PKR Turning Into Another Multiracial UMNO?
I have had many run-ins with the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng. We have had a fair share of disagreements. But on many socio-political issues in this country, we are on the same page.
This is one thing that I must stand on the side of Chief Minister Lim. On June 2, the Penang state government had appointed the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) acting president, Tan Cheng Chui, as president of the MPPP. Tan is a career civil servant.
I was told that the chief minister wanted to depoliticize the local councils by appointing civil servants who have the experience and expertise to helm the councils. Tan's appointment is supposed to usher in a new era of better local council services to taxpayers like myself.
Similarly, the state government has appointed a civil servant to helm the trouble riddled MPSP. This move was not well received by PKR's MPSP councillors. Majority of PKR's Seberang Perai (MPSP) councillors today boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of their new president Mokthar Mohd Jait.
The boycott was called in protest of the appointment of a civil servant to head MPSP. The councillors claimed that it was agreed previously that a politician would be put at the helm as and until local elections are introduced.
