It is unfortunate that PM Najib is still fiddling with his NEM. He wants to do something good for the nation but is too afraid of doing so. Making the right change means having to take on the conservative forces in the country.
His reluctance to take on these forces to ensure a smooth implementation of his plan and vision is going to ensure the failure of NEM and other similar policies. By giving enough space to these forces to build up resistance to his plan and vision will hardened their opposition and weakened his own political will to do the right thing.
By giving in to a group such as Perkasa is going to win BN/Umno a lot of support. The competition for Malay support has reached its saturation point. BN will at most enjoy 55% to 65% the community's support.
Another point which the PM has failed to notice is the growing political awareness of the community. Talk about defending Malay rights and supremacy is not as easy to sell as previously. Despite the talk, UMNO has not been able to answer why the community has remained backward and why the policy only enriched a selected few - mostly sons, daughters and relatives of politicians and leaders in the party/coalition. Sarawak's Taib family is a classic example.
His wishy-washy policy direction or a lack of it has courted many critics:
On NEM, Pakatan de-facto chief Anwar said, "As along as the government does not develop a system of governance that is just, corruption-free and instills confidence, the country will continue to lose the attention of foreign investors."
NEM is only a tip of the iceberg. The administration has failed to address many issues concerning the nation's education system, declining competitiveness, net outflow of investment, lack of new economic attraction, and others.
The world economic crisis is far from over. But we have not heard or read any policy response or initiative from the government. NEP, GTP and others are mere political responses to the ongoing contestation between Pakatan and BN.
Hence, this is why I said that the 13th general election is for BN to lose.
While Pakatan leaders have been critical of BN or Najib's lack of direction and political will to make the necessary changes, what have Pakatan achieved?
What can the newly minted coalition offer to counter Najib's NEM or GTP?
Pakatan cannot continue to count on BN or UMNO's weaknesses to chalk up electoral victories. It is time for the newly minted coalition to face its own raison d'etre.
It has no lack of weaknesses and issues within its own ranks. If its elected representatives can be tempted to defect by some monetary reward then it means there is a corrupt tendency within the coalition (an elected representative in Perak brought down the government because of a Toyota Camry).
The issue over its choice of candidates has yet to be addressed. Hence, it is pertinent for the coalition to listen to the suggestion of M Kulasegaran on limiting a candidate to seat and work on selecting better candidates.
It is a fact that Pakatan has yet to show us any significant policy alternatives and how it intends to govern differently from BN. How can the coalition reverse the economic malaise of the country?
Does the coalition have a new strategy to attract investors and brains to return to the country?
It has promised more autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak but it is enough to return Sabah and Sarawak to their desired glory? Giving autonomy to the wrong hands without correcting the systemic imbalances between East and West Malaysia is not going to change the fortune of peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.
I agree with Anwar that there is a need to mend the over centralisation of power in the federal government but it is not an easy creature to handle.
Dap has criticized the government on the over size public service which has grown to over 1.2 million employees. How can Pakatan resize or streamline the civil service? They are a powerful electoral block too.
PKR's internal politics and party elections are giving us another hint about the party. Parties in Pakatan should also address their own political culture if they want us to trust their governance.
At the moment, there is not much which separates the two coalitions apart from BN keep scoring their own goals and Pakatan trying to say the right things.
Both coalitions must walk their talk.
13 comments:
Join the fray and stand as a candidate in the forthcoming election under the PR banner? I am dead sure you wont sell out just like that limping bitch.
It's time for Pakatan to unveil its master plan for the nation when it captures Putrajaya so that the people can be impressed upon to support them solidly, otherwise we are still unsure what good they have for us when in government.What Pakatan has for us now is a few good moves and many great words which BN will outdo easily.Don't hide behind BN always, it's time to lead for Pete's sake.Let BN and Perkosa play wayang kulit till the end of times.
khoo, u seemed to have missed the point where PKR is implementing a 1 member 1 vote election for the 1st time. that's the difference!
uncle, give pakatan time. Two years can do wonders meh?
BN is good in spinning in their controlled media. since 1982 the Pm of the day has produced many slogans like look east, vision 20202, islam hadhiri and now 1 malaysia. FDI is dropping and so is our university ranking ( 220 ). certain aspects of malaysia has shot up like corruption and inflation. our leaders talk instead of doing their work as their salaries are paid by the tax payers. 53 years of rule produces arrogance and incompatibility and a bloated civil service . Sir , please be fair to PAKATAN- they ruled PENANG < SELANGOR and KEDAH only for 2 years. how much can Pakatan do in 2 years when BN failed in 30 years since 1982, Malaysia is falling fast unless there is a change in the govrnment, CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE
Anwar just want to be P.M. regardless of what goes on.
LKS is dreaming to be a minister-fat dream and an illusion. PKR must have these two , Anwar and mad dog LKS, thrown out of the opposition to have any chance of replacing .
The biggest dilemma for voters is after voting for PR last election we feel extremely disappointed by performance of the elected reps.We don't even know who is going to be the leader. State's run by PR are a total flop with their arrogance of getting into power. This is a wasted opportunity for PR. We denied BN 2/3rd majority as they asked. Give us the direction and do it fast. Right now my vote has shifted back to BN. If you want our votes back show what you can do.We are not fools anymore and will vote for the right candidate not the party anymore or not vote at all.
I do agree that PKR has to buck up and weed out those bad apples who are only after their own interests and benefits. I am putting my hope on PKR to turn the tide but now my hope is fading with all the internal strives. But I really like what I'm seeing in Penang and Selangor. The state Governments are doing all they can for the Rakyat, but it takes time to undo what BN has done for the past 53 years. As for Najib, he's afraid to make a decisive action because he is afraid that what happened to Abdullah Badawi will happen to him. This is because the tentacles of Mamakutty is still very strong and wide in UMNO. Until he could break away from this Kutty's influence and stronghold, then he may be able to do execute his plan. But then again, what's his plan - will it be good for the Rakyat or just for himself and his gang?
NEM was unveiled by Najib in Hong Kong as giving foreigners the same rights as bumiputra for investing in Malaysia. Chinese, Indians and others investing in Malaysia still need to give 30% to bumiputras (or in this case umnoputras). There is no CHANGE, just a lot of nonsense ! This will cause more Chinese and Indian and other wealth to flow out to Singapore to form companies so they can get bumiputra rights as a foreign entity !
Just kick those racialistic and lazy bums in Perkasa and UMNO come GE13 to the garbage trucks.
Not worth mentioning them anymore. Enough of their unethical and idiotic comments.
Vote PR/PAS/DAP come GE13.,
As far as I know, there are things being done from the oppositions, as follows:
1. Alternative budget plan - from both DAP & PKR.
2. Proof of capability in good secular governance in Penang & Selangor, and high moral governing Kelantan.
I would like to highlight (1) above, if executed well when they are in power, will drive the nation towards development. Together with (2) above, demonstrated that they have the potential to govern well if given the opportunity.
I am not a political analyst therefore I can't propose anything as good as you are. But as someone self-proclaimed political analyst, can you draft out some proposals, suggestions and policies which will benefit the country? I listed some areas below where you might be able to contribute:
a) Education, how to tag onto the best education resources available and move forward, and revamp the primary->university.
b) human resources, how to address brain drain as a 5 years plan?
c) economic: DAP is expert on this, no need advice.
d) social/economic balance, what is the alternative plan than the current NEM/NEP, how to improve the economics of those under poverty line, regardless of race.
e) globalisation, stupid all race fighting within a same country, is there a policy that can lead the citizens to eye for the global instead of fighting among ourselves leading to sinking our own ship?
f) money politics/bribery: how to address that with policies? have you analyse the cause of bribery very common in malaysia, is the pay too low and practicing selective prosecution? what can we do to this?
g) constitution/law: how to ensure independence in the governance, judiciary and execution?
h) development: how to address the development of sabah/sarawak with large geographics area, what is the efficient methods to govern these for development? This applies to rural area in peninsular as well.
i) how to ensure good governance, that the government is a slave suppose to serve the citizens well rather than the other round? Are there any policy in the constitution or judiciary to address this?
etc. etc. etc.
Before the actual race to the G13 begins,both BN and Pakatan must get their acts together.
So much has been said on Walking the Talk.
The people are watching, listening, recalling, wandering, foreseeing and deciding on who is to come out winning.
May the best side wins!
Chance for Pakatan to take over Putra Jaya is like daylight sunshine comes GE 13. But knowing the dirty of Umboooono Perkosaaan Negaraa will never allow that. By hook or crook they start another racial riot using mat rem as their "KULI".
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