Pakatan’s snake-oil
Pakatan Harapan and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed appear to be on the threshold of forming a new political coalition that would finally oust the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
How many times have we all heard that before? Ever since the Kajang Move, the only story that the politicians from Pakatan has bothered feeding the public is the same old one – that this latest move would spell the doom of BN.
It was the same story after Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was ousted as Selangor Menteri Besar, because Pakatan would be stronger than ever.
It was the same story when DAP dissolved Pakatan Rakyat and disavowed PAS, though PKR has been a bit more sheepish about which partner they preferred even though both DAP and PAS have repeatedly asked PKR to choose.
It was again the same story when Parti Amanah Negara was formed, too.
All the fanfare seems to paint the picture that Pakatan is only interested in destroying BN. In fact, it has been repeated so many times that it has become an unhealthy obsession.
What about addressing the concerns and issues of the states that the opposition governs? What about fulfilling the pledges and promises?
Except that promises are not legally binding as ruled by the Appeals Court in 2013. Here’s what Pakatan’s lawyer argued and was accepted by the judge:
Justice Hishamudin agreed with the submission forwarded by lawyer A Vishnu Kumar representing the Selangor government and Khalid that the manifesto was not a legally binding document.
Vishu had submitted that a person who was aggrieved over the unfulfillment of an election manifesto cannot seek to enforce the manifesto.
Vishnu said their remedy was of a political one citing English court cases including one by renowned judge Lord Denning who had pronounced that voters’ remedy for non-fulfillment of election promises lies in the ballot box.
In fact, Pakatan has demonstrated numerous times that they are not in the business of fulfilling their promises.
Case in point, the privatised toll highways that have been approved by Pakatan with construction starting August this year. Before the 2013 general elections, it was “we will abolish all toll highways.”
After the elections, the excuses ranged from “that was the manifesto in the event we win the federal government” to “read the fine print.”
As an affected resident who was sold this promise and who voted for Pakatan based on these promises, this betrayal is akin to those of unscrupulous salesmen who sell empty promises. Semua cakap tak serupa bikin. Do what I say, not what I do.
But let us come back to Pakatan’s pledge to destroy BN. Are they really pledging that or is the pledge another one of those promises that gets twisted and we are all asked to read the fine print later?
Instead of actually destroying BN, they make backdoor deals and suddenly everyone is friends again just like how the Selangor government is working with BN to develop the highways. Just like how DAP and PAS are no longer in the same coalition but you know, they need to be in the same government anyway because they want to keep an eye on each other – to prevent Hudud kononnya.
When they end up compromising in the future, DAP and PKR might just say they are in the same government with Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC because, you know, they must ensure the other side is not corrupt.
Dear Pakatan. Stop your salesman pitch. Saya dah beli dua kali dah dan mendapati produk kamu tak setaraf dengan apa yang dijanjikan. Semuanya ada cop BN juga akhirnya.
Agos Hasan
Citizen That’s Had Enough of Lies & Empty Promises
