Delegates flay PAS-led Kedah gov't

The Pakatan Rakyat Kedah government's less than stellar performance found its way to the PKR national congress in Johor today.

Debating the president's policy speech on the various Pakatan Rakyat governments’ performance, Kedah delegate Azman Ismail said that the state administration “lacked reform” and had perpetuated policies inherited from the BN.  

Calling his debate speech “self-criticism”, Azman said that the government still adhered to racial quotas because “that was the way before... even though no one knows where it even came from”.

“In Kedah, when we want to do something at local council level for example, we are told Umno used to do this, there were quotas for MIC and MCA etc. We are too scared to run away from these (old policies).

“If we continue with BN and Umno policies then the rakyat are better off choosing Umno-BN,” he said.

As members of a reform-based party, he said, PKR members must be “reformists first and politicians second” and use opportunities in government to push through reforms.

“We are too busy with meetings and quotas when we become elected representatives that we forget about reform. We don't bring about changes because we are too busy,” he said.

Comparing Kedah to India's poorest state Bihar, he said the Kedah government's slow pace of administration is frustrating even for supporters.

'Answer your phone'

Quoting an article from Time , he said Bihar, where only 10 percent of houses have electricity, solves 800 public complaints in several hours, while Kedah in contrast could hardly solve two complaints in several hours.

“Can't blame (the rakyat for voting against Pakatan) if nothing is solved. Meeting, meeting, meeting, but nothing is solved, so they (the voters) run,” he said, suggesting a working visit to Bihar to learn the latter’s reform measures.

Elected representatives, including the exco line up, were handed an earful with some accused of never having time for their electorate.

Telephone calls are left unanswered, voice mail in-boxes are full and text messages never go through because old messages are not cleared, he said.

“If you dream of winning over Putrajaya, you should learn to manage the SMSes on your phone first,” he said to hoots from the 1,360 delegates.

On the positive side, however, Azman acknowledged that the state exco managed to attract Panasonic to build its biggest ever solar cell plant outside of Japan, in Kedah.

“We are also scandal-free, and have integrity,” he said of the PAS-led government.

Azman's cutting speech was in stark contrast to Penang delegate R Murali who had nothing but good things to say about the DAP-led Penang government.

Even problems are considered “positive” ones, like the human resources crunch and land shortage due to rapid development and on-stream investment.

The biggest issue, it appeared, was the “frequent” street demonstrations by seemingly hostile elements who demonstrate against many of the government’s policies.

“Recently there was a demonstration by mat rempits demanding a race track. And if they don't get it, (Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng is (branded) racist.

“They even protest the free council bus. Oh, and Lim Guan Eng is racist,” he said to laughter.

Other hot topics for the debate on the policy speech was the Bersih call for free and fair elections, with delegates declaring readiness to hit the streets for Bersih 3.0 if electoral reform is not seen before the next general election.

Damage control on Malay PM issue

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin's ( below ) challenge to Umno to change the constitution to guarantee that only Malays can be appointed Prime Minister was also fodder for debate.

The controversial poser was supported by Malacca delegate Abdul Wahab Ibrahim, who received cheers from the delegates.

“Shamsul's challenge is not about race. I know the Malays, Chinese and Indians in this party are smart people... It's about the people and how far Umno is standing on solid ground,” he said.

Abdul Wahab said that the youth chief's challenge is not about putting Malays first but about showing Umno up, for supposedly being Malay champions but in fact only serving the elite.

The party leadership similarly tried to douse the controversy this morning by taking the same line.

Reiterating PKR's multiracial stand was Lee Khai Loon, who spoke in the special session called Pidato Rakyat (People's Debate) where representatives from different segments of society are given space to speak.

“It is important for (PKR) to have a larger discourse and not be trapped in racial politics, or be too desperate to for votes from a certain community. We shold not be seen as a mini BN...

“(PKR) must engage voters from all races in a (broad) conversation to show that we practice big tent politics which reflects Malaysia's complex multiracial society,” he said.

Showing PKR's concern over how DAP MP Tony Pua's recent suggestion to trim the civil service may effect votes, delegates also took turns to denounce Pua’s proposal.

Kelantan delegate Mohamad Hisomuddin even went as far as suggesting that PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim give a speech to laud civil servants the moment Pakatan takes over Putrajaya.