Pakatan should stop political appointments in GLCs
The big fuss over Penang GLC directorships shows that Pakatan is not practising what it preaches on Competency, Accountability and Transparency
The Pakatan Harapan government in Penang was recently embroiled in a controversy over the sacking of two PKR assemblymen from the boards of state government-linked-companies, InvestPenang and Penang Hill Corporation (PHC).
The termination of the services of Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah) and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga) was announced by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, in retaliation for their decision not to vote against an Umno motion to halt land reclamation projects in Penang.
PKR, however, defended its two state assemblymen, saying its elected representatives are allowed to vote according to their conscience and the people’s interests.
To add salt to the wound, the DAP-led state government appointed Seremban MP Anthony Loke to the board of PHC to replace Cheah.
The state government has reasoned that Loke’s appointment was based on his capacity as the party’s shadow minister for tourism and culture at the federal level while PKR leaders have argued that Loke was unfit for the position because he is not a Penangite.
Politicians and GLC
First of all, why should the Penang state government appoint politicians to sit in the board of directors of state GLCs?
Do these politicians really serve well and contribute their knowledge and expertise to the GLC concerned? I don’t subscribe to claims that these politicians could help the GLCs.
Why should the directorship of GLCs be a political appointment? These positions should be filled by those who are really qualified so that they can motivate these GLCs towards quality service and excellence.
If the GLC boards are filled by political appointees just to satisfy the lust of political parties to gain support, it would defeat the purpose as these politicians would be merely sitting there getting ‘gaji buta’ without contributing anything at all.
Furthermore, such appointments are also open to power abuse and corruption if they are not checked.
So, where is Pakatan Harapan’s pledge for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) which they have been fighting for all this while?
Such political appointments are certainly a Barisan Nasional legacy, and we wonder why Pakatan should continue with the practice.
