October 19, 2012
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com
Pakatan Rakyat Leaders are quarreling on Issues
FMT LETTER: From Victor Lim, via e-mail
An old friend whom I regard as my sifu or mentor or guru in journalism when I was still a reporter with the print media called me out for lunch today.
He expressed concern that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders are falling into Barisan Nasional (BN)’s trap by quarrellng in public, making contradicting and differing views on various issues.He says these are fodder for the BN-controlled print and electronic media, cyber troopers and bloggers to spin stories to create a rift among PR leaders and also to shake the confidence of Opposition voters in PR.
With elections about eight months away, it is too close for comfort for PR to start bungling up for the benefit of BN. They must get their act together fast or forget about Putrajaya, the federal government administrative centre.
He also said it is not that PR is better than BN. BN has ruled for 55 years and has become too arrogant and corrupt. We need to establish a two-party system in Malaysia so that the rakyat (people) can keep a check on governance and government.
PR must be elected and given a chance to rule in the 13th general election to teach the super corrupt UMNO-BN a lesson. This will ensure that a two-party system is enshrined as part of Malaysia’s democracy and history.
If the PR government fails to perform up to our minimal and reasonable expectations, then we can vote them out in the 14th general election. By then, if BN is the only alternative, the BN as an Opposition would, hopefully be a reformed and changed coalition.
For the sake of Malaysia, he told me that I should be wary of falling into the BN trap when criticising PR. I believe Malaysians are now politically more matured and more informed by the Information Communications Technology to form their own judgment on public issues.
But PAS Vice-President Salahuddin Ayub’s backtracking of the RM60 billion polluting Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Pengerang is not tolerable.
His double speak is just too blatant and therefore he is an unreliable politician. He now supports Rapid but hear what he said at the September 30, 2012, Himpunan Hijau (Green Rally).
I believe Malaysians are generally aware that politicians from both sides of the political divide are just conniving. It is only a question of which is the bigger evil and which evil is more reliable.
For now, the corrupt UMNO-BN’s plundering of the national coffer, saddling Malaysia with a federal debt of RM800 billion, as revealed by Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Muhkriz Mahathir, is clearly the bigger beast.
The hundreds of financial fiascos since the RM2.5 billion Bank Bumiputra Finance (BMF) scandal about 30 years ago are bleeding Malaysia’s economy.
The BMF scandal also claimed the life of Jalil Ibrahim who was murdered in Hong Kong while investigating the case. His children are now in their late 20s and 30s but the people directly and indirectly responsible for the murder are still at large.
Neither has anyone been punished for the unaccounted RM2.5 billion. Do you wonder why Malaysians are calling for justice, and free and fair elections?
Why should anyone be surprised by the PR leaders quarreling? They are incompatible and disparate partners who “unite” only out of convenience in an attempt to be in Putrajaya. Quarreling is natural to them and is expected of them – we only know about their quarreling spilling into the public arena, private quarrelings kept away from the public eye are much worse. They differ not only on issues but also in ideologies. How can they be trusted in the coming GE13.
Er.. Sifu Victor, apalu cakap? Some coherence required in your piece here. You start with Pegerang and ended with BMF scandal? Connections are a bit difficult. Systemic and entrenched corruption, cronyism and criminality, i guess.
So Politicians can’t be trusted? Yeah, right.
The Opposition flurs have a very, very steep learning curve, if they somehow manage to do the impossible. Most of the time, when they open their oral cavities the voices that ensue are anything but well thought out and responsible. They tend to play to the gallery. Perhaps it’s because they have been shackled to the galleys below deck for too long.
Besides that Salahuddin fellow, we also have that Jimmy chap when we talk about Rapid. But then backtracking is better than bullishly charging over the cliff.. I’m going to lunch.
Sifu Victor is giving his point of view. He tells us, and I agree, politicians cannot be trusted. They are known for their double speak. Pakatan Rakyat is a not a formal set up. But it is quite an achievement that they stuck together since 2008. –Din Merican
Assallammuallaikum, just my 2 sens worth of opinion from a layman. I totally agree with Dinobeano that Pakatan Rakyat is not a formal set-up but stuck together since 2008 – that is an achievement by itself. Well, I would choose PR anytime because of their common objective, that is giving Malaysians an alternative form of government, A government that is truly Bersih, Cekap and Amanah ( not just lip service).
I myself grew up with the BN-controlled government but I shudder to think of my children and younger generation. The fate of our future is determined by Indons, Filipinos and all other immigrants which are having blue I.C. (illegally).
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Critique, we need a transparent,accountable, honest and competent government.–Din Merican
No one stays in power forever because Death waits in the end. The old best give way to the young and able. If not they will be swept away. What is power and money? In the end you get six feet deep of earth. No more. Look at M. I say again he will rue his long life.
Pakatan is a re-working of the old Alliance formula which has given this country political stability for the most part, for some five decades but which has outlived its usefulness as Malaysians evolve politically.
Pakatan remains a loose electoral alliance held together by a common desire to unseat the ruling coalition seen as corrupt. It lacks a common ideology.
“The fate of our future is determined by Indons, Filipinos and all other immigrants which are having blue I.C. (illegally).” — Critique
How so? Where would this country be today if not for hard working immigrants coming to its shores in search of a future? One one hand you declare proudly your diverse background and practice reverse racism against a people you lable as being unable to think for themselves. On the other you voice your insecurity at the thought of foreigners working around you. Yes, they plant cow grass in your front yard, fill up the tank of your old Proton, and act as maid for your wife to abuse. Where would you be without them today? Enjoy it while you can.
You are no better than those you condemn.
Assallammuallaikum, please allow me to explain my earlier post Mr. Bean. How true is your post. FYI, I have very close relations in Indonesia. The reason for my statement is simple, visit the villages in Gombak (6th mile to be precise) and some areas of Ulu Langat. The Indonesians there have been given blue IC and are staunch UMNO supporters since that is the condition for them to be issued blue IC’s.
I myself come from a migrant root (Indian to be exact) where my forefathers have settled in Penang when Sir Francis Light leased Penang from Kedah. I am not against migrant population but converting the migrants to instant Malaysian citizen to vote for UMNO? It is a bit too much to stomach. Are we repeating the Sabah tragedy?
Yeah right Mr Bean,give it to him good,why is it when most of us comment it’s as though we are Holier than Thou,come down to earth guys,it’s so easy to condemn but so hard to admit your faults,hiyaaa…like this some more want to comment aahh!!!! Ouch!!!
any means to stay in power is ok for umno and friends.
transparency, competency and accountability you can’t expect from a party/government wielding power for 55years.
many seem to be sure that umno/bn is corrupt, incapable et etc and that it has to be gotten rid off but refuse to accept the fact that at the moment it appears that only Anwar and PR are capable of bringing about a change of government. writers of such comments seem to be only doing lip service to us and actually wishing for the continuance of the status quo, for whatever reasons.
next time PR wins its going to bring in half of China and India and give them citizenship to stay in power for the next two hundred and fifty-seven years!!
just watch out, what umno can do they can do better.