Perak Papadum Ping Pong Primadonnas

Here’s kaytee’s take on the Perak Papadum Ping Pong Primadonnas.

Background

First the power-sharing facts of the new State government – call them Barisan Rakyat if you like but I would prefer to refer to them as a loose coalition of DAP-PKR-PAS.

DAP-PKR-PAS respectively hold 18 – 7 - 6 seats making a total of 31 seats against the BN’s 28. Based on proportionate ratio, the 10 State exco positions (leave the MB aside for a while) should respectively be made up of (18 – 7 - 6 divided by 3 =) 6 – 2 – 2.

That is usually the universal approach to power sharing, based on the number of seats each component brings along to the coalition.

PKR

But surprisingly, of all people, PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali, objected to what he termed as “the agreement made between PAS and DAP with regards to the composition of the Perak state exco”.

Based on what I read in Malaysiakini article PKR threatens to pull out of Perak state admin PKR thought the DAP had done a dirty de facto deal behind its back, by splitting the 10 positions into 8 for the DAP, 1 for PAS and 1 for PKR.

Aiyoh how idiotic can the PKR be to imagine that. And why would Dr Syed think PAS has 'agreed' to secret deal with DAP where it accepts an 8 - 1 - 1 when the original agreement was 6 - 2 - 2? Just because the MB position has been assigned to PAS?

So, whoever had instigated Dr Syed to uncharacteristically raise Cain also proposed PKR pull out from the Perak state administration (unless of course PKR gets an improved share of the divvying up of the exco positions).

But what took my breath away was Dr Syed’s (or whoever batu-api-rised him) atrocious demand that (as reported by Malaysiakini):

“In the spirit of sincere openness, we stress that the composition of the exco must reflect the composition of the population of Perak and represent the interests of all ethnic groups fairly.”

“We ask that this composition be discussed again and if the composition is not altered to the satisfaction of all parties involved, PKR will not take part in the administration of Perak.”

Since stats tell us that in the Silver State, Malays represent 53.7% of the population, while Chinese 31.4% and Indians 13%, Dr Syed has effectively demanded for the exco a racial ratio of 5 Malays – 3 Chinese -1 Indian, and leaving one seat for the Malay MB.

Oh oh, we are back to ‘race’ again, and PKR has to be the one raising that damn curse again. Shame on you, Dr Syed!

As someone who has respected Dr Syed enormously, I was going to say I have been surprised by his demand based on the colour of the ADUN’s skin, but I have also heard recently that since he became PKR’s deputy president, he has been gradually Islamising the party. I was shocked of course to hear of this of the consummate liberal socialist. I hope it's not true, but alas, his racial demand has disappointed me ... er ... enormously too.

Malaysiakini also tells us that DAP state chairman Ngeh Koo Ham said WTF to Dr Syed’s unexpected demand. He stated:

"I don't know why PKR is making this statement because all this is still very premature. We have yet to make any decision on what the composition of the Exco will be so how can they say these kind of these (comments) now."

I hope it’s all chess moves within the coalition to get the best for one’s party but I certainly regret Dr Syed’s highly provocative and lamentable claims that “the composition of the exco must reflect the composition of the population of Perak and represent the interests of all ethnic groups fairly.”

But now PKR’s Jamaluddin, who incidentally is acceptable to the DAP as MB, has objected to the PAS member being selected as MB. This has infuriated Raja Nazrin who told the 3 parties he’s postponing the swearing in ceremony until they can make up their bloody minds - OK, he didn’t say ‘bloody’ but kaytee added that in to provide a bit of chilli padi to the Perak Papadum ;-).

DAP

When Lim Kit Siang made an equally provocative statement that he disapproved of the appointment of PAS Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as the new MB and stated that DAP members would boycott the swearing in ceremony, many were outraged by his breaking of ranks.

I did advise in another post Patrick Badawi saying it with flowers ;-) that Uncle Lim has to make that statement for the consumption of the DAP constituencies who voted the party in but not expecting DAP to support a PAS bloke as State MB – many Chinese are still shit scared of Islam.

In fact Uncle Lim has since then apologized to Raja Nazrin and stated that the DAP ADUNs will attend the ceremony to formally appoint Nizar as the State Premier – that is, when PKR's Jamaluddin has made up his mind ;-).

(BTW, why keep calling Raja Nazrin ‘Regent’ when his dad is still seating on the Perak throne?)

UMNO

I wasn't surprised to read in a Malay language paper (the article has disappeared now) an UMNO bigwig using very rude word ‘biadap’ against Lim Kit Siang even AFTER the same paper has published Lim’s apology to Raja Nazrin.

Now, what about those UMNO ADUNs in Penang who insulted the Yang Dipertua Negeri by not being present during the swearing in of Lim Guan Eng? Were they then, by the UMNO bigwig’s standard, also deserving of that same description?

Royalty

Now, why did the Sultan select PAS? I am speculating of course but I reckon for 2 reasons:

(i) To show the Perakian Malays that he is upholding Islam. Maybe he thinks PKR is not Islamic enough and could invite undermining accusations by UMNO. Not good for the State’s well-being.

(ii) To shore up the cohesiveness of the loose coalition (to ensure the State is not buggered around by an unstable minority State government) by bolstering up the position of the weakest link in the group, PAS. Now, bet you PAS will be more dedicated in remaining in the coalition.

After-note: I read somewhere, in RPK's M2D perhaps, that the PKR MB-candidate was only a postman, thus there could have been a wee snobbery or qualification-inclined in HRH's choice as PAS' Nizar is an engineer.

Hmmm, what about PKR's commitment to the coalition?

But leave that aside, kaytee believes the coalition has done something quite stupid. In submitting 3 names to the Sultan to choose it has unwittingly involved royalty in State politics in an unprecedented way. It’s not for the Sultan to choose from a list of three.

Certainly the Sultan can disagree with a name but he should only be given one name (at a time). For example, the Sultan could say no to DAP Ngeh and say, gimme another name! But it’s not for HRH to be given 3 names and decide on one he prefers. The choice of an MB is a political one and to be left to the political parties as elected by the rakyat.

A rejection of a proposed candidate is still a royal prerogative of HRH only if the candidate was found to be, say, a bankrupt, a potential bankrupt or even a previous bankrupt, associated with notorious social scandal (a suspected rapist but ...), believed to be of unstable temperament or have suffered mental breakdowns or depression, etc, but HRH cannot and should not be making a political decision by choosing one name from a list of three.

The Selangor Sultan’s approach was correct – one name Khalid Ibrahim was provided and HRH held his consent in abeyance until he could speak to the other two parties, DAP and PAS, to ascertain that the Coalition will be a stable one with Khalid as MB.

In fact this is only applicable in a minority government. The Sultan would not and should not deny a majority government’s choice of MB unless the State Constitution doesn’t allow a non-Muslim to be a MB.

But this, only a Muslim can become a MB, is of course another story.