Where is the change Pakatan promised?

A reader responds to comments on his piece, “Pakatan, no more same-same bullshit please!”

COMMENT

By Wong Mun Loong

Thank you readers for the comments and brickbats after reading my piece “Pakatan, no more same-same bullshit please!”

First, we live in a parliamentary democracy. This means a representative system where the Prime Minister and the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister is voted in and confirmed by the majority of assemblypersons.

This is Politics 101 and Democracy for Dummies.

Should Khalid have resigned when he had lost the confidence of his party? No. If he, however, loses the confidence of the state assembly, he should resign.

In the present case, when should the Sultan intervene? There are reserve powers in the constitution and the Sultan has the authority to act and dismiss the state assembly on the advice of the MB or the acting MB.

Again, this is Westminster-style democracy. And there are precedents for this overseas but sadly I will be indicted.

I have been called a Barisan Nasional mah-chai. Sadly, such comments are puerile and infantile and deserve to be dumped as it is utter rubbish.

I have never voted for BN in any parliamentary election but have spent over 35 years campaigning and working to foster an alternative society in Malaysia that is more open and democratic.

As for politics being a game, yes, it’s a political game but why should it be at the expense of the people and citizens of the state?

Some also say it is better the devil you know (as opposed to the one you don’t). Alas, that is sad – we go for poor and fake substitutes and idolise them only to find the ‘emperor really has no clothes’ because it’s all a sham.

My point is that we voted for the opposition because we wanted change and we wanted a better government.

If that is the case, surely they would have to be accountable and held to a higher standard than what the other side is offering.

The alternate government should lead by example and not claim post-facto rationalisations of facts to support their political gaming and strategising.

Is this an illusion or are we all so desperate that we seek false gods and prophets to make us feel secure.

The fact remains: Selangor has the highest incidence of dengue. Selangorians can barely breathe because of the haze (made worse by open burning in the state) and the management of waste leaves much to be desired.

We have elected state representatives to look after our interests. If they cannot do this, or protect us or ensure our safety and well-being, should we not be asking questions and demanding answers from them?

Or should we just accept them and keep paying them to be sleeping drongos?

There are some who say the people did not vote for Khalid but for Pakatan Rakyat. Some also accused me of assuming people voted for Khalid.

The second is a silly proposition and really demands something which cannot be proven by anyone in any country save for those who voted in a presidential-style democracy.

So, it is not worth going down that track but suffice to say that Pakatan went to the people with its record and Khalid at the helm and ipso facto, any sane and rational person can infer that Khalid was the focus, not the party.

Similarly, the claim that “I did not vote for Khalid” is just a fig-leaf defence.

In Westminster-style constitutional democracies, typically, the PM or CM or MB is appointed by royal decree and generally the party with the most seats gets to nominate the candidate.

In Malaysia, there are political exigencies and whilst some of us may not agree with these ‘political realities’, it is the system through which we work in and work through that enable reforms to take place.

I think I have said enough and thanks for the comments.

I remain Wong Mun Loong and look forward to your thoughts and comments. Although I have refrained from responding in the past, I did this time as I believe democracy is best served through dialogue and a willingness to engage despite our differences.

Thank you and all the best.

Wong Mun Loong is a FMT reader