On appointment of Perak Menteri Besar
Perak ruler handled the appointment of Perak Menteri Besar extremely well despite the unexpected twists of event.
Right before decision for a new Menteri Besar, the Regent of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, met all three parties’ representatives to ensure the coalition is readied to lead a stable state government. He got three parties written statements in agreeing with all three nominees submitted to him for decision. In fact, all three parties made a joint statement agreeing the three names submitted to the royal.
Revealing this at a joint press conference, Ngeh said the names were submitted to Raja Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta here at 2pm yesterday.
“All parties within the coalition have jointly agreed on the submission of the three names for his decision.”
“We would like to impress upon the people that all three parties have unanimously agreed to fully endorse whichever candidate is chosen,” he said at the Perak DAP headquarters.
Also present were state PKR chief Zulkifly Ibrahim, Mohammad Nizar and other DAP assemblymen.
– the Star
Most importantly Regent of Perak chose the candidate based on ability to lead the state government; he chose the most qualified and most caliber candidate among the three.
After the Lim Kit Siang incident and the possibility of defection of coalition’s assemblymen to BN (that may distablize the government-to-be), Regent of Perak requested a letter of undertaking from all 31 opposition assemblymen indicating their support for the formation of the new DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government.
Regent of Perak has conducted the issue appropriately. He made all right moves.
Off course, we have an idiot called Lim Kit Siang and his knee jerk reaction on the selection. He was probably busying with his son appointment of Chief Minister in Penang feeling so proud as a father and just happened to be oblivious of the development in appointment of Perak MB. He cried foul for the selection of MB.
First, DAP did not win sufficient seats to either form a government by itself or with just PKR. DAP have to accept PAS in the coalition and have to accept PAS influence in the coalition. To say that democracy was not respected in the selection of MB is therefore untrue. DAP DID NOT WIN the mandate from the Rakyat in deciding MB. Rakyat only gave DAP 18 seats to be the majority among the coalition, but not more for DAP to decide outright who the MB should be.
Second, with such majority among the coalition parties, DAP (PKR 7 seats, PAS 6 seats and DAP 18 seats) could have pressured coalition to submit only two names, i.e. state DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham & state PKR treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi. But no. The coalition agreed to submit three names which included state PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin. If Lim Kiat Sian was unhappy, he should unhappy about himself of not doing what he should do at that point of time. The moment the names were given to Sultan for decision, it should be entirely and absolutely Sultan’s decision. The ruler had given time and options for the democracy process to work.
Third, the Sultan choice was obviously based on meritocracy. I am impressed wtih Nazir’s background. Isn’t this what DAP fighting for? Decision based on meritocracy instead of favourism or racism?
Among the coalition parties, we can see the weak link is DAP. PAS had served Kelantan for many years, they know how to act appropriately as a government. PKR leaders were from government. But for DAP…it is like a poor boy who strike lottery becoming instant rich, the challenge is to learn to act respectfully rich. Lim Kiat Siang forgot, for Perak State at least, DAP is not opposition. Together with others they are about to be government. It is not for him to shout, boycott and complain but sit down to work things out.
DAP under Lim Kit Siang is just so unpredictable. If one day the Barisan Rakyat broke down, most likely it comes from DAP’s infighting, inexperience and naiveness. (Hello, the role now is to manage and inspire the government officers to work hard and not complain and call for press conference making remarks, ok?)