What changes will the new Selangor MB bring?

PR’s leader of convenience

Announcing Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the candidate to replace Tan Sri Abduk Khalid Ibrahim, the PR supremo said that she was the “best person” and the “most suitable leader” for the job.

I have no doubt that Kak Wan is as capable as any other leader in the Malaysian political scene but I am sceptical that PR itself sees her as the “most suitable leader”. They only have to stretch their memory a little…

If we cast our minds back to July 31, 2008 when Dr Wan Azizah resigned from her seat of Permatang Pauh in the Dewan Rakyat just so that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could return to politics, it was seen as the most natural thing for her to do (“because she was only warming the seat for her husband’s return what…” was the standard response to her resignation).

At the time, I protested vehemently that a woman MP should have to resign her seat for another man just so that he could make a comeback.

I suggested then that it should have been the Selangor MB Khalid or the Penang CM Lim Guan Eng who should have resigned since they already had their arms full in being the state CEOs and anyway, it is not democratic for politicians to be both an MP and assemblyman at the same time.

This was also a principle passionately supported by the late Karpal Singh.

But as with most things political, the politicians did not have much time for such principles.

CMs and MBs were indispensable. I was surprised that Malaysian feminists in PR and in the NGOs did not protest either, after their constant demands for increasing the quota for women in politics and institutions.

I know what my comrade, the late Toni Kassim would have said about this rather convenient “Men’s candidature initiative”!

Isn’t it an ironic twist of fate that Khalid is today being hounded out of office by his erstwhile comrades who had praised him to high heaven as an awesome administrator who had managed to save RM3 billion in reserves for the state, while Kak Wan is now held as “the best person” for the job?

What changes are in store for Selangor?

Be that as it may, what changes can the people of Selangor hope to see after the deposition of Khalid and a new PR menteri besar is installed? Apart from structural changes at the top to prevent another rogue authoritarian who can apparently do what he wants, these are some of the changes the people of Selangor need and expect:

1. A solution to the water crisis

As some of the PR leaders have publicly announced, another round of water rationing is not acceptable.

The Selangor executive council has all along reassured the people of Selangor that they have the water situation under control.

They cannot pin all the blame for the current water crisis on Khalid’s shoulders, since they have a collective responsibility in the state government and they do have a voice.

We also need an undertaking that the new MB will not sell out the state in her negotiations with the private water concessionaires and pay them any more than what Khalid has offered.

Third, we expect the implementation of a sustainable water supply policy that centres on responsible water demand management and not populist giveaways.

2. A solution to the Bible confiscation fiasco

The people expect the Bibles confiscated by JAIS to be returned to their owners and an undertaking by the Selangor government that this outrage of religious rights will never be repeated.

We also expect the 1988 Islamic amendment to be repealed and to restore the status quo ante as suggested by three PR assemblymen when the controversy started.

3. No to Kidex

The people of Petaling Jaya do not want the Kidex highway and since the land belongs to the state, the state government has the authority to stop the project without professing helplessness that this is a federal project.

4. No to degazettement of the state park

Likewise, the people of Selangor will not allow any part of the state park to be degazetted for the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR), also known as the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE).

Again, it is within the powers of the state government to say “no” to this federal project. In fact, we want the Selangor government to regazette all permanent forest reserves which have been degazetted to date.

5. A sustainable and efficient solid waste disposal system

After six years in power, we still do not see a proper sustainable solid waste disposal system synchronised with a recycling system. Uncollected rubbish remains an eyesore throughout the state.

6. Properly maintained infrastructure

With RM3 billion in reserves, basic infrastructure such as roads, water pipes, sewerage systems and lamp-posts should be systematically maintained and upgraded but they are not.

7. An effective public transport system

Main towns, housing estates as well as outlying areas in Selangor are in dire need of an efficient public transport system, including a good and economical bus service.

8. Affordable housing

Provision of low-cost housing for the poor and marginalised with adequate space for community activities, recreation and green areas.

Apart from the gross shortage of housing for the lower-income families, what we witness are huge low-cost housing blocks cramming thousands of residents together into tiny apartments as a recipe for future slums.

9. Better social services

While many areas of public services such as health, education, social services and even public order are federal responsibilities, the state government can think outside the box to implement policies that can help the needy and ensure that these services are met.

These expectations are top of our people’s basic agenda and yet they remain unresolved. The jury is out on whether a new MB will be the “best person” to turn things around when the previous “best person” wasn’t able to.

PR needs to reform itself to ensure that there is democratic and collective leadership in the state government since the protracted MB squabble is an admission that this does not exist… Will they change too?