Can DAP, PAS and PKR who run several state governments be really effective? Recently, I and my neighbours had our state rep and our member of Parliament attend a dialogue with us residents. The situation was that the state government was Pakatan Rakyat , the assembly person was DAP and the MP was from PKR.

To start things off, the PKR MP was late by an hour, but the state rep was on the dot. Then they hardly spoke to each another nor greeted each another in a way to show solidarity. The state rep - who was sincere and dynamic - was not really interested in what the MP said.

The PKR MP was strange and basically was not able to speak effectively, nor express himself well. The state rep I must say was very good and knew what was going on. He was of the opinion that our requests for help could not be made and there were no allocations while some issues were best addressed by the MP who could bring it up in Parliament as these were federal issues.

At the end of the whole affair, we all walked away feeling that we had had this meeting for nothing as nor answers were forthcoming. I now rewind to before March 2008 when we had a BN state rep, a BN MP, a BN state government and a BN federal government. Our state rep and MP were able to do many things for us, spoke well together, showed solidarity, helped each other and faced the residents as one, although both were from different race-based parties. Suffice to say, the residents and these two reps solved many issues that involved the state and federal level as well.

The fact was that the relationship between the state and federal government was excellent unlike the present situation. In view of the situation today, can we blame the federal government? Why should we when they are being opposed in Parliament by the Pakatan state governments? But then can we blame the Pakatan states again as they are doing their best but being opposed by the federal government. We cannot expect cooperation or a smooth relationship or even any sort of relationship

So the question that we must have answers for are include can we have this sort of situation in two of the four Pakatan states notably Selangor and Penang? It is also necessary for us to note, that when the results of the 12 ^th general election was announced, the stock market dived. Does this mean that the business community did not like such a situation?

Is there a possibility that they are awaiting a more clearer view of who will be strongly in control of the governments? So far, this has not been displayed by Pakatan. Ideally most people I talked too would like to see the federal government and the state governments be one and the same.

A good example is Kelantan. Being controlled by the opposition at the state-level, this has stunted their growth tremendously. And being non-partisan, I have to ask would all this happen if the shoe was on the other foot? That is if Pakatan was the federal government and BN controlled some states like Selangor and Penang.

I heard that the people of Perak have been giving out good vibes on the new BN state government and I sense the reason is that the Perak government can now do things because of federal support which Pakatan could not do.

I believe Penang may be in the same boat and a quick check would show that the second bridge project is nowhere to be seen or heard, the Porr project is on a ‘go slow’ and many other sectors such as tourism and businesses may be hurt. I stand to be corrected. I would love to hear the comments of others on this very important issue and so we can make the next general elections more decisive.