Well, the concern about some Opposition peoples' representatives is growing. It now is up to Malaysians to monitor them to make sure that they do not stray from the values and principles that they are supposed to uphold. We rejected BN in GE13 because of this - but now we are getting glimpses that some of the Pakatan reps may be no better...
Have the people been betrayed? Or is this merely a case of some 'bad apples'? The recent articles about the Selangor MB position have revealed certain discomforting elements...and now, Pakatan Rakyat has a difficult task of demonstrating that these 'bad apples' are just a few....
Some people apparently ran for elections for side motives (or was it their primary objectives?) of getting money and power. Now, it becomes priority for these political parties to do the needful to 'weed out' these bad elements, whereby a failure to do anything will just give the public a perception that this is really what these parties are all about.
Certainly marred by these recent events is Azmin, the Deputy President of PKR, and some others who had levied accusations against Khalid, the Menteri Besar of Selangor calling him even a 'lame duck'. What was all this about? Well, it was difficult to follow especially when there were no list of failures that were furnished. There was also no suggestion of alternative steps that he should have taken. Then, a subsequent report seems to link it to Khalid's failure with regard government owned and linked companies and networks - "...more solid back up from
the government-linked companies and government networks..." . What is this all about? Failure to utilize government resources to help in GE13? Very disturbing...very disturbing...In any event, following my earlier postings, Selangor ADUNs - serve the people - and do not be distracted by desires for personal enrichment, power, etc...
Now we now get Khalid's response, and it is best we look at it very carefully. Disturbingly, he talks about how some what to use 'government resources' for campaigning in GEs, about 'cronyism', who want to import the UMNO-BN culture...More disturbing is the silence from the PKR leadership on this matter.
These are all serious allegations, and I am sure that Malaysians do not want this. All these need to be investigated and dealt with now immediately, and if there are 'bad apples', they need to be exposed and discarded from the party. We certainly hope that the Pakatan leadership would not just 'cover-up' this matter - maybe reward the 'bad apples' with positions, power and monies in the worry they may jump to the BN if action against them is suggested or taken. I would say that Pakatan Rakyat must not worry about this and do the needful to preserve the positive perception of Pakatan Rakyat, as a definite and better alternative to the Barisan Nasional.
I am sure that Khalid also has his flaws, so investigation and action needs to be taken against all so that the truth be revealed, bad apples be identified... 'Bad apples' - well, the option is to discard them, alternatively 'reform' them and cleanse them of bad values and principles.
Some say, put Azmin in the State Cabinet to monitor Khalid - but, I would say Azmin and the others critical of Khalid should elect to remain in the Backbenchers Club in the State Assembly and make sure that Khalid and his Exco does what is right... They will be the needed 'check and balance'...Be openly critical...do not be like the BN Backbenchers, who are forbidden to openly side with the Opposition and/or be critical of the PM and the Cabinet. In a Pakatan Rakyat governed State, it must be different - as it should be in a democracy - where it is not only the Opposition but also the Pakatan Backbenchers who act as a watchdog of the Executive (the MB and his Exco)
Maybe, even 'Select Committees' should be formed in the State Legislative Assembly tasked with continuous ongoing monitoring of the different departments/ministries in Khalid's administration...This is where critics like Azmin should rightfully be.
Khalid: I'm no lame duck MB
VIDEO| 5:08 min
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has said that he will not become a 'lame duck MB' as he is confident in his ability to deliver in his second term as Selangor's chief commander.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to Malaysiakini today, the 66-year-old former corporate figure said that he is a ‘Reformasi' person and thus would be honest about his delivery.
"What is the worst that could happen to me? If I can't deliver, I will say that I cannot deliver. You need to have the humility to tell the people of Selangor, to admit if you can't deliver," he said when asked if the possible inclusion of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and members of Azmin's team in the state executive council could undermine his position."No," he said sternly when asked if Azmin's (right) possible presence could affect the way Khalid does his work.
"So many of my party members wanted to use use state-linked companies (GLCs) to get money that can be used for campaigning. I tell them, eh, we are trying to do reformasi (reform.). We cannot abuse people's money. That cannot be accepted," he said.
He was responding to PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who expressed hope that government machinery and GLCs will help PKR during the next general election.
Speaking at his family home in Bukit Damansara, Khalid also admitted that there are members of his own party who still want to do things the Umno and BN way - which is by practising cronyism.
"The culture before this - there are middlemen, who think if your application is number 20, they can bring it to number one. But we have a policy of first in, first out.
"Then they become noisy because we disrupt their coffee money. We tell people, if you want to get a contract, you should also be the owner-operator," he said.
"We are talking about changing a culture here. You go on the street, and you say "Bersih", but when it comes to working things you still want to do it the old way?"
But Khalid was upbeat about handling the pressure and was confident that the rakyat are aware of what the state government practises.
"We survived five years - that means the people know. They know what we practise. Even the people who made noise, when campaigning, go to the ground and said - look at how Selangor has been managed well," he said.
Malaysiakini will be publishing more reports from the interview with Khalid Ibrahim later this week.- Malaysiakini, 19/5/2013, Khalid: I'm no lame duck MB
I await the other promised reports of Malaysiakini...
When it comes to a Cabinet, most essential is that they are all persons that the Menteri Besar(or Prime Minister) wants there, who would be able to put into effect the plans and programs of the government. Trust is essential. Placing people the MB/PM do not trust would be odd and 'inefficient' - MB will then be spending too much time and effort monitoring that the appointed EXCO is doing the right thing and is not 'sabotaging' matters to put the MB/PM in a bad light. Ultimately what a government does (or does not do) falls on the MB/PM.
What is interesting with this issue is that Pakatan Rakyat is becoming a stronger coalition, when we see the role played by the Pakatan Component parties. Who becomes the Menteri Besar is no more just an individual component party matter - it is a matter for the whole Pakatan Rakyat.
The openness and transparency demonstrated by Azmin, Zuraida and others is also good ...BUT please tell the people of your criticism and different views sooner as and when it happens. Khalid's openness is also welcome. Remember that we in Malaysia wants transparency - and if your view is different from a majority view, tell us too. They say that PEOPLE are the bosses, and we want to know... we do not want to be left in the dark or treated like little children, the way that the BN has generally been doing...
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