DAP weighed and found wanting

THE two most powerful Lims in the DAP-led state administration have been making the news for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks.

Audrey Dermawan, The New Straits Times

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng made headlines for two consecutive days when he was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and, subsequently, charged with two counts of corrupt practices at the Penang High Court.

He was released after posting a RM1 million bail with one surety and his case has been fixed for case management on Sept 22.

Since then, Guan Eng has been playing the victim card and crying “political persecution” by the ruling government, which was not exactly surprising, since he has been blaming Barisan Nasional (BN) for everything wrong in the state in the last eight years.

It is amazing to see the leaders of DAP and its allies, in Pakatan Harapan, rallying behind Guan Eng and giving all sorts of excuses to deny that they practise double standards when justifying why he is allowed to stay in his position despite being slapped with two counts of corruption.

After all, they are always quick to point fingers and call for others to relinquish their positions, more so when it comes to BN leaders.

Indeed, the excuses given by Pakatan (Yang Tak Ada) Harapan leaders, a moniker given by the People’s Alternative Party (PAP), have exposed their lack of principle, double standards and inability to walk the talk.

As BN strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan rightly pointed out, their stubborn and hypocritical defence of Guan Eng’s refusal to step aside, has forfeited all moral right to call for anyone else to step down in future.

Why bother to preach something when you yourself can’t practise it?

Then, there is state Public Works, Utility and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng who failed to control his emotions during a debate with Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng late last month.

Video recordings of Hock Seng uttering words such as bodoh, celaka, samseng and hooligan at BN supporters began making the rounds in social media as soon as the debate on the Penang undersea tunnel and three highways project ended.

Despite coming under heavy criticism, the state government, which has been accused of arrogance of late, has no intention to apologise or retract harsh language uttered during the debate.

To compound matters, the debate left many disappointed as many questions were not answered. Hock Seng had diverted the discussion to unrelated issues.

Liang had asked him why the state government paid for the construction in full and allowed the contractors to impose toll charges?

He also asked why the contractors were allowed to record a huge profit by just preparing the paperwork?

He also wanted to know why the state government had allowed the contractors to do feasibility studies instead of appointing its own contractor?

Isn’t this conflict of interest?

Instead of answering these questions, Hock Seng kept raising issues that angered BN supporters.

The people are asking why Hock Seng bothered to accept Gerakan’s challenge to debate when his intention was to avoid giving direct answers and accurate information to the public regarding mega projects in the state.

Even Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan told Hock Seng not to behave like a samseng if he couldn’t answer questions posed to him.

Seriously, are these the kind of leaders Penangites want to lead their beloved state?

Someone who is facing corruption charges?

Someone who berates others when under intense pressure?

Never before in Penang’s history has a chief minister been implicated in corruption.

With the 14th general election a little more than two years away, Penangites should start considering whether they want these people to represent them for another five years.

Are they game for a party which does not walk the talk?

Or arrogant leaders who have no qualms about berating others?

Do they prefer the devil they know than the devil they don’t?

The ball is in the court of some 1.6 million Penangites who will determine their own destiny as we move towards developed nation status in 2020.

The question is which path will they choose.

As for the two Lims, be prepared to come under close public scrutiny over the path that you have chosen, as every path has its puddle.