NOV 6 — The Federal Court has deferred judgment on the Perak crisis but regardless of who the winner is, it is not going to end the political turmoil in the state. Political issues still need to be resolved through political means.
BN and Pakatan Rakyat started their confrontation ever since the March 8 general election. Each did not wish to see the other side doing better. However, in the process to “suppress” each other, they did not prioritise the people's interests. Political instability has reduced the credibility of the two parties, and the people are suffering from the fight.
Is it true that there is no room at all for cooperation while they are competing with each other? The state legislative assembly sitting can be held successfully if both parties are able to cast aside the question of who the lawful state government is.
State assemblypersons from both the parties can then discuss and debate the state budget to avoid a waste of funds and deviation in implementation. This is one way they can defend the Perak people's interests. Endless disputes will only result in the state government unable to govern the state well while Pakatan Rakyat too will be unable to play its role of overseeing the state government. Ultimately, the state's development will be arrested.
Of course, they must first show their good intentions in order to cooperate. They must have a basis and conditions for cooperation. First of all, they must stop persuading assemblymen from the other side to resign and become independent representatives. For example, Pakatan Rakyat was uneasy about the resignation of Port Klang state assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah. Secondly, they must fairly and reasonably enforce the law without political oppression and double standards. Thirdly, they must treat Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states fairly, including on the issue of oil royalty.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat should demonstrate a willingness to cooperate, including not using too strong words to criticise the federal government and enhance communication in Parliament sittings and other meetings.
With reduced hostility and confrontation, together with enhanced communication, leaders of both parties will be able to have contacts and meetings without being rejected by the grassroots. They can then combine their resources and find a way out of the country's political and economic malaise.
Pakatan Rayat-ruled Selangor and Penang are manufacturing states and they need assistance from the federal government to attract foreign investment. Meanwhile, the federal government should not deny investment applications just because the states are under the control of Pakatan Rakyat. Foreign investment can only be enhanced with the cooperation from the two parties.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng recently revealed that he was forced to reject RM30 billion worth of foreign investment because he could not guarantee 1,000 electrical and electronic engineers. The investment could have come in and created many jobs if the state had the assistance from the federal government.
It sounds like fantasy asking BN to work together with Pakatan Rakyat. But in a developed democracy country, two confronting parties would be able to cooperate for the country's interests. The key lies in the maturity of democracy.
Pakatan Rakyat has decided to seek registration as a coalition. BN should give its blessing. Let's allow the two coalitions to have a healthy competition and the people will decide the fate of them in the next general election. — mysinchew.com
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If the BN Government is serious about governing for the benefit of the Rakyat, it would have:
1) Ensure an independant judiciary - has anyone been charge despite the royal commission into the lingam tapes?
2) Ensure corruption is not entrenched in the ruling elites - candidates that had been proven guilty for corruption; expelled from professional associations for dishonesty are still welcomed to run on the BN platform. Even oposition politicians facing corruption charges, expelled for not serving the constintuents are welcome into the BN fold.
3) Ensure all murderers are brought to trial - if the intention is to find the truth in the TBH inquest, an open royal commission would provide the answers more readily than an inquest with limited by the scope of inquiry. Despite the damming autopsy report Kugan was beatedn to death, where are the guilty ones?
Good government starts with getting it right at with the values fundamental to a civilised society.