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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Alternative to BN: PAS-DAP Government?

Since March 8th 2008 (“838”), almost everyone has been using the BN as a punching bag to vent their frustrations. Some of the criticisms against the BN, I suppose are valid, in particular the weakness of the delivery system. The best of policies do not seem to trickle down to the Rakyat due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, apathy, and plain corruption. The “little Napoleons” with their misguided notion of “Ini hak kerajaan” have on many occasions put aside even constitutional provisions in their tasks.

Unchallenged by the Rakyat and not monitored by their ever busy politicking political bosses, the civil servants reign supreme in this country as the decider of the ordinary Rakyat’s fate. But the civil servants is not what I intend to discuss here. It is BN as the convenient punching bag. In the history of Malaysia, never before has BN been so badly bruised.

Is the BN a total failure? Is UMNO, MIC, MCA, PPP, Sarawak component parties, etc of the BN completely devoid of leadership capabilities? All the other weaknesses, including alleged arrogance on the part of BN not withstanding, has the BN not delivered anything at all since the birth of Malaysia? No development, peace, stability, employment, good laws, at all? None whatsoever? So, we are positively different from most of our neighboring countries due to total coincidence? For the sake of this article, let us assume that is so.

Why did we become like that? Obviously of course, we cannot lump all the blame on the BN politicians. What about the apathy of the Rakyat? More importantly, in the context of this article, what about the opposition – DAP and PAS? What were they doing? Yes, lets take a look at DAP and PA and see if the tables can also be “unfairly” (?) turned against them as it has been done to BN.

Now, with the advent of a “savior politician”, the Pakatan Rakyat, a loose coalition, presents itself as the alternative to BN. Ironically, the savior is a product and trainee of the BN politics! This goes to show that since merdeka, neither DAP nor PAS has been able to cultivate from itself an “acceptable and capable” savior of the People. What have they been doing all this while then?

As a party, what does DAP and PAS stand for in practical terms? PAS is all Malay and DAP is mostly Chinese. Touchy. Description of realities surely does not wander into the realms of racial politics? Suddenly since 838, many in urban areas seem to believe that racial politics is dead. Why? Because some “revolutionary blogs” have declared it so and others have made up their minds to believe it. I am all for non- racist poltics but lets look at the realpolitik that is existent today.

Back to PAS. It is made up of all Malay. It will be so forever unless it changes its party constitution. Since it is a theological based party and the chosen theology is “Islam”, only those who profess Islam will be accepted members and leaders of the party. I am not talking of so-called non-Muslim supporter clubs of PAS. I am also not distracted by decent personalities like Nik Aziz. Personally, I admire and have the greatest of love and respect for the man. I am talking of the party, the party machinery, its objectives, its general acts and omissions.

Let me ask you. Over the past 30 years, give me an example of programs for the non-Muslims conducted by PAS. Ah yes, they fought for the Chinese caught up in the along problem due to gambling. No, wait. That was Ustad Micheal Chong of MCA. Come to think of it, can you quote me a study, or a project or a demonstration or anything organized or conducted by PAS ALL these years for the Non-Muslims? Quote me one, please. This is where the problem starts. I as a Muslim believe that Islam is for everyone and by that I do not mean I want everyone to be Muslims.

You want PAS to unite all Malaysians? They can? How many non-muslim excos in Kelantan? UMNO and PAS are both Malays and they are divided politically. There are even allegations that among PAS and UMNO members, they cannot even work together outside of politics. Is this so? And let us come to the subject of PAS and Islam. Do all Malays accept PAS’s brand of Islam?

BY the way, what is PAS’s brand of “Islam”? They have been speaking of “Negara Islam” for years. In concrete terms, do you know what they mean? Is the current state of the Nation “unIslamic” as a whole? Or are they referring to merely the imposition of “shariah laws”, to mean “Negara Islam”? If this is so, then all our civil laws today are not “shariah” because……..?? These are questions that Raperas need to address objectively.

To be the Government, you need, at the very least, the experience of governance with diverse groups of different ethnic and religious background, even differing understanding of the religion….does PAS have this experience? This same question can be posed to DAP. Does DAP have this experience? In fact other than electoral pacts, can DAP and PAS produce evidence to show that the have worked together for the benefit of Malaysians? Malaysian Malaysia as a rallying cry alone is inadequate.

Again, when I speak of DAP, I am not singling out personalities like Lim Guan Eng whom I respect. We want to look at it as a whole. For me, I think DAP has done more as an opposition over the years than PAS ever has. Having said that, has DAP succeeded in shedding itself of the image of a Chinese based party? Do people accept DAP as multi-racial? Is that why it won in Penang? A majority Chinese constituency is considered multi-racial?

People must ask: why has DAP and PAS, two big and established opposition parties in Malaysia, has never worked together all these years. Maybe even form a shadow cabinet. Since 838, do the people even know who among them will be what if they form the Government?

So sure and yet not plan???? People, I have always maintained, politicians are completely delusional and they want to take us along.

So, between the bad boy BN and the “hopeful” PAS-DAP, what’s your verdict? Which is the lesser evil?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

J,

I notice that you didnt mention PKR. They are leading the pakatan and you left them out. who is the saviour you are referring to? Hadi or Lim Guan Eng?

Anonymous said...

J,

I wrote a long analysis then I hit some button and it disappeared. What I wanted to say is this:

The Alliance / BN is the result of a good philosophy. The Coalition Philosophy. The country is relatively safe and prosperous for 51 years because of this philosophy.

The actors who have embraced this philosophy are members of the BN. They come and go. Pas joined and left, Gerakan was out then joined later. Now Gerakan is contemplating leaving again. PPP was out then joined BN. PBS was out, then joined, then left, then joined back again.

I dont know how long the BN is going to survive but the Coalition Philosophy (power sharing and respect for the races) will definitely survive and outlive us all.

The big flaw with the BN is the New Economic Policy which has nothing to do with the succesful Coalition Philosophy. The NEP has derailed the Coalition Philosophy (power sharing and respect for all races). Because of this derailment, the Pakatan now seems attractive to the voters.

But the Pakatan has neither a Coalition Philosophy nor any economic policy for everyone, which they can all agree upon. So the Pakatan is doomed to fail.

The BN mereley needs to tweak the failed NEP and refocus on the Coalition Philosophy. The Pakatan, especially PKR and the PAS are non starters.

The DAP will be a real run for the money only when 60% of its membership are Malays.

Now Patakan is taking over the Philosophy.

Anonymous said...

mr anonymous,

very well put

bulans

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 3.54,

Thank you for your views which I tend to agree.

You wrote: "The big flaw with the BN is the New Economic Policy"

Will you agree that even the NEP is not the problem as its objectives are appropriate. It is the implementation and abuse of the NEP objectives that is the problem. Will this be correct?

Anonymous said...

may the force be with us...

Part 1

Pak Lah is smart and very sly. He is not going to give up the PM post to Najib while under pressure. It is a known fact he does not like Najib and only tolerates him. He chose Najib as a DPM because he has dirt on Najib. Do not spend too much time reading into PaK Lah but watch Khairy's wheeling and dealing with Anwar. Khairy is throwing his support behind Anwar to stay relevant.

He will not show his hand but have his people support Anwar. In the meantime as soon as UMNO is out of power he will consolidate his power in UMNO by instigating a witch-hunt. Najib and the others who plotted against Pak Lah will be surrendered to Anwar with evidence to prosecute them in court. These senior UMNO plotters when convicted will be barred from political office. He will rebuild UMNO and will have UMNO allied with PR, has a stragetic partner. MCA/MIC/Gerakan and other BN parties will be left high and dry if by this time they have not gone over to PR.

Khairy knows once he has made UMNO strong, he can bid for power in PR as a stragetic partner. This is the only way for Khairy to survive. Do not write off Khairy. Read Anwar's PR statements that the BN MPs do not necessarily need to cross over to support the PR government. This way Khairy keeps UMNO intact and mould it into a progressive party in the mould of PKR. UMNO will remain a bumiputra party but the UMNO constitution will be changed to bar racial politics and statements by UMNO members.

In 2 or 3 years Khairy will make a bid for PM post with the blessing of PR. He will prove that UMNO without the racist stance will be an asset to PR and the Malaysian people.

Pak Lah in the next fews days is going to get the King to call Anwar to show prove that he has the backing of the majority of the MPs. What Pak Lah is saying in the media is a wayang kulit to keep his enemies in UMNO off- balance. This is the only way to say his legacy and history will judge him as a man who placed the country interests before himself.



Part2


As the days get nearer to the supposed target day, the haze suddenly starts to clear as the plot/script becomes clearer.

Anwar Ibrahim has said very famously "why wouldn't Abdullah Badawi want to meet me, he is my friend". This statement is to assure Abdullah Badawi that he, Anwar has not ditched the plan agreed by both of them.

Abdullah Badawi says something but means the exact opposite. He says no emergency session of Parliament is planned but what he is trying to say is that there will be an emergency session of Parliament in the next few days. Abdullah knows that for UMNO to survive, it has to be reformed, getting rid of the self-serving UMNO warlords and be in the opposition and reflect on itself. When UMNO is in the opposition, it will be easy to rid the party of the warlords. Simple reason is to hand them over to the PR government with evidence for prosecution.

Khairy is the middle and point man between Anwar and Abdullah.
Remember when he returned Anwar's passport personally to Anwar on his release from prison? Khairy knows that if he wants to succeed, he must get rid of the obstacles in UMNO. Down the line after 2 to 3years, UMNO in the opposition, UMNO been reformed will be invited by PR to be a partner.

Anwar will be PM for another 9 years and when he reaches 70, Khairy will be the PM by virtue of being in the largest party, PR. These 9 years Khairy will work to polish his image and the public will be grateful that he was instrumental in placing Anwar in power and getting rid of racial politics. He will prove to be an even better PM that Anwar.

Najib , ooh Poor Najib!! He has already got a sniff of the plot (But too late) and had to call off his visit to the Middle-East. Najib knows that Anwar with Abdullah's backing has sent the letter to the King to seek an audience with the King. Najib is trying to foil the plan. Once Anwar has the audience, Abdullah will have Parliament in session.

Najib is no longer the Defense Minister (Abdullah's master-stoke) and cannot call on the Armed Forces to effect a coup-de-tat. Najib is working hard now to marshal the BN MPs and trying to prevent the defections. All is lost now for Najib. It is too late for him as he has already been checkmate by Khairy . Najib must be wondering about his fate either in exile, prison or in the hangman's noose.

Syed Hamid has played the dumb Interior Minister to the hilt and deserves an oscar. He has as per plan made UMNO and the government unpopular with the tactic approval of Abdullah / Khairy. When the BN government falls, no pity will be felt for UMNO. Khairy knows he needs to get rid of the 40 to 60 years old warlords if he wants to be PM in 9 years time.

Mahathir, poor Mahathir, he was sucked into the plan unknowingly by Abdullah and Khairy. He made the Government very unpopular when he criticized the Government. Including washing the dirty laundry in the public. He is a has-been and would not be of any use now to anybody. He is an old man past his glory days. Muyhiddin is just a stooge of Najib to force Abdullah out as a PM. This is only role-playing and he has no more value except spending time in prison.


Part 3


DECIDING AND TURNING FACTOR AND REVERSAL OF NAJIB'S POLITICAL FORTUNES.


The intense infighting in UMNO for the Premiership is one of the most telling factors as to why Taib Mahmud Chief Minister has swung his support behind Anwar. You have may or may have not noticed that Taib Mahmud has been silent.

He is very much pissed-off at the attitude of the UMNO warlords. His
state Sabah (UMNO) hold the balance of power. He has not been
consulted as who will succeed Abdullah. As a senior BN leader and the second biggest party fraction in BN, he is not getting the due respect from UMNO. Taib have already sounded out Anwar and told him that he will have the support of PBB MPs and some of the other Sarawak BN MPs.

It is too late for Najib now to reconcile Taib to his side.

Remember it is also important to keep your friends and partners informed on important decisions. Taib knows that his days are getting fewer and fewer as he will not live long enough. His family influence in Sarawak may die with him and PBB and its allies will be wiped off in the next Sarawak state elections. His son's and relatives' political fortunes and their riches and wealth must be safe- guarded.

Hence the alliances with Anwar, which will safeguard his legacy and empire in Sarawak.

Majority of the MCA MPs are in a dilemma and state of shock. They have been told point blank by Anwar that he does not need their MPs to have a majority in parliament. Anwar has offered them a place in PR, provided DAP approves it and with no special favors. MCA as a party will not be accepted in PR because DAP is already championing Chinese rights. A few MPs will join DAP and PKR so as not to miss out on their political careers.

MIC is a no no and have not been offered a place in PR nor their MPs.

MIC will die a natural death and no 'cpr' can help them to live.

Gerakan is already a has-been party and the party will die a natural death once the MPs join PKR.

UMNO is in a very serious coma state. It will remain so until the end of the year and will come out of the coma once Khairy is the leader.

Najib is having his people camping day and night out at the istana and having the King followed. Can not do much as Syed Hamid has told the police to stand down and make ensure the security of the King.

The King has already informed the fellow brother Sultans of Anwar's letter. There is going to be an emergency meeting tonight or tomorrow of the sultans and the Agung. This could be a video-conference meeting or a formal meeting to discuss Anwar's letter. Abdullah will attend the meeting to lend his support to Anwar's letter.

Abdullah is a good and sincere man and tried to make the country better. The UMNO warlords did not let him. His legacy for Malaysia was to be reforms of the police, judiciary, economy, education, racial and religious rights of all races and religions.

Anwar is on standby mode and within an earshot once the King summons him. He is very heavily protected as talk in the streets is that his life is in danger. Knowing Anwar he will laugh at this threat.

More and more MPs are getting into the Anwar bandwagon. They all know it is credible that he has the numbers.

Tonight is going to be a long night and tomorrow is going to be even longer.

Khairy is busy as a beaver and fine tuning the necessary details and arrangements to have a smooth change over from Abdullah to Anwar as the PM.

The police and immigration has been given a list of people who are barred from leaving the country and Bank Negara has a list to inform the banks to freeze the accounts of the names mentioned.

a little bird

Anonymous said...

Malay rights

The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.

What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.

We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!

If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.

If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit.

The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is
sadly racially biased.

In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies.

I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Sings & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia. And ofcourse not forgetting the real natives of this country the orang asli.

If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status.

We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes. I would also like to see my children succeed
in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are
Malays or bumiputeras. For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights.

It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians
for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategizing for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish
all the while without being taught how to fish.

It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that. We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good?

The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.

The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel
that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore. The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.

If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris.

melayu kampung

Anonymous said...

to melayu kampung,

some of the Malays are certainly good at claiming that they have special rights under the Constitution, or even under the natural law of God and that means that everybody owes them a living, and that they need not exert any effort to earn it.


On Sat. night, 20th Sept ’08, a friend fetched me for dinner at Fong Lye Restaurant in Seri Hartamas. We went into a side road near the restaurant and saw 2 DBKL parking lots. One car was ahead of us and the driver parked his car in one of the lots and my friend eased his car into the other lot.

When we opened our doors, we saw a Malay chap saying loudly to the driver of the other car that the parking charge was RM5.00. The driver of the other car (a Malay also) and his family got back into their car and drove off.

My friend Fuk Yew started arguing with the chappie as to what right he had to charge us for parking in a public lot.


He was then joined by another Malay chap who coolly told Fuk Yew not to “bising bising” and that if he did not wish to pay, he could still park, but they would not be responsible for the safety of his (Fuk Yew’s) car, which was obviously more than a veiled threat.

There were 2 other chaps there with them, as they had set up a table to manage their parking ‘business’. These 2 chaps who had confronted us then walked away and shouted that this is “tanah Melayu” and that they are “bumiputera” and what they want to “buat” they just buat.

I told Fuk Yew not to waste time arguing logic with them and we went off somewhere else further to park.


So how did these young Malays got to thinking in that manner? Have they been educated from young to think and feel that way, or have they been recently corrupted by all the keris-waving, racist pendatang-thinking politicians in our beloved country? Why should they do an honest day’s job for their living when it is so easy to extort from motorists who obviously could not do without a parking lot.

Is there a future for Malaysia if the majority race thinks in such a manner? We should certainly pray that there are more chappies like Melayu Kampung among them.

chan fuk me

Anonymous said...

This is in rply to little bird. I just read your comment, today is Sunday 5th Oct. You wrote your comment on 29th Sept. Well nothing of what you said has so far come true.

Just a couple of points though.

i. Anwar is facing sodomy charges. Talk is the evidence is quite strong. The Prosecutor is no less than the Dato Zainal Abidin something - a straight and professional man. The very fact that he is prosecuting the case lends much support to the idea that there is a strong case for prosecution.

To me Anwar is history.

ii. You say that the corrupt warlords will be handed over by Khairy to the PR for prosecution and jailing. That is a great thought. I fully support you.

But how does Khairy escape this dragnet? Dont you read anything? Haven't you heard of Riong Kali? Pos Malaysia? Air Asia? ECM Libra? Avenue Capital? Eurocopter? 150 Airbuses for Air Asia? Swan River? Monsoon Cup? Equine Capital? Second Bridge? RM18 billion wifi network? Scomi's multi billion traij contract? Bus contract? Drilling mud contract?

Anonymous said...

mr anonymous,

so whats your point?

bird little