Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
| ‘Political fugitives’ holding back BN-Umno Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:26 PM PDT A December election is unlikely because Najib Tun Razak 'realises he needs a mandate of his own making'. Look at the current scenario, all the leaders of BN component parties in Peninsular Malaysia are having trouble at finding a seat to contest. They are all political fugitives with no place to call home. Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today The next general election is probably going to be the toughest Umno and Barisan Nasional will face.One thing I am certain of is that it will be held sometime in March 2012. Speculations of GE this year is just that – rumours! Umno has a problem with finding candidates with leadership qualities because it has never focused on constructing a system for selection and leadership succession. The way it stands, I believe Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak realises that he needs a mandate of his own making – minus the BN components. Why? Well, lets consider these facts. If 18 out of the 20 seats now held by MCA, MIC and Gerakan falls to non-BN parties, then BN-Umno will be dependent on Sarawak and Sabah. And if Sabah and Sarawak do not extend the lifeline to Umno and BN in Semenanjung, then the ruling coalition will find themselves on the opposition bench. Look at the current scenario, all the leaders of BN component parties in Peninsular Malaysia are having trouble at finding a seat to contest. They are all political fugitives with no place to call home. The leader of MCA, Dr Chua Soi Lek, is now negotiating with local MCA leaders on where he should stand. So far three Menteris Besar – Johor, Perak and Negeri Sembilan – have offered Chua a seat. No clout His deputy Liow Tiong Lai is not going to have an easy time in Bentong. He hasn't sorted out his promise to have a central spine road built in the town of Bentong. See? A leader is judged on the standards of the Jurutera Jalan JKR. Moving on, the MIC leader, G Palanivel, can't re-contest in Hulu Selangor for he will surely be taken to task over the many things he promised the voters when he was their MP. No one buys his cock and bull story about being sure of being chosen if not for last minute unseen hands. In the Hulu Selangor by-election last year Palanivel was 'poised' to contest until Umno knowing he would lose, shoved him off and flagged P Kamalanathan. If Palanivel had stood in Hulu Selangor, he would have lost.
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| Posted: 01 Nov 2011 05:16 PM PDT Ironically fighting on the same issues which Pakatan had campaigned on previously, it is proving to be a challenge for the chief minister in the run up to GE13. For now, as PCM vice-president Huan Cheng Guan says, the third voice is basking in their role in pointing out shortcomings as they are not beholden to either BN or Pakatan. Hawkeye, Free Malaysia Today Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been facing a unique challenge to his political might in Penang since the start of this year – and it is not from the Barisan Nasional. Instead, it is being mounted through the third force representation of Parti Cinta Malaysia, Kita and several Malay-based NGOs who claim to enjoy links with Lim's ally – PAS. Initially in 2008, it was BN, who played the opposition role although it was mostly muted as it was still struggling to come to terms with the fact it was no longer the state government. This was then followed by several state PKR leaders who went rogue, such as former deputy chief minister Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin and ex-Penang PKR chairman Zahrain Mohd Hashim as well as Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng. Besides dealing with their own internal party squabble, they encountered problems with Lim, portrayed by many within his inner circle as an uncomprising and strong-willed leader. When the dust had settled, all three had quit PKR to either join BN, Kita or become Independent elected representative. Lim's administration was once again besieged, this time, it came from Malay-based NGOs such as Pajim and Perkasa with one, claiming to represent Penang PAS members. They were the most vocal, ironically fighting for the same issues, which Pakatan had previously campaigned on, such as affordable housing, equality and human rights. Lately, it is the third voice who raised contentious issues to the point of distracting Lim and his administration, which is gearing up for the next general election. PCM exposed a land sale involving a DAP state assemblyman, especially when Lim had declared that no Pakatan rep should purchase any land during their tenure of the state. Lim was forced to come the assemblyman's defence, saying that he was merely re-acquiring his ancestral land and that the transaction was above board. Still, eyebrows were raised as the issue had undermined Lim's oft quoted CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) governance. Tan had also revealed a car park at the foot of Penang Hill, which was constructed under the Penang Development Corporation's clout and approved by the Pakatan government in 2008. The car park was found to be defective and too narrow so much so only Kancil vehicle models could be accommodated. Tan lodge a report with the MACC about possible fraud. He also raised the issue of whether the last remaining natural green lung, Penang Hill, would be subjected to redevelopment. Such issues did resonate with the fence-sitters and the social activists, dominant in this highly critical pace of Penang. Mustapa Amin, a member of an NGO, who specialises in education, said while Pakatan is performing well in Penang, it is prone to committing mistakes due to inexperience. Mustapa said people would want to give the benefit of doubt to the government, as they need time and opportunity to show their capabilities and their key performance indicators. "Any new employee undergoes a probationary period. It is the same with Pakatan and their own representatives," he said.
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