Dr M's obsolete gimmicks won't solve anything
Arunasalam PPublished: May 18, 2009 8:43 AM | Updated: May 18, 2009 8:44 AM
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dr M: Pakatan will win Perak snap polls.
When I read Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that he is against a snap election in Perak because he fears that Pakatan Rakyat might win the election, I was amused.
Whilst he is entitled to his opinion, he should also realise that his statement does not reflect the views of the Perak voters and Malaysians in general. Sometimes, I am confused at what Mahathir is reaching at.
Being a statesman, he should have said that the best way out of this political crisis is to hold a fresh election and not undermine the desires of the rakyat and voters. He should also stop giving slanted views in the media that inflame the feelings of the rakyat.
The simple question that ought to be asked is how could any government with equal number of seats, in this case 28 from Pakatan Rakyat and 28 from Barisan Nasional ever rule a state and serve the people effectively?
The three tainted ‘political frogs' that jumped ponds, became independent and caused this problem should be discounted for their position in the state assembly and only stand as independent members.
Unless they crossover to BN, only then can we then safely say that the BN has a simple majority in the Perak assembly. We don't have to be an Einstein to understand that in Perak where the assembly is equally represented by two political groupings, it is a hung government. H
ow on earth can a hung government ever function effectively and serve the state and its people?
So to suggest that a snap state election is costly, a waste of time and that BN would lose is nothing more than giving lame excuses. It is fundamental that in any democratic system, the will of the people should prevail.
There is no way any right-thinking person would ever buy Mahathir's opinion. He is merely attempting to influence the people with his obsolete gimmicks and it does not in anyway contribute to solving the crisis faced by Perakians.
The wisest thing that BN and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should do is to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy in its true sense and support the call for a fresh elections and allow the people of Perak to decide once and for all on who should govern the state and serve their needs.
By doing so, BN would perhaps salvage it's sinking image and gain some recognition. By not heeding to the wishes of the people, BN is heading towards a disastrous consequence. It is better to take one step backward and take two steps forward later.
It is also shocking to see the PM - who was solely responsible for the crisis in Perak - kick the ball into the Sultan's court. How on earth can this be accepted from the person who created the crisis?
Why ask His Majesty the Sultan of Perak to decide on the political crisis which was created by none other than Najib himself? It should be Najib who should take the lead and join forces with Pakatan to seek the dissolution of the state assembly.
It appears that Najib is too embarrassed to admit his mistake or fearful of losing the state to Pakatan Rakyat. If he has a heart for the rakyat and is truly a ‘people's prime minister' as he wishes to be known, he should support the dissolution of the Perak state assembly and call for a snap election.
Winning or losing is part of the democratic system and process. With the controlled media, a government-friendly Election Commission and a massive election machinery at his disposal, he should not even doubt for a minute on the strength of Barisan Nasional in wresting control of Perak in a snap election.
I would urge the PM to give it a fight and let the voters of Perak decide once and for all. It is a waste of time, energy and money fighting this impasse in the courts. The public opinion generated in this crisis does not favour the BN and does not auger well for the democratic system of governance in Malaysia.
The longer this crisis continues, the more it would adversely affect this nation and its democratic system. The best judges are none other than the voters and it is of cardinal importance that their wishes be respected.
The courts cannot be the best judge in this crisis and neither can it usurp the rights of the voters. Critics of the courts have questioned the legitimacy of the court's activities and the propriety of the courts in intruding upon the legislative and executive functions.
This crisis would cast a dark shadow on our judiciary if it were to act contrary to democratic values or intrude upon legislative and executive functions. The courts should respect and guard Malaysian constitutionalism and not be swayed into making interpretations or common law decisions that would have far-reaching implications on the very foundation of our democracy, legislative bodies and executive functions.
Judges come and go but their decision stay. I urge for common sense to prevail and let the people of Perak decide through the ballot box even if this means that the government has to spend a few million ringgit for elections.
When I read Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that he is against a snap election in Perak because he fears that Pakatan Rakyat might win the election, I was amused.
Whilst he is entitled to his opinion, he should also realise that his statement does not reflect the views of the Perak voters and Malaysians in general. Sometimes, I am confused at what Mahathir is reaching at.
Being a statesman, he should have said that the best way out of this political crisis is to hold a fresh election and not undermine the desires of the rakyat and voters. He should also stop giving slanted views in the media that inflame the feelings of the rakyat.
The simple question that ought to be asked is how could any government with equal number of seats, in this case 28 from Pakatan Rakyat and 28 from Barisan Nasional ever rule a state and serve the people effectively?
The three tainted ‘political frogs' that jumped ponds, became independent and caused this problem should be discounted for their position in the state assembly and only stand as independent members.
Unless they crossover to BN, only then can we then safely say that the BN has a simple majority in the Perak assembly. We don't have to be an Einstein to understand that in Perak where the assembly is equally represented by two political groupings, it is a hung government. H
ow on earth can a hung government ever function effectively and serve the state and its people?
So to suggest that a snap state election is costly, a waste of time and that BN would lose is nothing more than giving lame excuses. It is fundamental that in any democratic system, the will of the people should prevail.
There is no way any right-thinking person would ever buy Mahathir's opinion. He is merely attempting to influence the people with his obsolete gimmicks and it does not in anyway contribute to solving the crisis faced by Perakians.
The wisest thing that BN and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should do is to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy in its true sense and support the call for a fresh elections and allow the people of Perak to decide once and for all on who should govern the state and serve their needs.
By doing so, BN would perhaps salvage it's sinking image and gain some recognition. By not heeding to the wishes of the people, BN is heading towards a disastrous consequence. It is better to take one step backward and take two steps forward later.
It is also shocking to see the PM - who was solely responsible for the crisis in Perak - kick the ball into the Sultan's court. How on earth can this be accepted from the person who created the crisis?
Why ask His Majesty the Sultan of Perak to decide on the political crisis which was created by none other than Najib himself? It should be Najib who should take the lead and join forces with Pakatan to seek the dissolution of the state assembly.
It appears that Najib is too embarrassed to admit his mistake or fearful of losing the state to Pakatan Rakyat. If he has a heart for the rakyat and is truly a ‘people's prime minister' as he wishes to be known, he should support the dissolution of the Perak state assembly and call for a snap election.
Winning or losing is part of the democratic system and process. With the controlled media, a government-friendly Election Commission and a massive election machinery at his disposal, he should not even doubt for a minute on the strength of Barisan Nasional in wresting control of Perak in a snap election.
I would urge the PM to give it a fight and let the voters of Perak decide once and for all. It is a waste of time, energy and money fighting this impasse in the courts. The public opinion generated in this crisis does not favour the BN and does not auger well for the democratic system of governance in Malaysia.
The longer this crisis continues, the more it would adversely affect this nation and its democratic system. The best judges are none other than the voters and it is of cardinal importance that their wishes be respected.
The courts cannot be the best judge in this crisis and neither can it usurp the rights of the voters. Critics of the courts have questioned the legitimacy of the court's activities and the propriety of the courts in intruding upon the legislative and executive functions.
This crisis would cast a dark shadow on our judiciary if it were to act contrary to democratic values or intrude upon legislative and executive functions. The courts should respect and guard Malaysian constitutionalism and not be swayed into making interpretations or common law decisions that would have far-reaching implications on the very foundation of our democracy, legislative bodies and executive functions.
Judges come and go but their decision stay. I urge for common sense to prevail and let the people of Perak decide through the ballot box even if this means that the government has to spend a few million ringgit for elections.
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