Pakatan ‘mocking people’s mandate’
Ahmad Soffian Mohd Shariff
WHAT is Selangor worth? The Selangor menteri besar crisis is affecting not only the state executive council but also the people. It seems that the Pakatan-led state government is practising dirty politics within its own circle. While politicians from DAP and PKR are having a field day criticising the leadership of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Pas is put into a tight spot.
Pas now has the power to change not only the Selangor government, but also the political landscape of Malaysia if they do the right thing. However, if Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is to take over as menteri besar, Pakatan will lose the support of voters who are still on the fence, the bloc that secured their victories in the last two general elections.
It’s a “lose-lose” situation for Pakatan and, as usual, they are pointing fingers at Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Umno and BN seem preoccupied with the welfare of the people, unlike Pakatan, which is still holding political ceramah, despite winning Selangor.
This seems to have a positive effect, as the people of Selangor now know who will help them when they are in need. The poor, the sick and the helpless are flocking to BN’s community outreach centres as many are abandoned by their Pakatan representatives because of excessive politicking. But hey, just blame it on Umno, and the people will eat it up.
As a resident of Shah Alam, I don’t think Pakatan is doing anything to protect the interests of the people. Yes, they have collected a lot of money by selling state assets. They even put up billboards and banners stating the accumulated money in the state’s coffers, disregarding the fact that these assets were bought by the previous administration to help the people of Selangor.
The current menteri besar has also failed to provide a better waste management system, neglected the maintenance of roads and brought water supply problems that have plagued the people for years. And this came from the person who devised the 1981 “Dawn Raid” on the London Stock Exchange, which brought then British-owned plantation company Guthrie under Malaysian ownership, making the country proud.
Now they want to change this menteri besar with another person, who has a bad record in her own constituency. She was dragged out of the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat and then shoved into the Kajang state seat. She did nothing in both constituencies. It was reported that she claimed in one interview that she was a puppet for her husband. So, how can she manage one of the wealthiest states in the country?
They are mocking the mandate of the people by fighting each other for the menteri besar’s post. Selangor is just another political means for them to take over Malaysia. They don’t care about the people of Selangor. All they want is the position and the financial support that the state can offer.
