Lim fending off a third force

Ironically fighting on the same issues which Pakatan had campaigned on previously, it is proving to be a challenge for the chief minister in the run up to GE13.

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been facing a unique challenge to his political might in Penang since the start of this year – and it is not from the Barisan Nasional.

Instead, it is being mounted through the third force representation of Parti Cinta Malaysia, Kita and several Malay-based NGOs who claim to enjoy links with Lim’s ally – PAS.

Initially in 2008, it was BN, who played the opposition role although it was mostly muted as it was still struggling to come to terms with the fact it was no longer the state government.

This was then followed by several state PKR leaders who went rogue, such as former deputy chief minister Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin and ex-Penang PKR chairman Zahrain Mohd Hashim as well as Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

Besides dealing with their own internal party squabble, they encountered problems with Lim, portrayed by many within his inner circle as an uncomprising and strong-willed leader.

When the dust had settled, all three had quit PKR to either join BN, Kita or become Independent elected representative.

Lim’s administration was once again besieged, this time, it came from Malay-based NGOs such as Pajim and Perkasa with one, claiming to represent Penang PAS members.

They were the most vocal, ironically fighting for the same issues, which Pakatan had previously campaigned on, such as affordable housing, equality and human rights.

Lately, it is the third voice who raised contentious issues to the point of distracting Lim and his administration, which is gearing up for the next general election.

PCM exposed a land sale involving a DAP state assemblyman, especially when Lim had declared that no Pakatan rep should purchase any land during their tenure of the state.

Lim was forced to come the assemblyman’s defence, saying that he was merely re-acquiring his ancestral land and that the transaction was above board.

Still, eyebrows were raised as the issue had undermined Lim’s oft quoted CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) governance.

Tan had also revealed a car park at the foot of Penang Hill, which was constructed under the Penang Development Corporation’s clout and approved by the Pakatan government in 2008.

The car park was found to be defective and too narrow so much so only Kancil vehicle models could be accommodated. Tan lodge a report with the MACC about possible fraud.

He also raised the issue of whether the last remaining natural green lung, Penang Hill, would be subjected to redevelopment.

Such issues did resonate with the fence-sitters and the social activists, dominant in this highly critical pace of Penang.

Mustapa Amin, a member of an NGO, who specialises in education, said while Pakatan is performing well in Penang, it is prone to committing mistakes due to inexperience.

Mustapa said people would want to give the benefit of doubt to the government, as they need time and opportunity to show their capabilities and their key performance indicators.

“Any new employee undergoes a probationary period. It is the same with Pakatan and their own representatives,” he said.

‘Honeymoon over’

Mustapa claimed the issues raised to illustrate Pakatan’s weakness are not big enough to rock Lim’s administration, but there is uneasiness about Pakatan’s crisis management.

He declared that their honeymoon period as a state government is now effectively over, since an election is looming.

He said that Pakatan should reign in unsavoury forms of protests such as vandalism, rallies, which disrupt traffic and racial undertones before it affects the everyday lives of citizens.

For now, as PCM vice-president Huan Cheng Guan (photo) says, the third voice is basking in their role in pointing out shortcomings as they are not beholden to either BN or Pakatan.

“We criticise without fear or favour as we have the interests of the people,” said Huan, adding that PCM has intentions to contest at least five seats in Penang in the next election.

Tan, who is the sole Kita elected representative, is also considering the possibility of defending his Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat, or contest a state seat on the island.

Both are buoyed by the fact that the issues they are raising have caught the attention of the state government and certain quarters, giving rise to the possibility that they may have a degree of support if they chose to contest in the election.

Now, there is also a possibility that a former ally may turn into an adversary over the proposed RM300-million subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Center (sPICE) project.

Bukit Gelugor PKR division head Lim Boo Chang has openly questioned the process involved to approve the project, claiming it was “bulldozed” at the expense of the Penang Municipality’s autonomy.

For now, Pakatan has made a principled and strategic stand that the states under its control – Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Kelantan – may not dissolve its own respective state legislative assemblies even if Najib Tun Razak does not pave the way for the 13th general election.

Singapore-based political observer Jason Wong said that Pakatan has upped the ante on the importance of those states. If each of the four have separate elections then the country could be dealing with holding elections from now until next year, said Wong

“We may witness one round of parliamentary election, eight state elections followed by four other rounds of state elections instead of just one main Malaysian election as in the past,” added Wong.