`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Monday, May 13, 2013

Can BN and Pakatan leaders work together?


Academics voice out their opinions on what a Cabinet line-up should consist of and should Pakatan reps be invited to form the govt.
PETALING JAYA: Although some prefer the Cabinet line-up to consist of both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, some felt that such a notion would be impractical.
Aruna Gopinath of the National Defence University’s Faculty of Strategic Studies said that although it would be preferable for the Cabinet to have a participatory system where both BN and Pakatan leaders make up the line-up, she questioned the country’s readiness for it.
“I personally would want a participatory kind of system in the Cabinet line-up whereby the majority from both sides [BN and Pakatan] can work hand in glove.
“However, the question is, are we ready for that? I do not think the country is mature enough to accept such a line-up,” she said.
Aruna added that there is also the problem where the ruling government has never viewed the opposition as an entity that they could work with.
“They are probably worried that once the opposition is given some power, it would topple the ruling government.
“As an alternative, the Cabinet obviously needs experienced people to come in. Also, maybe representatives from NGOs can be drawn for the new line-up,” she said.
“It would be a difficult task for the prime minister to pick and choose who he can work with,” she concluded.
Not feasible
Political observer Khoo Kay Peng on the other hand said that a Cabinet line-up consisting of both BN and Pakatan leaders is simply not feasible.
“A Cabinet line-up made up of BN and Pakatan leaders is impossible as there have been no negotiations from both sides for this effort.
“The prime minister can propose this idea but I do not think anyone from Pakatan would take up the offer,” he said.
Khoo added that Pakatan leaders would probably question why they should be joining other BN leaders when perhaps BN should join them instead.
“However, it’s not a question of who joining who. Instead, both parties should reach a consensus so that they can focus on policies and issues of governance,” said Khoo.
He added that a Cabinet line-up consisting of both political and non-political leaders is more likely.
“This is probable as the prime minister would not want a Cabinet that does not represent the Malaysian society.
“It is a good move to include non-politicians in the Cabinet as long as people with the right credentials are chosen,” he said.
Meanwhile, founding director of National University Malaysia’s (UKM) Institute of Ethnic Studies Shamsul Amri Baharuddin was totally opposed of the idea of a Cabinet made up of both BN and Pakatan leaders.
“When Pakatan is trying to unseat the BN government, why should BN be magnanimous! The only position that Pakatan wants is the prime minister’s post, and that is not possible,” he said.
With regard to new faces to be included in the Cabinet, Shamsul said that a mixture of both old and new faces is always good.
“But the BN cabinet is always about quota, which party and state gets what and how many. In that process, the young and old may not be that critical,” he said.
On whether technocrats should be included in the line-up, Shamsul said: “This has been tried but it did not work well because the political factor still influences strongly in decision-making, which did not help the technocrats.”
He added that although the Cabinet should consist of both political and non-political leaders, it would be difficult to put into practice.
“Although it is ideal, it is difficult to practice in the current system. There is so much at stake materially embedded in a ministerial position for an idealist to fit in,” he said.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.