FORGET IT, Perakians still won't accept you as MB: Zambry's humble beginnings

GRASSROOTS-BASED: When we arrive at 10pm on Tuesday, it is plain -- and certainly unnerving -- to see that security at Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's official residence in Ipoh is virtually non-existent. There is a function at the hall inside the compound, after which the affable Zambry gives us an hour of his time. After us, he has more meetings lasting right into the wee hours. Sleep-starved though he may be, Zambry remains alert as he speaks to Rashid Yusof, Yushaimi Yahaya and Audrey Dermawan

Question: Malaysians have little knowledge of the kind of routine, lifestyle, timetable, difficulties and hardship a politician like you, as menteri besar, goes through daily. Do you get enough sleep every day?

Answer: Ah! By normal standards, no.

Question: Why is that so?

Answer: Because (chuckle) many things have to be done and I have to attend a series of meetings. There is a lot of work and a number of activities to be carried out. A lot of thought must be given to the meetings and series of ceramah and so on. So, normally, I don't go to bed before midnight. It is normally after 2am or 3am. It all depends. Like tonight, it's going to be 3am (after the interview with the New Sunday Times that went past midnight, Zambry had to chair another meeting). So, normally, I sleep for four hours, which is enough for me.

Question: So, you will be up early and by then, people are already lining up to talk to you?

Answer: Very early.

Question: Typically, you have meetings from 6am to 2am, and sometimes those without appointments turn up and you can't say no (to them).

Answer: You can't, you can't. I practise this "open door" policy. We have been doing this since I became menteri besar. I don't want to compare myself to my predecessors, especially that 11-month predecessor (Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin). (Back then) his kediaman (house) was considered personal and private. No one (was) allowed to have this kind of programmes.

Question: Can we describe security at your gate as "liberal"?

Answer: Very, very open. Even (in the) middle of the night. But there are some security issues involved. Sometimes, they (security) ask us to tighten things a bit. There was a suggestion that a palang (barrier) be installed. I said no way. I won't allow it. I compromised by putting up closed-circuit TV cameras. As much as we have to beef up security, the most important thing is to meet the rakyat, especially if there are issues to be solved.

Question: I caught the tail-end of your speech (Zambry had a get-together with Perak-based non-governmental organisations prior to the interview) and saw you huddled with a group of Chinese. All this you do faithfully, sometimes with little promise or indication of winning votes from particular constituencies. Do you have to endure all this, conceal your emotions and continue the engagement?

Answer: Yes. I believe in engagement. As far as Barisan Nasional is concerned, because of the continuous onslaught by the opposition, we need this process of engagement. Of course, we may not be able to solve the issues within one day. We are not doing this just because (the 13th general) election is around the corner. I have been doing it for the past four years, from the very day I became menteri besar. I even went down, met up with groups of people, including newspapers vendors. I am grassroots-based. I know who I am. I am not a charismatic leader. I am just a kampung boy from humble beginnings. I know myself. What we are doing now is micro-managing the people. You cannot simply put everything into a box. People now are quite segmented in their needs. It is our role as leaders to understand the needs, aspirations and hopes of the people. You must go down to further look into each particular need, create good contacts and understand them. I need to do more of this engagement to understand them, and hope that their perception might change.

Question: This must be a humbling experience, a big learning experience for you?

Answer: It is. As you know, I didn't start from above. I started from the bottom. You know my political journey (in Umno), how I started as a member of the party, went up to become ketua cawangan (branch chief), ketua Pemuda bahagian (division Youth chief), then ketua Pemuda negeri (state Youth chief) and exco Pemuda Malaysia (national Youth exco).

Question: Is there a sense that society is polarised now compared with when you first started?

Answer: In certain aspects, yes, because this is what is happening now. It is unfortunate that we allow for vested interests, especially in politics. I think we have to work harder because there are bigger issues at hand or in front of us. But at the same time, we have some opportunists who will capitalise on every possible opportunity towards their political own ends. So, this is the problem we are facing. In the case of BN, I think what (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak is doing is very much welcomed. If you look at 1Malaysia, in a way, (it is) to break the stigma and barriers we have inherited all this while.

Question: How relevant do you think the Perak constitutional crisis is now? When people talk about Perak, they always refer to its effects.

Answer: The effects? Whenever the issue is raised, I always go back to the root of the problem. I always raise this because it is very pertinent for people to refresh their minds. It is not about the so-called constitutional crisis, it is about how it all started. It is very important. I affirm my views on this. I know some people may say: is there going to be another referendum this time around? I say none at all because you have to ask yourselves, what was it for? The problem is the way everything has been spun into making people believe that we actually staged a power grab for the state. But in fact, it was not the case. The power grab was attempted by them. (It) is not by us. The Sept 16 incident involved a national issue. In our context, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim started the whole thing. Do you remember when some of our state assemblymen were lured by him? That is what I told the Chinese press because people say the Chinese remember this episode. But I can say people now don't talk (about the issue) so much. I am not saying that I managed to bring stability to the state over the last four years. But we are working consistently to convince the people. To bring back the people.

Economic confidence is also very important. That is one yardstick for the state's development. Because of the so-called change of government, some economists and experts had said we were going to go "kaput" (die) economically and there would be no investments coming in. But that prediction has fallen flat. Our economy has grown. We brought change economically. And (you) can see the growth rate in Perak as well.

But coming back to your question, I believe people will look at the overall perspective and analyse what we have done over the last four years or so, and what the loose coalition did in their 11 months. On that score, the people will look at it and make their own decision. I don't want to be arrogant and say that I am not worried about this issue but now, if you go around, the Perak people are talking about which party can bring better (things) to the people rather than the referendum issue. No doubt the opposition is trying to harp on this, but you see people don't really buy into it any more.

I do not play to the opposition's tune. I just focus on issues that matter and those that will benefit the people.

Question: So, your immediate challenge now is to avoid a similarly hung assembly, a constitutional crisis. How are you treating the so-called "warlords" of Perak Umno?

Answer: There must be mutual respect. I don't like to use the word "warlords", I would rather use "elders". (It is a more) politically correct word. So, this understanding, engagement, humility, is the answer. I position myself, not as a man of power, not the imposing, dominating type, but choose the more musyawarah (consultative), consensus building approach and seek their advice. Because of my humility and respect for them and the exchanging of views, it allows them to understand the new reality.

Question: Sabotaging within Umno contributed to setbacks suffered by BN in the last election. What are you going to do this time around?

Answer: The reading of the political scenario then was different and the psychological make-up of the then elected representatives and division chiefs were also different. But in many ways, I think 2008 really provided lots of lessons. They cannot look at their own interests or be very individualistic.

Now, I believe all of them have agreed to look at the larger perspective to ensure BN wins this time around.

Question: Do you think it is a good idea to announce the candidates early?

Answer: There are pros and cons. The pros are that people can evaluate them. Any small hiccup within the political parties can be rectified. That is what some people say. Another perspective (is that it) can also expose potential candidates to possible fitnah (slander) and protests that will further prolong the issue.

Question: Naturally, Umno wants to get into a process of rejuvenation this time around, try to showcase new, perhaps younger, faces. Can you describe to us the qualities you're looking for?

Answer: The qualities as alluded to by the PM -- they must be winnable. We need to present a new BN. It must not be forgotten that at the end of the day, BN's politics itself is about the art of communicating with the people, performing, connecting with the people. Degrees, academic background and professionalism are prerequisites but we also need to have a real politician who can go down to the ground and understand the political terrain. We need to have these attributes while projecting the new image of BN... a new image in the sense of ideas and personalities. Also bear in mind, we have a diverse coalition in terms of age group. We need to project a new BN this time around. Political transformation is one of the things we have to promote.

Question: Taking a cue from your narrative of the kind of routine you go through, I would assume the qualities mentioned would naturally include a willingness to contain emotions and desires, not to pursue personal ambition?

Answer: I love to hear that (taking a cue from your narrative) because I am reading Edward Gibbon now. You have summed it up in a very nice way. That is very important. Like the PM said, you must be a selfless leader, a transformative leader as well as servant-leader.

Question: So, these ideal candidates, have you identified them?

Answer: The description is subjective. (It) all depends on how people view them. They must fulfil the criteria the people want. While you try to put up this very, very high quality, you have to understand that you must have the flexibility and pragmatism when dealing with society. To sum it up, to be a wakil rakyat, you have to go back to the people -- what's most important is whether you are a service-oriented leader or not. That's it. If you are not seen, or come in your big car only during the general election, never mix with the rakyat, you shouldn't be a wakil rakyat.

Question: You must have interviewed the candidates for Perak? Screened them?

Answer: I did for the past four years. Informally.

Question: The new faces in the coming election are from within?

Answer: Some within, some... that will be interesting.

Question: Some of the Umno candidates will be fresh? Roughly half of them?

Answer: If I say so, I will be going against the PM... that is my answer.

- New Straits Times