It’s become more and more obvious that Pakatan Rakyat will not make it without a few things brought to hand - and immediately. Reading Malaysiakini’s article about PR’s less-than-stellar performance in their first 100 days was like reading a complaint. And I know I’m in danger of sounding like an apologist, but really, take a step back and think about it - clearly.
Funds to move anything or do anything are in the hands of the federal government. I don’t hear any news about funds from the government being channeled anywhere into Pakatan Rakyat coffers - Petronas money is withheld; state funds - in the case of Selangor - were used up in a matter of months even before the elections; mega projects, in the case of Penang, have been canceled. Are these mere excuses for non-performance or are these real, pragmatic reasons? I believe any right thinking person will stare at the facts and draw the right conclusions.
Which is why, in my opinion, hearing people calling out PKR to focus less on a power grab than on the business of running their states is foolish and counterproductive. I’ll repeat it again and again to anyone who cares to listen. With UMNO and BN still in power nothing has changed, essentially. BN still controls the purse-strings, they still enact laws and they still pass motions (sic) in parliament.
Yes, that’s right: the same power structures are still in place. Without a grab at power, don’t even hope that things will change, and don’t expect PR states to perform unless, by some stroke of genius and ingenuity, PR counselors find some way to circumvent the massive BN machinery standing against them.
For all those thinking that things are over with the elections, I think you need to re-think your position. And similarly, those predicting the demise of BN should wise up and look at the frantic pace at which they are moving to shore up support, smear PR assemblymen and generally make things difficult for everyone. They can - and will - play sabotage with massive resources to back them.
And that’s just one half of PR’s job, in my opinion. What about the sheer mess they’ve got to deal with clearing things the previous administration left them? Eh, just because UMNO and BN idiots cleared the state offices of documents doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do (because no documents).. the headache is compounded many times over.
The last thing they’ve got to get down to doing is coming up, as suggested by Oon Yeoh and gang, with a proper command structure. I alluded to such a structure when LKS came out with his disastrous “I boycott lah!” statement. If there cannot be a common structure under an over-arching Pakatan Rakyat umbrella, then it behooves Pakatan parties to devolve and be absorbed under the banner of Pakatan Rakyat.
How else will these disparate assemblymen sit down to think up collective solutions so we don’t have logging issues colliding with Penang’s interests?! Dear god, the massive public relations nightmare that fiasco’s become.
I mean, what’s the strategy here? I know: isolate BN and their running dogs, make them appear outmoded, outdated, greedy, selfish and bigoted… but for heaven sakes, don’t play up to their strengths! And unity is one of BN’s strengths (much like a gang of thieves, really, but still..)!!!
Comments (6)
Wat u said is true and so long BN in power, nothing wil change, and that’s already began in Penang as u seen yesterday.
Next? Selangor? I don’t think so bcos Selangor is the most advance state and major income. They r playing it close to their chest and hope to breaking up PR’s resilence.
Anyhow, I don’t care who’s the opposition and I wil js cast my vote to non-BN bcos Babi Negara don’t do things rightly!
When I read your headline, I was amused. What about BN’s 50 years in power? So many complaints, the list will fill 50 encyclopaedia’s and put 1000’s under ISA and jail.
Don’t know, man. All this reaching for instant gratification is, well, a sign of the times - it’s just what everyone expects, I suppose: instant solutions. The “I vote opposition, I expect results” gander. The fact that the calls from those who voted opposition in the recent days has been increasingly insistent says either one of two things, in my opinion:-
1. We’re all still politically immature, and woefully so; or
2. The rakyat are still heady over the power they wielded on 8th March 2008.
Well, the PR made some daring promises prior to the elections — vote for change, etc — they have to be able to fulfill it. 100 days is too much to ask for radical change, but they do need visible progress. Some visible progress is evident, but it is never enough.
The simple truth about citizens is that citizens do not care if the people sitting on top is a corrupt pig. The only thing they care about is who gets the job done. If this pattern continues for the next five years, I can assure you that voter turnout during the next elections will be at an all-time low.
dear matey: good post,plan to use at a new website, can? …but I need your “REAL” ID in order to use at http://www.cpiasia.org where I have been helping to develop new Think Tank website. Can email Desi pls — Urgent: chongyl2000@yahoo.com
Hi Karcy. In respect of what citizens expect from their leaders, I disagree a little. The fact that leaders still benefit from associating their platforms with religion is a sign that the moral imperative - at least insofar as leaders are seen to adhere to it - is important to people. I’ll not condone a child molester or a serial rapist to represent me, to take an extreme example.
I’ve been thinking about the promises that they’ve made, and frankly, I’m still as disgusted then as I am disgusted now that people actually need such sweeteners to be convinced. Pardon the strong feelings about it, but if people are swayed by promises of this or that short-term subsidy or payout, it’ll be perpetuating the sort of paternalism and pork barrel politics BN is famous for.
And, I mean, what does it say about the voters themselves?