Pakatan Rakyat, please beware of the 3Cs: Councilors, Competency and Competition.

Councilors: On Dec.17, 2007 a court declaration was initiated in the high court by the Pest Control Association Of Malaysia (PCAM) and Stopest Sdn Bhd to declare null and void a flawed policy of Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya whereby all pest control firms must be registered with MPSJ and pay a deductible deposit of RM3000 before we can conduct our business.

We were then commended and praised by some opposition leaders for our fearless determination to get rid of rent-seekers. To cut the story short, we were brought to believe that our woes would end with a pleasant transition of government in Selangor. Unfortunately it is a nightmare we have experienced, no thanks to some incompetent councilors in MPSJ who were mainly handpicked due to political patronage rather than for their competency or capabilities.

Although, an out-of-court settlement was initiated by MPSJ almost immediately after the 12th general elections, the lackadaisical attitude and impotent display by the councilors speaks volumes. The case was finally settled with a consent order by the high court on Aug 12, 2009 but it was not without fanfare.

Imagine, one particular councilor who is supposedly a party whip can't even comprehend the meaning of a letter with the caption ‘without prejudice’ and who has the audacity to inform us that he had been advised by MPSJ's legal advisor that this settlement was not official since the high court has yet to serve both parties with a written judgment!

If that is the case, wouldn't all criminals convicted and sentenced by a judge be granted a reprieve and walk out a free men since a written judgment has yet to be served on him? Councilors are supposed to be the executive and instruct the administrators to perform according to decisions meted out by the exco. Yet it is appalling to hear and see that it was the other way round with the legal advisor making decisions for the exco.

Pakatan, you promote CAT, an acronym for Competency, Accountability and Transparency but your councilors are not even able to pass the first hurdle so how can you be a better alternative for the rakyat? CAT must be implemented in its total context and they go hand-in-hand. Extract any attribute of CAT and we are back to the twilight zone.

Of what benefit is there if a person is accountable and transparent but not competent for the post? Many a Tom, Dick and Harry would have suited such criteria anyway. Councilors are the front line and are a vivid reflection of the state government who appointed them to look after the local issues of the day.

The rakyat have invested their votes in Pakatan but unfortunately five years is a short time and if the trend continues with no decent ‘returns’ on ‘investment’, will Pakatan be able to compete in the next general elections? Your guess is as good as mine. Is Pakatn in dire need of capable councilors and leaders? Well, invite those from the other side of the political front then; forget about rewarding your incompetent party loyalists through such appointments.

The rakyat expects results and not rhetorical speeches and empty promises. The level of good governance as promised by Pakatan has been submerged by incompetent councilors and our hearts recoil at the slow and motionless attitude of such questionable councilors. They should in the first place carry out the honourable salutation of resigning in order to make way for more legally capable people who can better serve the people.

Why stay on for a paltry monthly allowance? Or is there a hidden agenda that motivates them to stay put? Dishing out your name card with the implicit announcement that you are a local councilor will not earn any respect from the people if you are incompetent. Mind you, MPSJ is considered and lauded as the second richest council in Selangor and one of the prime movers of our economy.

March 8, 2008 brought about a two-coalition political system, heavily dependant on the younger voters who will not display any blind loyalty to either coalition. Come the next general elections, ask yourself this Pakatan: are you able to compete even if it's on a level ground? Lip service and merely opposing for the sake of opposing will lead us to nowhere.

You have been given the mandate to rule in these four new states, please find qualified and competent leaders which are aplenty in Malaysia. Better still, persevere to call for local elections as previously espouse by you yourself.

I may sound offensive to some councilors but my emboldened objective is accountable and transparent to drive home the message to Pakatan that I am competent enough to give fair comment for the sake of others who share a similar sentiment as mine.

Otherwise, the plaintiffs would have gone the distance in the abovementioned litigation against MPSJ's flawed policy and sought for an outright judgment had it not for the new state government’s moral persuasion to us to drop our charges. Such outright local decisions should not have imposed a burden on the state government.