DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng maybe an astute politician but I think he is an inexperienced administrator.

That very lack of experience, unfortunately, could be his Achilles heel and cause the downfall of his government in Penang.

If the experience in Perak is any guide, Lim should have learned from it but somehow, it has eluded him and he is repeating the same mistake which the Pakatan Rakyat administrators failed to address.

When the first sign of a crack appeared in the Perak government and the three party-hoppers had already switched allegiance, the civil servants from the state secretary to the secretary of the state assembly immediately showed on which side their bread was buttered.

Not only was the state assembly building locked and barred to the Pakatan state assembly persons to attend an emergency meeting, but they were also unceremoniously disallowed from entering the building.

This even though the courts had still not determined who was the legitimate menteri besar of Perak.

Even the Ipoh mayor and town council president showed their allegiance by removing the ‘Democracy Tree Plaque’ which Pakatan Rakyat had erected under the tree where the historical state assembly meeting was held.

These are lessons Lim Guan Eng should have learned. All senior civil servants appointed by BN owe their allegiance to the previous ruling government. At the outset, Pakatan Rakyat should have removed these people and appointed Pakatan members even if they are politicians.

That, at least, will have consolidated your position in the government machinery. Therefore Lim's insistence on appointing a BN appointee to be the Seberang Perai municipal council chief could be a fatal mistake that could be his downfall.

Similarly, all the important posts in other municipal councils should be filled with Pakatan men and women. It’s better to have your own men helming these posts than to trust them to BN appointees.

This kind of inexperience, unfortunately, is also being repeated in Selangor where the current menteri besar has continued to put BN's men in important GLCs and other important statutory posts.

When the first sign of trouble appears, this will be the same people who would likely betray Pakatan's cause.

If the Pakatan-controlled states still continue to ignore this fundamental placement of BN people, then it is likely that their days in government are numbered.