprehend the meaning of a letter with the captioned of “without prejudice” and who has the audacity to inform us that he had been advised by MPSJ’s legal advisor that this settlement is not official since the High Court has yet to serve on both parties a written judgment! If that is the case, wouldn’t all criminals convicted and sentenced by the judge, granted a reprieve and walk out a free man since a written judgment has yet to serve on him? Councilors are supposed to be the executive and instructing the administrators to perform according to decisions meted out by the Exco, yet it is appalling to hear and see that it was the other way round with the legal advisor making decisions for the Exco!
PR, you promote CAT, an acronym for Competency, Accountability and Transparency but your councilors are not even able to pass the 1st hurdle, how can you be a better alternative for the Rakyat? CAT must be implemented in its total context and goes hand in hand. Abstract any attributes of CAT, we are back to the twilight zone. Of what benefit is there if a person is accountable and transparent but not competent for the post? Many Tom, Dick and Harry would have suited such criteria anyway. Let me cite you an example: An investor, invested his savings, say Rm.1 million to one Tom for a period of 5 years with a hope that his investment will have some decent return on earnings. Tom puts the money inside his safe deposit box and that’s it. After 5 years he returns to this investor the same amount of Rm. 1 million. Well, he did not defraud, he is at least, by Malaysian standards, an accountable and transparent guy. But is he competent? Definitely not, as envisaged by the people. The least incompetent guy would have deposited the money in the bank and earn some measly interests for his investor.
Councilors are the front runners and a vivid reflection of the state government who appoints them to look after the local issues of the day, just as the moon is a clear refection that our skies are crystal clear. The Rakyat has invested their votes to PR, but unfortunately not to some of these councilors (as they are appointed) and 5 years is a short time and if the trend continues with no decent returns on investment, will PR be able to:
Compete in the next General Elections? Your guess is as good as mine. Is PR in dire need and a dearth of capable councilors and leaders? Well, invite those from the other side of the political front then; forget about rewarding your incompetent party loyalists through such appointments. The Rakyat expects results and not rhetoric speeches and empty promises. The level of good governance as portrait by PR has been deluged by such incompetent councilors and our hearts recoiled at the slow and motionless attitude of such questionable councilors who should in the 1st place carry out the honorable salutation of resigning in order to make way for more legally capable people who can better serve the people. Why stay on for a paltry monthly allowance? Or is there a hidden agenda that motivates them to stay put? Dishing out your name cards amounting to an implicit announcement that you are a local councilor will not earn any respect from the people if you are incompetent. Mind you, MPSJ is considered and lauded as the 2nd richest council in Selangor and one of the prime movers of our economy.
March 08, 2008 has brought about a 2 party political system, heavily dependant on the younger voters who will not display any blind loyalty to either party. Come the next GE, ask yourself, and are you able to compete even if it’s on level ground? Lip service and merely opposing for the sake of opposing will lead us to nowhere. You have been given the mandate to rule in these 3 new states, please find qualified and competent leaders which are aplenty in Malaysia. Better still, persevere to call for local elections as previously espouse by PR.
I may be offensive to some councilors but my emboldened objective is accountable and transparent to drive the message to PR that I am also competent to give a fair comment for the sake of others who shares similar sentiments as mine. Otherwise, the 2 plaintiffs would have gone the distance in this litigation against MPSJ’s flawed policy and sought for an outright judgment and had it not for the new state government moral persuasion to us to drop our charges. Such outright local decisions should not have imposed a burden on the state government.
Thank you,
Ang Tan Loong
President PCAM.
Note: The above comments are solely the views of the writer and must not be adduced or construed as from the Pest control fraternity.
Pakatan can jolly well start by sacking those troublesome reps to kick off its spring clean.
True.
Some of these people may well be Trojan horses of the BN.
There also seems to be some problems in East Malaysia, where I read, the PR is short of capable candidates.
I think that the PR must correct the situation as soon as possible.
As I have mentioned in another blog, the PR must penetrate the rural Malay areas to convince them that the PR can share the wealth of the country with them in an equitable way. A way in which they can gain far more than the bribes offered by the BN.
Give this program as wide a coverage as possible.
This way the grip on the rural Malays by UMNO may be broken.
Teresa, I just cannot help but to tell you that PR voters who are beginning to get disappointed by the day grows larger and larger.
To count on DSAI is a lost cause, as the question on everyone’s mind is, can he really lead the country if the mandate is given to the PR? Will PAS throw the spanner in the works to destroy his ambitions? As far as Tok Guru is around, then we have no fears, but, with Hadi and Nasharuddin at the helm, do you feel comfortable? And not to mention that hasan ally of BN.
To add to the miseries of PR voters, the new bickerings within PKR where the much loved and admired saudara Zaid Ibrahim is sidelined for Azmin Ali is indeed sickening! While we admire Azmin for his staunch and unfailing support to DSAI, we do not agree with his show of disrespect for Saudara Zaid Ibrahim. Azmin is young and need to earn his stripes. Between Azmin and Zaid, the rakyats choice is clear without my elaborating on the issue. But, the fact is, DSAI sided with Azmin and sidelined Zaid. We, rakyat cannot accept that! As it is, Zaid is much loved by the Rakyat, just put him in any Chinese majority area, he will win with a landslide. Yet, DSAI chose to flirt with the UMNO warlords type of politics.
Honestly, my vote had never once went to the BN, it is either Semangat 46, PAS or Keadilan, but, recent developments within PKR, really make sit up to evaluate the situation. Is it worth it to continue supporting these parties? Is DSAI fighting for his own politcal survival and ego or for the Rakyat? Can he lead? If so, why can’t he delegate? These are serious questions that we need to ask ourselves, what about Syed Hussein? We have not heard of him since many months ago?
If good leaders are continued to be sidelined and disregarded by DSAI, will we, the commoners, really have anything to look forward to? As it is, it had been stated many times in your blogs, comments like, “it is not that we love PR, but we hated BN more”. So this group could anytime swing their votes.
As RPK had once commented , DSAI continues to run PKR like a sundry shop, when it had infact grown to a hypermarket. How true and honest an assertion!
Had Saudara Zaid Ibrahim, agreed to RPK’s suggestions, and brought in 20 intellectuals without baggages to the DAP, at least, there is still chance as DAP’s stance had been consistent since their formation.
Bagan Pinang, is nothing to cry about as the PR never stood a chance from day one. But, the majority is sickening! How can the rakyat desert PR in droves, just so soon after the 308 election. Honestly, they are deserting the PR reps like people with plagues!
Another thing, LGE, by his childish petulance had offered to put up those ” Tak Nak ISA” billboards in Penang, that serves no purposes and a waste of public funds! He should have done better! The Penangnites, are a mixed of educated and less educated and what you hear from the less educated, who incidentally, have larger families and time to waste, harping on the same issues of the PR whenever the chance arises is quite dampening. LGE must wake up from his slumbers, the middle class in Penang, are mostly wage earners and do not want their lives to be dragged into political issues with the Federal Government. When the DAP won big, it was expected of the DAP to form the Government with its PR partners. After that, the PR must start showing their ability to govern and start governing, instead of getting themselves embroiled in cheap stunts! The duty of Governing, is paramount once you form the Government. Remember, you are the Government and the role had been reversed by the Rakyat! Therefore, Penang is DAP’s to lose. Come the next GE, you will face the criticisms which you had so often thrown at the Government. Except for Phee Boon Poh, who is doing a marvellous job serving, probabaly, because he is a Penangnite, not much is heard of the activities of the other DAP YBs. The DAP has got to start looking for good leaders who can contribute to a better Penang and Malaysia, do not wait till the last moment, picking any Tom, Dick and Harry to contest.
Thank you.
To present 1 self as a viable alternative government, one must offer voters the following
1) the track record or at least the impression of ability to govern better than the incumbant
2) the ability to engage, assist, provide feedback to the voters
3) presentation of tangible, viable and imaginable changes should PR come into power
PR started off well. The changes in Perak was most heartening until the reforms were taken away.
LGE may have achieve some success but 1 problem I can see is that he tend to emphasize more on the past fallings of the previous administration rather than to communicate his achievement and plans hence may give people a wrong impression that he is a whinger. I do understand he has many restriction and federal funding is defintely 1 unfair restriction.
I heard comments from people that there is not much change in Selangor. I suppose Malaysians mudah lupa don’t appreciate the Warga Usia Emas, Tawas and free water. Pretty demanding lot, eh?
By the way, do Selangor people appreciate the freedom of information act as well as the things uncovered by Selcat?
I suppose for Selangor, if delivery system of local councils, being the interaction point between the state government and the people, can project a consistent, efficient, friendly and customer-service focus front, then it will speak volume
Teresa, hopefully can pull in more FDI to show some results.
We must not forget the synergy possible within the PR controlled state. Not only it must co-operate within these states but hopefully it can extend its influence into potential states.
E.g. Selangor state government can give fruit for thought to Negeri Sembilan voters by inviting NS PR leaders as observers to the state administration machiney. Training opportunities for them so that the voters can say, “hey. they are learnig to govern.”