TO DELIVER ELECTION PROMISES & GE13

Elections are opportunities for politicians to convince the electorate why they should vote for them. Politicians do this by making promises and declarations of how the will make life better than their opposition politicians. GE12/TSUNAMI 2008 created a whole new landscape in Malaysian politics. Ordinary citizens are now more concern and engage themselves in issues and concerns that affect them and their families.

The cry for change by the oppositions gave much hope for the rakyat, and many voted for change. The BN after GE12 promised reforms to please the dissatisfied voters who voted opposition. Now just half way between the supposed GEs, we hear of a an impending snap General Elections! Neither the BN or PR have delivered their promises for change and reforms. PR Selangor Government have faced enormous sabotage by civil servants, the latest being the State Secretary appointment.

As a Selangorian, I appeal to fellow Selangorians to register our displeasure on the over-politicking by both coalitions and demand that both should take the remaining period of their tenure of their respective governments. What both the BN & PR coalitions should be concentrating is how to manage Federalism. The BN will never enjoy the total dominance they had in the past. The PR politicians have a greater responsibility that as perpetual oppositionists, to try to learn to govern the states they won since 2008.

To call for a GE13 at this stage of the nation’s transition to a more matured democracy is very irresponsible and waste of public funds. Funds that need to be use wisely and prudently, especially when the global economy is so unstable. We, as Rakyat, must hold all politicians accountable for their actions. As stakeholders who put the politicians where they now, we demand that they perform, make the necessary changes and reforms before thinking of calling for elections.

The Selangor Pakatan government need not call for state elections till 2013. The Selangor Pakatan should be humble enough to work with so many Selangorians who have offered their expertise and services to help the rookie ADUNs, MPs, Councilors and more importantly the State Exco members who have made one blunder after another.

As for the Selangor State Secretary appointment, it has been clearly revealed that the former State Secretary sabotaged the whole process by withholding the proposed names from the MB. The solutions is so obvious, but because of over-politicking many choose to be blind. Since the Federal Appointed former State Secretary made the blunder, the Chief Secretary can rectify the situation by declaring the appointment of Khusrin null and void. Then the proper process and conventions need to be followed. Why should the rakyat and the PR Selangor Government have the accept the consequences when it was the BN Federal Government employee who made the blunder. I rest my case.

Aloysius Francis Pinto

9 January 2011

The TSUNAMI 2008 has created a SPACE that Malaysian Civil Society can and should respond. DSAI came from a Civil Society background till TDM roped him into politics. DSAI sees the relevance of CIVIL SOCIETY playing a part to Build A NEW MALAYSIA. Since Badawi, there has also been invitations for Civil Society to participate in programmes to uplift the rakyat in various sectors. Business communities, Professionals and Academicians can and should work in their respective spheres of expertise and influence to upgrade the level of competency among the wakil rakyat offices to deliver progressive and development programmes for the rakyat.
The ministries, state ministers (excos), wakil rakyat have access to budgets for programmes for the rakyat. Poverty eradication, youth development, community services and commmunity development programmes and events to build solidarity and unity, business development programmes for SMEs-SMIs, programmes for single-mothers, the marginalised and numerious other budgets are available for civil society to tap by working together with the various bodies.
THE 3RD FORCE must not be a political entity but an ENABLING, EMPOWERMENT VEHICLE for Growth & Development for the various sectors of society.
Engage with the Federal & State Excos, Wakil Rakyat and Government Agencies & Bodies. It can be frustrating sometimes with certain civil servants, but we must try. Roped in your ADUNs/MPs and make proposals to help uplift your communities wherever you are. TIME TO REBUILD MALAYSIA. DON’T LEAVE TO THE POLITICIANS ALONE, they are too busy fighting internal and external political battles since 2008. CIVIL SOCIETY must rise up to the challenge and “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”
If you need help and support, just let this blog know.

Since the 8 March 2008 TSUNAMI GE, the MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE, along with POLITICAL LANDSCAPE has changed.

Firstly, the major change has been the awakening of the public/voters, of being more conscious and concerned about the affairs of the nation, and the power of their votes. Malaysians from all walks of life – those concerned of the political, social, environment, good governance, transparency, concerns about the national economy as well of the poor and marginalized, and numerous other areas like traffic and transport, housing and public amenities, labour and wages, elderly care and special needs persons…the list goes on. The ‘indifferent majority’ have begun taking responsibility on issues affecting the nation. The MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE has changed, permanently I believe.

The tragedy has been the inability of most politicians from both the political divide, to adjust to the NEW MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE. The BN and PR Coalitions have been so ingrained in their respective behavior as ‘Rulers and the Ruled’, the ‘Oppressor and the Opposition,’ that although both sides have made clear the changes/reform they have to make, the reality is that CHANGE is never easy. It will become more difficult if MALAYSIAN CIVIL SOCIETY choose not to be active partners to build A NEW MALAYSIA, but continue to act as in the past, i.e. demanding and expecting changes to be driven by politicians and governments without participating in a more pro-active manner as Responsible and Caring Citizens.

The people who effected the changes during the 2008 GE are the voters. The change came about because the voters bought the promises of the politicians who won. Yet, the new Malaysian Landscape also demands that unless Malaysian Civil Society takes an active role to bring about the changes, the old paradigm will continue. What is the ‘old paradigm’? It is that ‘only politicians know what best for the people’. The recent appointments of the Selangor Local Government Councilors are clear evidence that the politicians do not believe that Civil Society can play a positive role in government, to effect the changes promised. Civil Society here includes NGOs, Professionals, Academicians and Concerned Citizens. The fact that they were sidelined has a huge significance for the direction of the nation.
We all know that it was the general complacency of the general citizenry that allowed the BN unbridled power to manipulate the Laws of the Land so as to manipulate the wealth of the nation. Idris Jala’s statement “that Malaysian will be bankrupt” if drastic change do not take place, have been manipulated again by the Federal ruling coalition to further rape the wealth of the nation. Having almost exhausted the Institutional Wealth from Petronas and other Public Funds organizations, now they are turning towards grabbing whatever the vast majority of Malaysians have/don’t have. Removable of Subsidies and imposing the GST are double prong blows to every citizen in the country. This new found wealth will just be manipulated by the same people who have raped the wealth of the nation. The window-dressing (sandiwara) with some arrest of corrupted officials, past and present are just to divert attention while they continue to milk this new found wealth and other existing national wealth/funds.
TDM talked consistently about creating a ‘level playing field”. Without the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOI) and the continued abuse of the OSA and negotiated tenders, there is no level playing field for the rakyat and the Federal Opposition. Taxes are collected from people and corporations by the Federal Government, the largest being from the opposition states of Selangor and Penang. The citizens of these two states contribute the bulk of the taxes of the nation. Yet only a trickle is channeled to these states, and that too with ‘strings attached’, especially after creating the ‘State Development Officer’ (SDO) position in PR states. LGE’s recent episode with the Penang SDO is one glaring example. It is the same with the various Federal Ministries when funds allocated for the PR states are concerned. It is not allocated to the ruling state government, but through their state offices of the various ministries. This has been the constant frustration by the PR governments in Selangor and Penang, the two most economically productive states in the country.
Bad practices by the previous BN governments, especially in Selangor, have caused countless headaches to the current PR government. The public may not be aware that like taking over any corporation, you also take on the debts of the previous government, and in Selangor Khir Toyo and gang have blatantly robbed the states wealth. Why else did Toyo take away the files from his office in the early morning of 9 March 2008? MB TS Khalid Ibrahim is really to be commended for holding the ‘ship,’ when the forces to make holes to the Selangor ship have been relentless. These forces include the BN ‘opposition’ in Selangor, and the civil servants who benefited from the political patronage of BN leaders. It has been and will continue to be a tough job for TS Khalid and the PR State Exco, ADUN and PBT Councilors to implement the changes promised in GE12.
In the light of these developments, what can CIVIL SOCIETY do? We have three (3) choices. We can walk away from this, migrate. We can keep on complaining – now to both sides, and we can get involve and work with the Wakil Rakyat who gives us the space to participate. TS Khalid’s foresight in deciding to work with Indian NGOs in the earlier part of this year to uplift the plight of those in Tamil schools was encouraging. Three Indian NGOs managed by caring and competent Professionals, Academicians and concerned citizens managed to help the Selangor Government reach out to Tamil schools and needy Indians communities through their efficient delivery of financial aid and education programs. The RM1.8 million allocated through these NGOs by TS Khalid was a radical move by a Governing Politician who not only understood the NEW MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE but also embraced Civil Society’s contribution towards nation building.
As Civil Society, we appreciate the struggles PR Wakil Rakyat in Selangor – The Premier State! We know the battles the PR government is facing in their challenge to bring about changes. We applaud MB TS Khalid, who has allowed the participation of Civil Society’s Concerned Selangor Citizens to play their roles in decision-making at Public/Town House Hearings at Local Councils. A lot of areas still need improvement and we believe that ‘enlightened politicians’ who govern according to the needs of the NEW MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE must be encouraged and supported. TS Khalid stands out prominently.
We now turn to the ongoing PKR elections. Civil Society is disturbed by the trends and behavior of party leaders/candidates that ignore the awakened Civil Society. The battle began when the MB in Selangor was challenged by his own party leaders in the distribution of contracts and positions in the State GLCs. Many PKR politicians with still an UMNO-typed mindset, expected to share the spoils of the TSUNAMI victory in Selangor, conveniently forgetting their “REFORMASI CALL FOR CHANGE”. This group of PKR politicians wants to perpetuate the old culture of “BUSINESS BY POLITICAL PATRONAGE” – A BN trademark.
TS Khalid refusal to accommodate this group cost him the Selangor PKR Chairmanship. What was his ‘mistake’? TS Khalid chose to honor the PKR manifesto of the GE12 Election, which is to eliminate corruption, cronyism and nepotism. The setting up of SELCAT to monitor Competency, Accountability and Transparency is the right step forward towards fulfilling the changes promised by ‘REFORMASI’. The focus of REFORMASI was to put the rakyat first, to eliminate corrupt politicians, promote justice and enhance distributive justice.
Yes, TS Khalid may lack political savvy, but he is learning fast. He keeps reminding us that he is the CEO of the Selangor State, and that is what the real challenge for ALL politicians who desire to govern well in the NEW MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE! A CEO in the corporate world operates on facts, figures and logic. A CEO-MB focuses on resolving issues and concerns based on facts and logic. Can the PKR UMNO-minded politicians accept this CHANGED APPROACH? Having political suaveness has its merits, however, in this turbulent times, it is logic and rational thinking that’s needed. Politicians promise to serve the rakyat equally, a language that the rakyat now accepts. However, the actions and behavior of some Wakil2 Rakyat in PKR begs for change. The REFORMASI people must also change themselves.
Claiming loyalty to personalities in PKR is no more tenable to the rakyat and many new PKR members. Loyalty to the state and nation must override any other loyalty. The hour has come for the State and Nation to rise up to the Challenges of Globalization. We have fallen behind in competitiveness to countries we were once way ahead. On par one time with THE TIGERS in Asia, such as Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore, we now have to battle with Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia to attract FDIs. China and India have overtaken us as we continue our internal unproductive squabbles. An enlightened and universal mindset is necessary for us to compete in the Global Economy. THAT’S THE REAL BATTLE!
After an election, all citizens, including politicians must work together to strengthen the State/Nation’s capability to compete. TS Khalid chose to continue to retain civil servants in Selangor, even though many were BN cohorts. Yet, as a professional CEO-MB, he believes in giving these civil servants a chance to reform. He understands that many were under tremendous pressure by the previous government leaders to cooperate with their corrupted practices. Their jobs and security of their families was on the line. Many gave in! But instead of acting like judge and executioner, he did what an enlightened CEO-MB did. He gave them a chance to reform. For this he has paid dearly for being fair, competent, caring and professional. If the PKR leadership cannot appreciate these efforts by a professional MB, and succumb to the “Business by Political Patronage’ politicians, the rakyat, who voted for PR may not continue to support PR in the next GE13.
If TS Khalid is marginalized for being serious about implementing the changes promises by PKR, promises the rakyat need and want to see happen, then Civil Society will rise up to expose the PKR UMNO-minded politicians. For us in Civil Society, Malaysia is at the CROSS-ROADS, and we do not want to go back to the BN good old days of ‘Business by Political Patronage”. TS Khalid must become the Deputy President of PKR, he is the icon for the NEW MALAYSIAN LANDSCAPE. YB Azmin has waited long to be No 2 in PKR, he just have to realized that he must first practice the changes the REFORMASI pioneers were clamoring for. Your loyalty to DSAI and family is appreciated. But grow up to fit the NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE and your time will come. TS KHALID FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF PKR!
REFORMASI! REFORMASI! REFORMASI
malaysianagenda.wordpress.com
5 October 2010

Watch Out for more details…very soon.

Aloysius – Author of MALAYSIAN AGENDA FOR CIVIL SOCIETY