Pakatan Must Clarify Their Flip Flop

Dr Mah Hang Soon 

Present among rally goers on 31 March 2012 protesting against the multi billion Ringgit Brazilian mining giant Vale iron ore distribution centre and iron pelleting project located at Taluk Rubiah, were Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen, namely Pasir Panjang representative and former Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin, Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham (Sitiawan), former Perak speaker V Sivakumar (Tronoh), and Wong Kar Woh (Canning).

Now that Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abd Kadi has declassified documents from the Menteri Besar’s office which clearly shows Nizar’s signature backing the Vale plant as well as the reassurance of the Perak state government to respond accordingly to the decision of MITI by providing all necessary supports and assistance for the plant’s successful implementation, we see their volte-face.

With the empirical evidence produced flat in their faces, Perak Opposition leaders have nowhere to hide. They are thus self-compelled to switch positions to save themselves from further humiliation given that their deception has been foiled. Nizar now supports the plant, while other senior PR leaders had reportedly apologized to Zambry.

Protesting for the sake of protesting

The Pakatan state assemblymen’s presence at the protest would suggest that they disagreed with the Vale iron ore processing plant. But that is not the case as they were demonstrating merely for the sake of rebel rousing to push for political mileage devoid of any meaningful intent.

Considering that PAS-led states of Kelantan and Kedah lag behind all other states on the Peninsular in terms of attracting FDI given their regressive policies which discourage investments and commerce, when Perak was led by a PAS Menteri Besar, it comes as no surprise that attendance at the protest is a continuation of PAS policies to stifle economic growth.

What is Perak Pakatan’s stand now for joining the 31 Mar rally ?

With the about-turn by Perak Pakatan leaders, they now must clarify:

What actually was their purpose for participating in last week’s demonstration? Was it to genuinely oppose the Vale plant which brings in millions of FDI, job opportunities thereby boosting the local economy? Or was it merely an exercise targeted to beguile and instigate the rakyat against the BN government leveraging on public sentiment against the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng?

Will Perak Pakatan representatives now voice regret for joining in the protest given their back-pedalling?

I am saddened that my counterparts on the opposite fence are more keen in just taking part in demonstrations, one after another, rather than supporting and working towards initiatives meant to develop the local economy which will benefit all Perakians irrespective of political ideology.

 

DR MAH HANG SOON is MCA Youth Perak Chairman