Pakatan Doomed - A Singapore View
By Syed Akbar Ali
The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore wrote an analysis recently about the Pakatan Rakyat's prospects. I have truncated the really long article and added my comments in blue.
Malaysian Update:
August 2009
The Current Prospects for the
By
The Pakatan Rakyat checked?
Sixteen months after the elections of March 2008 and the political comeback of Najib Razak.
Sixteen months after the astounding election results of the March 2008 elections in Malaysia, it would appear that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition – which is made up of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) – is facing its worst crisis of confidence and performance thus far.
Well the March 08 election results were not entirely unexpected. The BN losing five States was a shocker. What was astounding was that it took UMNO almost a year to get rid of the idiot who caused the debacle.
. . . the PR has faced an uphill struggle to manage and govern the five states (now four) that initially fell under their control.
This cannot be attributed to inexperience in running a Government. There are simply no common factors between the PR. Even their distaste for the BN is doubtful with various degrees of contact between PAS and UMNO (initiated by PAS ). There is also contact between the PKR and UMNO (with some rumours that Anwar Ibrahim met with Najib Tun Razak).
Speculation was rife that there would be a second surprise in store for the BN come 16 September 2008, . . .an estimated 40 members of Parliament from
This angle is very stale. And we thought 40 MPs would be induced to jump simply on a promise of freedom, democracy, no NEP, transparency, no corruption, reformasi etc? But they too were offered ‘sweets’. So much for transparency and anti corruption ! How come Anwar did not make known the full list of his promises? Mana transparency?
seen by many local analysts that the move had backfired on Anwar and the PR, robbing them of credibility so soon after they had come to power in five states.
And its been downhill ever since.
Nonetheless the failed cross-over bid in September 2008 set into motion a train of events that has finally culminated in the manifold crises that today stand before the PR, leading to the loss of one state (Perak) and threatening to weaken the PR’s hold on Kedah and Selangor as well as breaking up the PR coalition for good.
Zaid has hit on the right idea and has called for the PR to be formally registered as a political party. But the deafening silence from the DAP, PAS and PKR towards Zaid’s suggestion is evidence enough that the DAP and PAS are only riding piggy back on Anwar (since 1998). The PKR too is doing the same to the DAP and PAS, with Anwar being particularly talented at riding piggyback. You cannot break up a coalition that does not exist.
Despite a string of by-election victories for the PR – the latest being the win for PAS at Manek Urai which was held on 14 July 2009 – the credibility of
Manek Urai reflects the true support for PAS in Kelantan when there are less or no fumbles by the UMNO / BN. The BN lost by 32 ‘voters’ (effectively 64 votes).
In Perak, an attempt by PR to woo an UMNO Assemblyman into their fold backfired when the UMNO Assemblyman not only returned to UMNO 48 hours later, but also led to the loss of three Assemblypersons (two from PKR and one from DAP) who decided to remain as neutral Assemblypersons instead, thereby removing the majority from the PR.
Well at least the RSIS knows how to state the facts. The first defection post March 2008 was engineered by Anwar. All the PR supporters were crowing about this “great achievement y Brader Anwar”. Unfortunately for Anwar the UMNO boys are better at this game.
In the meantime crime rates in Perak have soared with petty robberies rising by 36 percent while car theft has risen by 150.1 percent. (Re: Crime Rates Soar in Perak- Bernama, 7 July 2009)
Hastened no doubt by the new massage parlours and gambling outfits that came into being. The same is happening now in Selangor.
In
There was also finger pointing and allegations of corruption among DAP DUNs themselves.
In Selangor the PR government began its term of office with some populist measures that did not necessarily go beyond cosmetic appeasement of constituents’ needs and demands: In 2008 the state government gave out free water to residents in need as well as token financial aid to the elderly which some analysts have noted would not help to eradicate poverty permanently.
Well wish Guan Eng well on this one. He has promised to eradicate poverty in
(re: http://khookaypeng.blogspot.com/2009/07/pakatans-own-dismal-record.html)
These measures were balanced by other measures that were of long-standing importance such as the Selangor Freedom of Information Act and the declaration of assets by members of the PR exco and assembly.
I disagree. The declarations are very basic. They don’t say much. Also the head of the Opposition has not yet declared his assets or show where he gets his income. For example Anwar’s new home in Selayang is believed to cost quite a few Ringit and sen. Declaring wealth and accusing others of corruption seem to be a very good idea for the PR. How about Anwar owning up too? What is even more deafening is the silence on the part of PR supporters about this shyness by their leader.
The year 2009 began with a sex scandal involving nude photos of a State Assemblywoman from PKR which were released in the internet, forcing her to take temporary leave. Speculation remains as to whether this was part of an internal power struggle within PKR and the PR coalition in Selangor.
I like the word ‘temporary’. Well it has been suggested that the ‘leaker’ - a PKR lad too - went away to
At present a series of internal rows within the PR in Selangor have been made public and has led to open confrontation between one of the leaders of PKR – Azmin Ali, seen as one of the closest confidants to Anwar Ibrahim – and the Chief Minister Khalid Ibrahim who was picked by Anwar to lead the government of the state.
Well lets not forget the ‘shit stirrer’ YB Wee Choo Keong of the MDP. Theresa Kok of the DAP called him that, even when Wee did not call Theresa anything. Anyway that chapter is unraveling in Selangor at its own pace. No hurry there.
The latest scandal in Selangor involves allegations of ‘underground business dealings’ by PR exco members who are alleged to have links with members of the underworld community.
Dr Boo Cheng How the DAP chief in Johor has spoken of underworld influences in DAP Johor. As I said these allegations have been made by the PR people themselves. Other than YB Wee, Azmin Ali has also said some things against his PR cohorts. In
It cannot be denied that many of the problems that have befallen the PR thus far have been self-inflicted and could have been avoided had there been proper structures and modalities for inter-party communication and co-operation from the start. (Re: Khoo Kay Peng, Pakatan Fast Losing Momentum, Malaysiakini.com 14 July 2009)
All this in just one year of their winning in the 2008 elections. They have chalked up an interesting track record. The rest of the analysis by the RSIS was just too boring. To sum it up the Pakatan is doomed.
1 comments:
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The Pakatan Ruckus was doomed even before they could tie their shoe laces.
But they still live in their own coined 'denial' syndrome.
They know that sharing the loot equally was not viable but they will repeat the same denials time and again.
But somehow, they never seem to keep up their 'fighting spirit'.
The latest is the public slapping of a uniformed peace keeper. The slap was so hard that it nearly turned the officer's head 360 degrees. Proof?? Well the public brawler broke his hand, didn't he? And he will sue the Government for it. Just watch it, as the traumatised officer will be posted to some remote outpost.
The Singaporeans do not have this story as yet.
A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
Pakatan's Own Dismal Record
At best, PR’s own performance in the last fifteen months was mediocre. Apart from making some pledges to reform e.g. the introduction of a Freedom of Information Act in Selangor, the intention to hold local elections and the declaration of assets by the state executive members, a number of PR state governments’ initiatives were equally populist. Initiatives such as giving free water to households and a token allowance to the elderly will not help to eradicate poverty permanently.
None of the state governments have indicated how they are going to run their respective government differently from the previous administration. Ask any of the people who live in any of the PR run state; none of them can clearly explain the mid-term and long-term vision and direction of their new state government.
There is an apparent lack of effort from some of the PR state governments to reach out to the people. As a result, the Kedah state government had announced a revision of 30 percent Bumiputera quota for all housing projects to 50 percent. Instead of trying to help homeless Malay families to own a home, the state government’s insistence to implement the new quota would have been detrimental to the housing sector in the state. The state government obviously did not consider improving the income of these families as an option to help them to be able to afford their own house.
Some of the PR controlled state governments must be careful with their own announcements. It would be a mistake to take it for granted that the voters will continue to support the lesser of two evils. Cynically, a number of people would seriously consider selling their soul to the devil if all possible options and hope have run out.
Until and unless these new state governments can spend more time to work out a new socio-economic agenda and not keep looking to (or blaming) the federal government for (or the lack of) solutions , the initial public sense of déjà vu may soon turn into scorn and disappointment.
Unfortunately, the hostile political environment has created a barrier for both coalitions to openly discuss the options for them to cooperate and co-exist. The need to cooperate is not an option but a political responsibility to the nation and a respect for the people’s mandate.
Moreover, the current central planning economic model adopted by the BN government is outdated and sloppy. This model has created uneven regional development and unequal and unjust distribution of wealth in the country. The physical evidence is obvious that developments were concentrated around the federal capital and areas nearer to the power centre. Those living in the resource rich states such as Trengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak have remained poor and neglected from mainstream development.
Instead of working collectively to push for more resources and autonomy from the federal government to plan, execute and manage their own economic agenda, the PR controlled states have evolved into a mirror image of the coalition – fractious, mutually exclusive and lacking a decision making process and a dispute management system.
Most of the controversies and issues faced by the coalition were self-inflicted. Supporters of PR may argue that the open arguments between its leaders prove that the coalition is democratic enough to accommodate a divergence of views and characters. However, too many frictions may indicate that the coalition members lack self-discipline and mutual respect for one another. The recent conflicts in Kedah, Penang and Selangor exposed a lack of mutual understanding, a weak coalition partnership and a mutual distrust between the DAP, PKR and PAS.
The coalition has done poorly in measuring and managing the appropriateness, behaviour, efficiency and effectiveness of its own policy makers. When criticized, its leadership was quick to defend and protect some of their recalcitrant and non-performing leaders.
PR had demanded their rival BN to take action against their leaders for making racist and socially inappropriate remarks but failed to act on its own kind. Hence, the likes of Zulkifli Nordin will continue to make insensitive remarks. The resignations of two top leaders in Penang and Kedah and the defections of two state exco members and a deputy speaker in Perak to the BN should not be taken lightly. These are the symptoms of a more chronic disease morphing in the coalition if left untreated.
I was told that some leaders, after a short spell at the top, have become inaccessible and arrogant. The taste of power can turn a person into either a responsible leader or an egoistic elite. What PR should not emulate is the BN’s ability to alienate the civil society and the middle ground. PR’s stunning victories in the last general elections do not belong to them solely. The battle was not won on the collective strengths of PAS, PKR or DAP alone but also the collective resolve of the people to push for a real change.
Tengku Razaleigh was right to point out that we should focus on policy and not personality. This is a valuable advice for the PR coalition to take heed. It should prepare itself for an eventual leadership transition which will take place in the DAP, PKR and PAS in the next few years. These parties will suffer a great setback if they were to continue to focus on personality politics. Iconic leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim, Tok Guru Nik Aziz and stalwart Lim Kit Siang are not easily replaceable.
A complacent PR may end up seeing Najib and his coalition enjoying the last laugh.
source : khookaypeng.blogspot.com
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