DCM issue: PR falling into BN-style politics
THE prolonged vacancy of the Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) 1 post shows the pitfalls of Barisan Nasional-style politics and governance that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government there appears to have fallen into.
The DAP-led state government, helmed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, should not have to depend on PR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to decide on what is essentially a public office issue.
Political analyst Khoo Kay Pheng is of the view that it is Lim's prerogative as head of Penang to appoint another assemblyperson on merit to be the new DCM 1 or even an acting DCM to replace Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.
"But his hands are tied because the post has been promised to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) under Pakatan Rakyat's power-sharing agreement. It is not that different from the race-based BN political culture, and this is disappointing," Khoo tells The Nut Graph.
Lim said in a statement in Penang today that although he was disappointed with the delayed announcement, he accepted that Anwar had to face "political pressures" in making a decision.
Lim said even though he had the prerogative as chief minister to appoint a replacement, he believed in consulting and waiting for Anwar to decide after resolving internal PKR matters.
