Loh Gwo-Burne in his own words
KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 – He burst into the limelight during the V. K. Lingam Royal Commission hearing as the man who shot the video. Loh Gwo-Burne was again in the limelight when he stood as a candidate for the Kelana Jaya parliamentary constituency against the highly-experienced Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and emerged the victor.
Days have passed since and naturally, people are curious about the 34-year-old newcomer to Malaysian politics. The Malaysian Insider speaks to the UK-born businessman-turned-politician who did not vote in the elections he ran in and won.

Q: You have a very interesting Chinese name. Could you tell us its significance in Chinese?
LGB: Well, I did ask my grandfather once, but he said something and then laughed, so I think he must have been joking. But, spelling aside, the "Gwo" in my name means country, and the "Burne" means foundation, or root, essence. There's a Chinese philosopher who had a saying, which translates to something like: "The foundation of heaven is in the country; and the foundation of the country is in the family."

Q: That sounds like a name of fate.
LGB: (Laughs) Depends on what you make of it.

Q: The Malaysian public became acquainted with your name because of the V. K. Lingam hearing.
LGB: I think my defining moment is not because I took the video but because I stood up to speak the truth. Standing up to speak the truth is not as easy as some people think. But for me, it's just to tell the truth.
For example, some people came up to me during the campaigning period and said, “Hey, we saw Lee Hwa Beng buying people food. Isn't that against the election rules?”

But when I asked them, “Did you take a picture?” they said no. In another incident, people reported to me that they saw our buntings being taken down by BN people. So I asked them, “Did you take a picture?” They said no and ran away when I asked them to make a police report. That's when I realised that a lot of people just cannot do that (stand up and tell the truth).

Q: But in the Lingam hearing, you took the video a long time ago. Why did you wait so long to stand up to tell the truth?
LGB: I'm not at liberty to discuss that aspect now, but all I can say is that there is always a time and place for everything.

Q: As a result of the Lingam incident, many people see you as a herald of change. Do you see yourself as such a symbol?
LGB: I'm honored that people see me as a symbol for change. I see myself as a messenger. I highlighted a problem that people knew existed but had never done anything about before. I've always believed that we need to change and to change fast. But I think change is also a problem.

Q: What do you mean by that?
LGB: I think I represent change to a certain degree. People want change. I am also proposing change. But I think it's too big a hat for one person. I'm only one of the voices for change. Look at our party manifesto. It deals with not just one issue, everything is intertwined. One of the ultimate things we want to tackle is judicial change. But it's not alone, it's linked with corruption. Our Anti-Corruption Agency needs change. Why is it not effective? Is there a will in the government to tackle this seriously?
These are all the issues we want to highlight, but we need to find a strategy to deal with all of them effectively. Sometimes a problem has more than one root. It's like a hydra, everything is linked in a certain way.

Q: What are your immediate priorities?
LGB: Crime. I think we can really do something about it in the short term if we have the will. Also, the traffic problem. It's intertwined with our economic policies. Think Proton. Our public transportation system has been compromised just to protect the national car maker. It's inefficient. Toll. As far as I am concerned, the toll is an unfair concept for society. The amount of subsidies the government paid on some tolls could actually have built new roads, but they do not allow the public to see the subsidy dealings. How is that fair? How do they justify the increase of toll prices? The public is suffering. I basically see it as extortion. After all, we pay road tax too, you know.

Q: Are you going to bring this up in Parliament?
LGB: We're trying to come out with the issues by talking to the local people. We have advisers. We're only allowed 13 questions in Parliament so we need to discuss which are the most pressing. We're only starting to compile the issues.

Q: In your quest for justice, who would you consider to be your biggest role model?
LGB: It's a UK judge, Lord (Alfred) Denning.

Q: Why?
LGB: I studied law. Most of the time, he has pretty sensible judgments. There are judgments when it is based on the word of the law, on technicality, it becomes insensible. We have to be human, compassionate and equitable in passing judgment that will reflect on justice, not just go by the word of the rule. Every case should be treated on its own basis. For example, say on a land issue case where the person was cheated. Even if there is a precedent, the judge must be sensible and ask if this is equitable, is this justice? If he comes out with an insensible judgment, there would not be justice. And if the judge is an idiot, then the government must come out with a policy to rectify this.

Q: So what is your opinion on the de facto Law Minister, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's proposal that the federal government should apologise for the 1988 judicial crisis, since shot down?
LGB: What's the use of apologising now? We need affirmative action. I don't think we need apologies. I personally feel we should do something. Apologies are nice but what we want is action.

Q: You had a meeting with the MPSJ (Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya) earlier this evening. Who initiated the contact and what was it about?
LGB: They did. It was a getting to know each other session. Nothing too heavy at this point. Introductions are necessary to find out which is the relevant department to approach for certain matters.

Q: In your blog (lohgwoburne.blogspot.com), you disclosed that your father was the original candidate for the Kelana Jaya seat. How did you come to take his place?
LGB: Initially, it was both of us. But I felt that it was better for my father to run and I could be in a supporting role. But after listening to the direction from the top, I felt confident enough to stand. After all, I don't have a history, you know what I mean? My background is clean. People might try to find ways to do something. I've a lack of confidence in the current judiciary. Look at what happened to Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim).

Q: There seems to be some uncertainty over your voter registration status. Could you please set the record straight? When did you register to be a voter?
LGB: I registered in December 2007. In the previous election, I wasn't in the country. It didn't occur to me to register when I came of age. There's work, more bread-and-butter issues to contend with. Anyway, I thought it would take one week (to be put in the electoral roll) but instead it takes half-a-year to register! I think there's something wrong with the electoral committee. In New Zealand, it only takes five minutes to register. I registered three months in advance of the recent elections. Isn't that enough time?

Q: What prompted you to enter into politics then?
LGB: There were a few factors. A Sin Chew reporter said, “Now that you're popular, what are you going to do?” But I said I'm only slightly famous. Some people who've seen me said, “Hey, aren't you the guy who took the video?” Some people suggested that with the elections coming up, I should run. Then Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim) spoke to me personally, so that's why.

Q: I heard you were approached by the DAP as well?
LGB: The DAP approached us and offered us something. I decided on Keadilan because of the judiciary issue. Also, the DAP is predominantly Chinese while Keadilan is more multiracial, no matter how hard DAP is trying right now to shake off that image. The percentage is 50-50 for Keadilan while DAP's more like 90-10.

Q: Some of the criticisms about you that have already arisen and were posted on your blogspot forum say that you are not in full and open communication with your party's leadership. What's your comment?
LGB: Actually, we do have very good communication with the party leadership. It's probably a local perception because I'm new to the area and the way they conduct certain things. But I speak with the leadership very often. We have direct contact with Nurul Izzah and her sisters, even the big bosses any time. But of course we have to learn the ropes. It's a new step for us and we need time to iron out the creases. One or two months is not too much to ask, right?

Q: There has been much talk about PKR members giving up their seats in a by-election for de facto president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Would you willingly give up yours for him?
LGB: After the elections, I passed a message to Datuk Seri; I said it would be real peachy if he were in Parliament, that he would do a better job in Kelana Jaya than me. He's more experienced. I would stand aside for him, but he said that I'm a credible candidate.

Q: What if it were for someone else?
LGB: It would depend on who that person is. Right now, unless that person has credentials that would benefit the people, I would stay on. After all, I have to be responsible to the people who voted for me.

Q: In your blogpost on Mar 11, you thanked the people of Kelana Jaya for standing behind you during the Mar 8 General Elections and admitted that you have "actually no political ambition". What are your plans if one day the people are no longer behind you?
LGB: Well, I'm here because they voted for me. At the end of the day, if I feel I'm no longer effective, then it's time for me to take a bow and thank them for giving me the opportunity. But now the people are counting on us to do something right. And as long as I can, I'll do my best. Not everybody will be happy with you but I think I'm capable. What I really want to do is my job; fulfill my responsibility, not become a minister if it ever comes to that. I hope people don't take my lack of political ambition the wrong way. I don't want anything for myself. That's what I mean when I say I have no political ambition.

Q: How have you made the transition from being in private business to being a public servant?
LGB: Right now, I'm thinking of a way to keep my job (as an analyst). I have a contract with the company to do the job and I will probably delegate some of the work, probably to my brother, although the bulk of it will still be on me. The only problem for me is my Bahasa Malaysia standard. (Laughs) I'm arranging for tuition. I hope to get it resolved by the time I get to Parliament. Right now it's good enough to go to the stall and order nasi lemak.

Q: Have you had any problems communicating on the ground due to your self-admitted “average” command of Bahasa Malaysia?
LGB: So far, everything has been good. People have been nice and supportive. A lot of them are like 60-year-old uncles who treat me like their son and have been giving me a lot of advice. Some of the people my age (34) have been offering to help out, which is very good. They are willing to come out. It's very encouraging. Previously, I thought that my generation were too self-adsorbed to get involved. I guess age is a factor. They're more comfortable with people like me who are closer to their age.

Q: Many opposition party members have proven themselves to be tech-savvy, especially in the recent elections. What's the one tech tool you can't live without?
LGB: My PDA handphone. During the election campaign, I had a lousy handphone. It broke. This is my new one.

Q: If people want to get in touch with you, how can do they so?
LGB: They can email me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me on this number: 013-3880-066. My brother, Gwo-Tynde, is acting as my personal assistant right now.

Q: Will you continue to carry a video camera with you?
LGB: Normally, I carry my camera with me. But as I've come to realise during the election campaigns when I was on my own, I don't get to use it often. So certain times, like when I'm in Parliament, no, I won't be carrying it with me. I guess I'll have to put aside my personal hobbies when it comes to work.

Q: How do you feel about taking a pay cut?
LGB: Well, I guess I'll have to learn how to be thrifty.
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