Many voters vote according to the party they support and not the candidate. Some would vote for any candidate just to spite BN. Some are more discerning and look at the credentials of the candidate, but still vote against BN. Lately, I have come across quite a number who questioned why Pakatan Rakyat has yet to set up a Shadow Cabinet if they are serious in taking over the government. Yes, I would agree and support that notion because what we have seen in PR-ruled states is that the change in role from opposition to government had created problems, which were due basically to the lack of preparation for it.
How many of the opposition leaders were prepared for the control of an additional four states after the March 8, 2008 General Elections? The need to form state governments meant hurried decisions to select State Exco members, who are actually State Ministers, from their State Assemblymen.
DAP never had it so good, especially taking over Penang convincingly and trounced Gerakan into almost oblivion. Similarly, PKR’s control over Selangor with Khalid Ibrahim as Menteri Besar, was especially sweet in relation to previous MB Khir Toyo’s brag to have ‘Zero Opposition’! Perak’s slim majority looked precarious from the start and its state constitution, if not convention, prevented Ngeh from being Menteri Besar. PAS-controlled Kedah’s situation was slightly better in terms of majority of seats.
In the case of DAP, what used to be ‘stand for election and become either a State Assemblyman or Member of Parliament’ and then ‘serve your constituents and find faults of the government and criticise as best you can’ had become a clamour for Exco positions, as what Hee Yit Foong gave as her reason for leaving the party. Suddenly, even long time MPs found themselves not as fortunate as their State Assemblymen who are chosen to be Exco members, with their Camrys and drivers. MPs will have to wait until PR is able to form the government so as to be candidates for ministerial posts.
I personally feel that even an ordinary town or city councillor post is already onerous if we are serious about it, what more being a State Assemblyman and in Hee's case, Assistant Speaker. Within less than a year, she had already found herself too big for her position? Would she be able to stand in for Sivakumar in a really challenging environment in the Perak State Assembly? I wonder.
And then, how could she claim to be Independent, standing next to Najib with the other two so-called Independents? A person who is sincere about leaving a party and be an Independent ADUN should at least show her independence, especially where it involved a change of government. I wish she would just say, ‘I did it for the money’ or ‘I did it to spite Ngeh and Nga’.
Similarly, the two Perak ex-PKR ADUNs can never be able to convince people that their intention was noble.
The unfortunate Perak episode highlighted the wrong choice of candidates in the sense that they are not committed enough to their respective parties. It was basically due to the lack of good candidates to start with.
With the tide in favour of the opposition to take on BN, PR leaders have to be extra careful in accepting members, especially those who are opportunistic.
Basically, the support from non-member voters are stronger for PR than BN, as Raja Petra had pointed our recently that Umno cannot even get all their members to vote for them.
DAP has been actively recruiting people with the right credentials to carry out their heavier responsibilities, especially in governing Penang which is also a showcase to prove themselves, amid constant attack and sabotage from the envious federal government.
It is interesting to note that besides Lim Guan Eng and Khalid Ibrahim, Nizar looks likely to be the third chief minister who is also a Member of Parliament. While some may claim being both a State Assemblyman and Member of Parliament is being selfish, where a person is capable and able to deliver, why not? Some people thrive on being a multi-tasker. But then again, one should look at the situation, especially if there is a pool of excellent candidates, then chances should be given to others. A Chief Minister and also a Federal Minister is unthinkable. What about the PM holding Finance portfolio as well? It used to include Internal Security too!
After the first selection of Shadow Cabinet ministers, and then the job of looking after their respective Shadow ministries, anyone not up to the mark should be replaced until a final line-up which should be able to impress the general public of its capabilities.
While we are biding our time for the next general elections, PR should seriously get into the act of finding candidates for their Shadow Cabinet, what better time than when Najib is about to name his new Cabinet!
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1 comment:
Pakatan Rakyat doesn't have time to set up "shadow cabinet".
Because they are too busy trying to "help" UMNO.
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