The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 27 — I am amused by the tiger talk in Penang. In actual fact, we need a forwarding-looking and well thought-out economic plan and not tigers. The premise of having a tiger park is to attract more tourists. Tourism is touted as the next big thing in Penang. Hence, it is clear that the state government was not really that fond of tigers but wanted to use the strong appeal of the animal to enhance tourism.

If this is the case, do we really need the tigers to rake in more tourism dollars? So far, the socio-economic development plans announced by the state are piecemeal at best. It has started a fund to eliminate hardcore poverty. This is a good initiative. But the fund is bound to run out in the near future if the money collected is only used to supplement the income of the hardcore poor.

MARCH 6 — The government yesterday tabled a RM10 billion allocation as part of the proposed second economic stimulus package. It was read out by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha.

The RM10 billion allocation is evenly split, with RM5 billion going towards operational expenditure and the rest allocated for development expenditure.

On the outset, the amount allocated for the mini-Budget is going to be hotly debated in the next few weeks. Another more important aspect of the Budget which needs scrutiny is its uses. It is not sufficient for the government to merely state its intention to spend the money on operational and development without going into the details.

FEB 13 — There is one thing I like about DAP chairman Karpal Singh — his bluntness. Karpal is calling a spade a spade when he openly demanded that PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim quit as Pakatan Rakyat chief.

He blamed Anwar for creating enough trouble and wanted him to repent.

Karpal said both Pas and PKR had fallen sway to Anwar's rhetoric, who had supported defections of elected lawmakers as a way to wrest power from the BN.

FEB 7 — From a legal point of view I was made to understand that the power of the Sultan of Perak to disallow the dissolution of the state assembly is a grey area. What is obvious is the Sultan does not have the power to dismiss the serving menteri besar other than through a vote of no confidence.

Another grey area is whether the Sultan should accede to the request by the menteri besar to dissolve the assembly or whether he can act on his own prerogative to allow it or not.

JAN 20 – Despite chalking up an emphatic win over BN, it still too early for PR to expect a smooth ride to Putrajaya.

Hence, Pas spiritual leader Nik Aziz was quick to urge his members to be gracious after victory. He is a veteran leader who fully understood the ups and downs in politics.

His advice is apt and timely. Ironically, this newly minted coalition was literally put together by the voters who decided they have tolerated enough of power arrogance after handing over easy mandate to BN for decades.