Roles swapped in Penang, but not mentality

They may have swapped roles, but not their mentality.

This was the general observation of those witnessing the Penang legislative assembly sitting, which entered into its second day today.

It appears that several backbenchers from the DAP-led Penang government and opposition Barisan Nasional assemblypersons have yet to settle into their new roles.

Both sides look more contented with taking potshots and trading barbs instead of engaging in a constructive debates on policy issues.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had reminded all assemblypersons to use the eight-day sitting as a forum to address key issues affecting Penangites and the state’s development.

But it was obvious that some of the elected representatives have ignored this call.

When engaged in arguments, both sides are more keen on hitting out at each other perhaps because of their inexperience in their new positions.

For instance, when a BN assemblyperson raised the flood situation in his constituency yesterday, he merely criticised the four-month old state government 'for not doing anything about it' without suggesting any action plan.

At this juncture, several backbenchers jumped to the defence of the state government, promptly claiming, in typical opposition fashion, that flood problems in Penang was a BN legacy.

'All-Malay opposition'

MCA's former Jawi assemblyperson Tan Cheng Liang, who has been attending the sitting as an observer, said the elected representatives have to be given more time to adjust to their new roles.

"Not all of them are guilty of politicising the sitting. Several of them are doing well," she said.

MCA, like Gerakan, lost all state and parliamentary seats it contested in Penang in the March 8 polls. The parties have assigned its former assemblypersons to attend the sitting as observers.

A lively backbencher during the previous three terms, Tan however, admitted that BN assemblypersons from Umno must get accustomed quickly to play an effective and decisive opposition role

"Otherwise it will not help BN in the long run," she said.

One BN assemblyperson apparently told Tan that he could not get rid off his government mentality and was always tempted to reply to questions raised by his political colleagues.

"The assemblyperson was still thinking he was from the ruling party. They may have swapped their seats, but have not swapped their mindsets," she told Malaysiakini.

This is the first time in Penang's political history, the state legislative assembly does not have a single non-Malay opposition member.

Since all 11 opposition BN elected representatives are from Umno, Gerakan has also assigned a team of observers to provide information and feedback to the opposition bench on issues not familiar to them such as non-Malay matters.

Former Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Wong Mun Hoe said Gerakan's team would try to play an effective opposition role from the outside to provide the decisive check and balance to the present state government.

"We are also learning to become the opposition since we have no experience at all in it," he told Malaysiakini.

He admitted that several Pakatan Rakyat and BN assemblypersons have yet to perform their roles as "constructive and effective" backbenchers and opposition respectively.

"But once they have gained the experience along the way, I am sure their performance would be better and the debates would be livelier," he said.