Government via backdoor breeds cronyism & corruption

When I read in Malaysiakini the usual Anwar Ibrahim’s claims of We have numbers to topple gov't, I have to confess (and you all would know anyway) that I frown with unease.

The election is already over, with the new Pakatan winning 82 and BN 140 parliamentary seats. So how will Anwar Ibrahim have the numbers to topple the government unless he (or at least his wife) has a considerable number of party hoppers from the BN to make up a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, which is at least 112 MPs? That calls for a minimum of 30 BN frogs.

In his celebration rally 2 nights ago to mark the lifting of a legal bar to him holding political office because of his corruption sentence, he boasted: “Yes, we have enough MPs to topple the government. We are saying here for the first time that we are ready. But we will only enter when the majority is comfortable.”

Well, he has proclaimed he’s got the 30 party hoppers already, so why has he been still hesitant? He answered to eager acolytes: "When we take over we want to initiate the move. Do we want to be a government with a two- or five-seat majority?"

In other words he claimed to want a greater comfortable margin … perhaps like 2/3 majority ? ;-)

I am sure he is aware that when Parliament convenes for its new term, the BN will be tabling the anti-party hopping legislation. The BN, despite its lack of a 2/3 majority can be assured of the DAP and PAS support ….. well, at least some MPs like Karpal Singh and his son, and Pak Haji Nik Aziz who all have been repulsed by the low morality of such a scheme to gain power.

Noted political commentator, Khoo Kay Peng wrote in his blog about Pakatan Rakyat or Anwar's Dreaming for Power?

He said (extracts including his replies to comments):

I would like to point out that such speculations about Pakatan Rakyat toppling the BN government through defections do not augur well for Malaysia.

The most important thing is for both coalitions to exercise the mandate given by the people and govern well. Malaysia needs to start showing foreign and local investors that we can work together to make this two party system works.

Any uncertainty created, such as calls to Abdullah to step down, is not going to be favourable to our economy. Investors, rightly advised by their fund managers, will adopt a wait-and-see attitude until there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Being objective, I can be quite naive politically to suggest that politicians should put national interests at the top priority. Ironically, politicians of all shades and leanings are hungry for power. Power defines politics.

Khoo prefers Anwar’s statement that the Pact should focus on making the new coalition work and stay cohesive. And of course the new 5 State governments have to perform to convince the people of another successive round of support in 2012.

But Khoo, like most non Muslims, is concerned about some PAS leaders talking about the eventual inescapability of Malaysia becoming an Islamic state. Khoo asked Anwar Ibrahim, who wants to be PM, on his stand on an Islamic state, on Hudud law, on the status of the constitution and on Malay rights.

Apart from those, Khoo queried Anwar’s contradictory stand in his support for Article 153 and his party's MEA. BTW, do you recall Anwar admonishing Hindraf not to kacau (question or raise the issue of) Article 153 when the latter was in full H-swing?

Khoo asked pointedly that if Anwar said the focus is on the bottom rung of the society and just distribution of wealth, why then should/would there be a need to maintain Article 153?

Khoo said what I had said earlier, Article 153 has been, is and will be the one apartheid-like legislation dividing Malaysians, embedding a sense of supremacy into a community and invoking a sense of marginalisation on the rest.

Unless Article 153 is dispensed with, and a real ‘needs basis’ national policy is developed as a genuine compassionate caring substitution for needy Malaysians, we might as well chuck out the bullsh*t (Khoo didn’t use this kayteemoc word) of Bangsa Malaysia.

Yes, unless Article 153 makes way for a non-apartheid-like affirmative action policy, some Malaysians will continue to have the perception that the Crown Prince of Kelantan has so pointedly reminded them of just a few days ago, that they were not or will their children be born equals.

Khoo accused Anwar of not being consistent. Of course Khoo said what kaytee has been saying all the while, and indeed for those devotees to check back statements Anwar made when he was in Abim and later UMNO Youth plus the many campaign speeches he made for UMNO during elections until 1995.

In fact kaytee has gone one step further and asked for his ministerial performances, not his version of them, to be evaluated.

Khoo said Anwar now sounds more moderate but he wants to see more results and not rhetoric. The proof of the pudding should be in the eating, and not just in the selling ad.

He concluded: We, voters, have given PR a chance but this mandate must not undermine the democratic process. Once the outcome is out, we cannot amend/change the results through the backdoors (party hopping). Such a practice will continue to breed cronyism and corruption.

No politician will jump ship without personal terms.

If PR can do well in the next 4-5 years, I will support them as the new government. Meanwhile, it is healthy to have a two-party system to promote check-and-balance.

And may I say ‘Amin’ to that.

To be continued ........ ;-)