13 MPs face the acid test
(The Star) – A group of concerned citizens have launched an online survey for the public to evaluate the performance of Penang’s 13 parliamentarians.
Calling themselves Tsunami Factor, they have come together to conduct the survey to let Malaysians, particularly Penangites, rate the KPI (key performance index) of the state’s 10 Pakatan Rakyat, two Barisan Nasional and one Independent MP.
Group spokesman Lim Cheng Hee said it was time people have an avenue to give their opinion.
“We want people to express their views in an open and constructive manner rather than engage in pointless mudslinging,” he told a press conference on Wednesday ahead of the third anniversary of the country’s political tsunami.
The first part of the survey will run until March 8, covering four MPs.
The MPs are DAP’s Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung), Dr P. Ramasamy (Batu Kawan) and Jeff Ooi (Jelutong) as well as Independent Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim.
Chow is also state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman, Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II, Ooi is Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s chief of staff and Zahrain is a former state PKR leader.
Lim said each week, four MPs would be chosen randomly for a week-long survey and the results would be made known later.
“We are looking at conducting similar surveys on all 40 state assemblymen and Barisan coordinators in future.
“If the response is good, we plan to extend it to the rest of the country,” he added.
“We’re not out to point fingers at anyone. We hope the MPs will take the opportunity to reflect on how they have performed,” he added.
Chow welcomed the survey, saying it was normal for elected representatives to be scrutinised.
“I hope the survey will enable MPs and state assemblymen to further understand the needs of their constituencies,” he said.
Ooi and Dr Ramasamy, however, expressed surprise over the survey.
“They should engage the constituency stakeholders, especially the parliamentarians and state assemblymen and make it clear on what they hope to achieve,” said Ooi.
“I too hope that the survey have a mechanism in place to ensure the data’s accuracy,” he added.
Dr Ramasamy said it would be good if there was a way to know the respondents were from the respective constituencies as outsiders might not be able to judge objectively.
Members of the public can go to the website http://penangsurvey.co.cc to participate in the survey.
