After V, it's time for D... ( 2 )
September 16, the date touted for a post-GE2008 regime change that did not happen, had come and gone.
I had anticipated for a Pakatan Rakyat shadow cabinet to be formed soon after the Parliament sessions resumed after the long puasa and hari raya break in October. The parliamentary Opposition has the burden of parading its team to the electorate that it has the ability and capacity to run the country anytime it happens.
Anwar Ibrahim has long been postured as the Prime Minister-in-waiting. It's not counting the eggs before they are hatched, but what is more important to Malaysians is that there must be a Cabinet-in-Waiting, that he has a credible team that can run this country better than BN.
That, too, did not happen.
November 28, the day DAP Penang held its Victory Dinner, a loose coalition of NGOs calling themselves Civil Society Organizations issued a joint statement, saying it's time for a PR Shadow Cabinet. Excerpts:
We, the undersigned civil society groups call upon the Pakatan Rakyat to set up a shadow cabinet as soon as possible. Positioning himself as the prime minister-in-waiting, Anwar Ibrahim must present his team of ministers-in-waiting not later than his rival Najib Razak announces his line-up in March.Shadow cabinet is a common feature in Westminster democracy as it indicates the opposition's readiness to take over the governing task if the incumbent government is defeated in a parliamentary no-confidence vote or an election.
We hold that there are three compelling reasons for the Pakatan Rakyat to announce its line-up as soon as possible.
First, it facilitates division of labour amongst PR parliamentarians and provides stronger check and balance to BN frontbenchers. The public has no idea at the moment now which PR parliamentarian can speak authoritatively on a particular policy domain like labour, education or environment. Such assignment of portfolio would enhance the participation of civil society and individual citizens in public policy formulation.
Secondly, a shadow cabinet also helps to consolidate the policy position of PR component parties. It results in responsibility on the part of the frontbenchers to persuade all the parties to sign up to some common positions. This would reduce public confusion which often happens now when the parties contradict each other in public.
Thirdly, a shadow cabinet can help both synchronize some common policies of the five PR-ruled states and coordinate the federal and state branches of PR coalition. Malaysians deserve to know PR policies on preservation of water catchment area, on access to public information, on local elections, etc. Institutionalized consultation between shadow ministers and state governments would work better than a party-based Menteri Besar Council.
We call upon Anwar Ibrahim to make formation of shadow cabinet his top priority from now to March 2009. Nearly nine month after the March elections, Pakatan Rakyat which has vowed to take over the federal executive power via crossover of BN parliamentarians must now be prepared to show that they are not only interested to govern, but able to do so.
Over the weekend, the PKR -- the backbone of Pakatan Rakyat in which Anwar leads, de facto sans de jure -- celebrated its first national congress after GE2008. The posturing was once again stressed on the possibility of Pakatan Rakyat forming the Federal Government in “the shortest possible time,” stating that it was "not a question of 'when' but that it involved the people".
When the euphoria subsides, truthfully, I still feel that after V (for Victory, not vendetta) it's time for D (for Delivery, not Delinquency in good governance).
This is my second posting from Hong Kong. The weather is chilly, and the soul is calm. Detaching oneself temporarily from homeland, we see things from a different perspective.
Comments
Hi Jeff, you are right!
It is time for PR and DAP to right get down to work and show the public that they have made the right choice!
Hopefully we do bump to each other in Hong Kong!
Posted by: Henry Goh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 1, 2008 05:37 PM
It's kinda difficult for Pakatan State Governments when they have to spend time "kau foh"... putting out bushfires... started by "you-know-who"...
Todays's comment by YB Datuk Arif Shah in Star North Metro, page 2... titled "Arif Shah backs (Penang) state's move to help farmers" offers some hope that there are genuine MP's in the Barisan ranks who place the affairs of the Rakyat close to their heart...
And these are the very people that DSAI can count on when the crunch comes to "occupy" Putrajaya... one day... eventually.
Posted by: beruangyogi![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 3, 2008 11:42 PM
BTW.. YB Jeff.. a lack of comments lately to your blogs could be the difficulties we faced submitting through the TypePad that has replaced TypeKey...
After a frustrating 2 weeks... I finally overcame the problem... by basically doing the following:
1) "SIGN UP" from the TypePad website
2) Edit Profile
3) Save Profile and finally we are back in business !!!
Posted by: beruangyogi![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 3, 2008 11:47 PM
Dear Jeff,
I qouted from Mr Khoo's blogsite on you. They are as follows:
At a dinner last night, I was alerted to statement made by Jeff Ooi in his latest interview with the Chinese edition of Malaysiakini.com. When asked about my last opinion piece on DAP in Penang, Jeff Ooi said this:
"他也嘲讽邱继平为了向政府申请举行槟州文化活动的资金，而不惜采用死缠烂打及以攻为守的批评手段."
Translation: Jeff Ooi sarcastically said Khoo Kay Peng has tried every
tricks and even to the extent of launching offensive criticism, just to secure
funding from the state government for his Penang Cultural Festival.
Jeff Ooi is a member of parliament and a chief of staff in the chief minister's office. His statement is a yardstick of his leadership credibility. Surprisingly, Jeff cannot accept a constructive criticism about his and his party's performance.
At the recently concluded New Vision for Penang's conference, which I was a panel speaker, a number of DAP senior leaders approached me about the article and told me that they accepted majority of my views.
Most importantly, my intention was sincere. Like many Penangites, I abhor the state UMNO's leadership. I look forward to a new transformational leadership. I want a people oriented and responsible government.
However, this new leadership cannot be yet another mirror image of the old. UMNO's intolerance of criticism is a classic cause of the coalition's failure. To be fair, many of the CM personal assistants and DAP state leaders were very supportive and helpful to us.
I have referred Jeff Ooi's statement to a number of them and they were equally surprised by what he has said.
Those who had attended our event knew that the entire Penang Cultural Fest was well supported by the private sector and fellow Penangites. The organisers had wanted to inspire Penangites that they do not have to depend on the government to celebrate their own diversity and rich heritage.
Only days ago I met Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the Komtar Pacific launch and we spoke briefly on the initiative to make next year's Penang Cultural Fest a truly regional event. He enthusiastically gave his approval.
Since Jeff Ooi is the chief of staff, I am surprised that he made such a malicious claim that I was pushing the state government to fund my event. It is obvious that the state government did not give us such financial backing and we did not push for it. We were thankful and happy when state leaders came with their family to participate in our programmes. Chow Kon Yeow and family came to our Korean Orchestra, CM's family was at the Penang Island Jazz Festival.
Penang Governor, Danny Law, Linda Ong, Abdul Malik, Liew Chin Tong, and many more came. Special Assistant Jeffrey Chew and family were at almost all programmes.
Did we look unhappy? Was the Penang Cultural Fest disrupted or affected?
I have said earlier that Jeff will be judged by his statement. It is odd as a chief of staff he was not in the loop. Perhaps he was too busy doing self-promotion. I was spot on that the Chief Minister needs a real chief of staff.
Guan Eng needs someone more sensible and responsible with his words and action. Jeff Ooi was quick to praise a failed event but was even quicker to maliciously put down a successful one. He was at one of our events.
I am giving him 72 hours to retract his allegation. With a member like Jeff, DAP does not need other talents.
An editor of Malaysiakini.com just called me. I have asked him to do 3 things:
I was disappointed his writer did not ask for my response before publishing Jeff's interview. He should publish my response by Monday.
Contact the Chief Minister office to seek clarification on the matter
Ask Jeff to provide a solid evidence on his allegation about me or retract his allegation
If Jeff can't take the heat, he should stay out of the kitchen. He did nothing for Penang Cultural Fest, got a free dinner cum entertainment and tossed us shit. Jeff's allegation is an insult to all our partners, sponsors, performers, state leaders who have helped and encouraged us and fellow Penangites.
Dear Jeff,
I believe you would take all necessary actions
Regards,
looes74
Posted by: looes74![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 24, 2008 06:29 PM