When Dr Lim Chong Eu formed Gerakan with a few political activists in 1968, he saw an opportune time to unite opposing forces to take on the mighthy Alliance in the 1969 general election. His party succeeded in Penang and wrested the state government from MCA by a two-third majority.
In 2008, Dap secretary-general Lim Guan Eng achieved the same feat in Penang. His party won 19 out of 19 seats it contested in the state assembly and swept all 7 parliamentary seats. This time, Gerakan was at the receiving end. It lost its seats in Penang to both Dap and PKR (13 state and 4 parliamentary seats).
But Dr Lim had a head start before he was made the chief minister of Penang in 1969. He had served in the state legislative council under the colonial government several years before independence. His good performance as a legislative councillor was the defining factor which won him solid grassroots support and respect from locals.
His experience and understanding of multifarious issues faced by the community helped Dr Lim to plan for his leadership direction in Penang. To succeed, he knew that his administration had to create enough jobs for the people. Unemployment was almost 15 percent. The only way was to transform Penang's economy from agriculture based into an industrial powerhouse.
Unlike Dr Lim, the fourth chief minister Lim Guan Eng does not have similar depth of understanding of issues affecting the state. His politician father, Lim Kit Siang, has been residing in Penang since 1986 but since his 1999 electoral defeat the elder Lim spends most of his time in Petaling Jaya and Ipoh. Lim only frequented Penang slightly more than a year ago to plan for his eventual political move to Penang. His move, as a strategy to revive the flagging fortune of Dap in Penang, turned out to be a fruitful one.
However, unlike Dr Lim, Lim will have to do a lot of preparatory work to get to know the state, community associations, chambers of commerce, multinationals, state civil servants and others. This process of consultation and dialogues may take him more than a year to fully understand the issues besetting the state. Lim, a non native, may face an ardours task trying win over the factional chinese community associations and other ethnic oriented associations.
He must be made aware that a number of local personalities were involved in the just concluded general election, not as candidates but kingmakers and lobbyists for certain politicians. These personalities will try to get close to him to forge a new alliance. Without adequate local knowledge, he may be sucked into their factional tussle.
The next challenge he faces is to put a team of executive councillors who are knowledgeable, innovative, credible and able to lead. His team of 19 assemblymen consists of qualified individuals and largely first timers. As an opposition party, their ability to oppose is indisputable but to govern there is a need for a mindset change. Even Lim has to readjust to his new role as a chief minister who is expected to deliver economic growth and prosperity to a 'dynamic' Penang he promised his electorates. Like Dr Lim, Lim is voted in at a time when Penang economy is losing its lustre and competitiveness. He is expected to wave his magic wand similar to what Dr Lim did for Penang by bringing in high-technology investment into Penang.
On the economy, it is not clear who among the 19 state assemblymen can be entrusted to play a leading role. Dr P. Ramasamy, an academician, may look like the best candidate but he is a political scientist and not an economist. A person managing the economic portfolio should also understand the dynamics and fundamentals of global economy and knowledge economy.
The same goes for all other portfolios e.g. education, human capital, tourism and culture, public transport and infrastructure, housing and local government et cetera. It is time for his young and energetic team to show that they can run the state as well as they can 'bash up' UMNO.
What is certain, Lim must wake up to the reality of leading and managing one of the most demanding states in Malaysia. If Kelantanese voters are unpredictable, Penangites are known to be very brutal. They kicked out MCA in 1969 and 1990 for its inability to stand up for the Chinese community. Their love affair with Gerakan was similarly truncated in 2008. By now, Dap should know that the Penang voters are very decisive when they made up their mind.
Can Lim Guan Eng measure up to Dr Lim Chong Eu? Pundits and critics are awaiting their judgement slightly more than 2 years from now when they measure the mid-term performance of Dap led government. Just like how Lim Kit Siang put it, two years is a fair period to measure an administration effectiveness and success.
Dap has played an effective opposition role, can it perform similarly as a government?
In 2008, Dap secretary-general Lim Guan Eng achieved the same feat in Penang. His party won 19 out of 19 seats it contested in the state assembly and swept all 7 parliamentary seats. This time, Gerakan was at the receiving end. It lost its seats in Penang to both Dap and PKR (13 state and 4 parliamentary seats).
But Dr Lim had a head start before he was made the chief minister of Penang in 1969. He had served in the state legislative council under the colonial government several years before independence. His good performance as a legislative councillor was the defining factor which won him solid grassroots support and respect from locals.
His experience and understanding of multifarious issues faced by the community helped Dr Lim to plan for his leadership direction in Penang. To succeed, he knew that his administration had to create enough jobs for the people. Unemployment was almost 15 percent. The only way was to transform Penang's economy from agriculture based into an industrial powerhouse.
Unlike Dr Lim, the fourth chief minister Lim Guan Eng does not have similar depth of understanding of issues affecting the state. His politician father, Lim Kit Siang, has been residing in Penang since 1986 but since his 1999 electoral defeat the elder Lim spends most of his time in Petaling Jaya and Ipoh. Lim only frequented Penang slightly more than a year ago to plan for his eventual political move to Penang. His move, as a strategy to revive the flagging fortune of Dap in Penang, turned out to be a fruitful one.
However, unlike Dr Lim, Lim will have to do a lot of preparatory work to get to know the state, community associations, chambers of commerce, multinationals, state civil servants and others. This process of consultation and dialogues may take him more than a year to fully understand the issues besetting the state. Lim, a non native, may face an ardours task trying win over the factional chinese community associations and other ethnic oriented associations.
He must be made aware that a number of local personalities were involved in the just concluded general election, not as candidates but kingmakers and lobbyists for certain politicians. These personalities will try to get close to him to forge a new alliance. Without adequate local knowledge, he may be sucked into their factional tussle.
The next challenge he faces is to put a team of executive councillors who are knowledgeable, innovative, credible and able to lead. His team of 19 assemblymen consists of qualified individuals and largely first timers. As an opposition party, their ability to oppose is indisputable but to govern there is a need for a mindset change. Even Lim has to readjust to his new role as a chief minister who is expected to deliver economic growth and prosperity to a 'dynamic' Penang he promised his electorates. Like Dr Lim, Lim is voted in at a time when Penang economy is losing its lustre and competitiveness. He is expected to wave his magic wand similar to what Dr Lim did for Penang by bringing in high-technology investment into Penang.
On the economy, it is not clear who among the 19 state assemblymen can be entrusted to play a leading role. Dr P. Ramasamy, an academician, may look like the best candidate but he is a political scientist and not an economist. A person managing the economic portfolio should also understand the dynamics and fundamentals of global economy and knowledge economy.
The same goes for all other portfolios e.g. education, human capital, tourism and culture, public transport and infrastructure, housing and local government et cetera. It is time for his young and energetic team to show that they can run the state as well as they can 'bash up' UMNO.
What is certain, Lim must wake up to the reality of leading and managing one of the most demanding states in Malaysia. If Kelantanese voters are unpredictable, Penangites are known to be very brutal. They kicked out MCA in 1969 and 1990 for its inability to stand up for the Chinese community. Their love affair with Gerakan was similarly truncated in 2008. By now, Dap should know that the Penang voters are very decisive when they made up their mind.
Can Lim Guan Eng measure up to Dr Lim Chong Eu? Pundits and critics are awaiting their judgement slightly more than 2 years from now when they measure the mid-term performance of Dap led government. Just like how Lim Kit Siang put it, two years is a fair period to measure an administration effectiveness and success.
Dap has played an effective opposition role, can it perform similarly as a government?
7 comments:
Ronald Reagan had no experience when he became the President of USA. The issue here is whether YAB Guan Eng can assemble a team of good administrators, planners and implementors to help.
Some to clean the mess; some to streamline the system for better accountability; some to market brand "Penang"; some to strategise and vision and some horizon watchers.
Penang cannot compete now on IT related products unless they go higher end. A good example is Singapore which has cleverly upscale its industries. Penang with an educated and multi-lingual workforce can create mass employment for regional call centers.
Dubai- a desert city can redevelop itself to be the Singapore of the Middle-East. Penang has natural attractions to the rich and famous from Hong Kong and Taiwan- good infrastructure, Hokkien speaking, laid-back lifestyle.
It need to clean up the shit and dirt that tarnishes the Pearl of the Orient.
Guan Eng has to fight the fire on the first floor while still doing business on the ground floor. That is indeed a tall order. That depends on his leadership style. Different situations need different management styles.
May our good Lord provide him with the wisdom and courage to carry out this humongous task.
Good article and comment.
Winning an election is quite different from running a state but I believe if you have the brains and energy to win the first you also have the capacity to succeed in the latter.
Whatever happens LGE must ensure that the DAP can govern Penang properly. In Perak it is the best opportunity to strengthen its working relationship with the PKR and PAS.
"A person managing the economic portfolio should also understand the dynamics and fundamentals of global economy and knowledge economy."
Pak Lah is (or was?) Finance Minister yet he has no economics background. Ditto Anwar, and then Mahathir, when they became Finance Minister.
Having said that, I agree it is important for the person to know what they are supposed to do. But I think it is unfair to put too high a hurdle to this new administration whereas such issues were not raised when it comes to other parties.
I would like to add on what you said:
" As an opposition party, their ability to oppose is indisputable but to govern there is a need for a mindset change..."
Running the government and making it works it completely different matter altogether.
Academicians is not good enough, DAP needs a team of professionals and reputable managers who have hands on experience to spearhead the government.
DAP is now a driver and no longer a spectator.
Good luck DAP
very well said.
obviously the DAP team needs to have a team of very capable and good caliber administrators.
but i feel that this is a two way situation.
Penangites are known to be brutal, but I know Penangites are not as political as they should be.
now penangites are feeling the pinch, because it affects their rice bowls. but when things were nice and comfortable, a lot of them did not care about what's happening.
now the true test is whether penangites are able to withstand the change. it's definitely not going to be a walk in the park, so the question is, when that happens, are they going to ditch them again?
are the voters willing to be more proactive, talking to MPs, raising issues up, and vice versa are the MPs going to listen to their concerns??
i'm not sure, really. but i'll watch this space...
Further to my earlier comment that " DAP is now a driver and no longer a spectator"
I think LGE must also hear out the powerbrokers and personalities in Penang. You do not know how many landmines are out there.
Better be on pragmatic side.
well rounded perspective to the challenges for LGE and also a CM who was not raised and brought up in Penang ..
these are my thoughts and how penang can move on from the semi con, assembly high tech space ...
really no need to reinvent the wheel ..
1. take cue from Dell .. Penang is an excellent base for regional call centres .. english speaking, competitive wages, and good track record of disciplined work force
first call of port Singapore .. NCS Singtel and their banks
culturally Penang would reasonate easier selling pitch as Singaporeans were in similar position
2) a)repackage Penang tourism pull as a conference venue .. why give all the action to KL .. besides Penang is accesible to most major cities in the region ..
the region is looking for an alternative to BKK, Singapore, Phuket or HCM
b) coupling of a Langkawi/Penang package
take advantage of the BN push of langkawi as destination of choice and make Penang to be the gateway to langkawi
c) expats 2nd home
self explanatory .. correct target markets though HK, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesian Chinese
3) development of the gaming software industry and alternative computing
while MSC has concentrated on the development of traditional ICT systems like banking, manufacturingm telcos ..
the emerging trends of non liner editing, post production creative requirements and animation will be driving the future of computing .. Penang is well positoned to be the production centres for all the entertainment requirements in the region ..
why ? the thais, indonesians cant afford the investments as yet .. the vietnamese cant see the picture yet .. the singaporean and hong kongese are too damm expensive ..
4) for long term sustainance for these skills and resource .. what else ? Education ..!! special programs to lure the likes of LimKokwings and alternative education venues ...
In the end of it all, why would Penang succeed ..
=> we are predominantly chinese !! and will appeal to all the affluent and forward minded chinese in the region ..
somebody got to give singapore a run for the money ..
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