Great expectations: Anwar – pictured here receiving congratulatory calls from world leaders in the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya – will have to move fast to heal a nation sick of politicking. — PMO
A New Prime Minister naturally brings new hope, but the goal remains the same - taking the nation to the top -Wong Chun Wai
Anwar finally made it through sheer effort amid chatter that a famous Muslim sage had foreseen his win and his Sungai Lolong house has good fengshui. - Joceline Tan
WE’RE clearly living in interesting but also strange times. When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Prime Minister, it was also nomination day for two seats.
They were the Padang Serai parliamentary and Tioman state seats, where voting had earlier been suspended following the deaths of two contenders.
Fascinatingly, Barisan Nasional, which is a member of the Unity Federal Government, is pitted against Pakatan Harapan, which helms the government.
They will face off in these two places. It will be interesting to see Barisan and Pakatan’s sales pitches.In fact, there will be state elections in Penang and Selangor in seven months, where the two sides will need to outwit each other. And if there’s a by-election in Sarawak, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has joined the Federal Government, will find itself in the same awkward situation.
Just two weeks ago, Barisan was accused of being a corrupt coalition, along with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The slogan being bandied about then was a vote for Barisan equalled a vote for Ahmad Zahid, who faces a slew of corruption charges.
But in the past few days, he has been heralded as a saviour who made the unity government a reality. We’ve been encouraged to look at the “larger picture” – a tainted man is now rescuing us from PAS.
Suddenly, all is forgiven and forgotten. Barisan is no longer a party for traitors who sold their greedy souls for power.
There was despair earlier, when at one point reports circulated about Barisan being in the Opposition bloc.
Ahmad Zahid was also criticised by his rebellious ranks for Umno’s dismal performance, but they then found themselves labelled opportunists instead, for previously wanting to back Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as PM.
Ironically, Muhyiddin is the same guy who campaigned against Ahmad Zahid and corruption on his Perikatan Nasional platform. It worked perfectly, as Bersatu, along with PAS, swept the Malay heartland and crushed Umno’s vote bank, including in the Putrajaya parliamentary constituency, which fell to Perikatan.
Malay voters had obviously forgotten this was the same man who warned them about PAS.
But having 49 PAS MPs was enough to scare off many Malaysians. Not just non-Malays who voted overwhelmingly for Pakatan, but also many Malays, especially those in urban areas.
The fear of a “Green Tsunami”, as it’s now branded, with PAS theologians imposing its religious agenda, was just unpalatable for many.
For a while, those who gloated over Pakatan’s victory also privately wondered if it was a case of being careful what you wish for. They had presumed the rest of the country would share their political allegiance.
Pakatan was short of a simple majority while there was the possibility of Perikatan forming a Malay- and Islamic-centric federal government.
But God works in mysterious ways, goes the adage. Anwar, who was dismissed by many and seen as not fated to be PM, proved everyone wrong. He will turn out to be the best person to take on PAS MPs on the other side.
Anwar may not be a theologian, but he has credentials. He can quote Quranic verses with a smattering of Arabic, and he has plenty of Arab allies, too. Never mind his past controversies because we’re not voting for a priest or ulamak.
He is surely not an angel but a true-blue politician who will bend rules and principles. Ultimately, though, he’s the best of our lot.
It’s not easy to find a Malay leader who enjoys such strong support among non-Muslims.
But Anwar needs to work his charm on the conservative Muslims who voted for Perikatan. Like it or not, the number of combined votes earned by Perikatan, Barisan, GPS and GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) is much higher than those handed to Pakatan.
Meanwhile, PAS needs to take a hard look at itself to understand its optics problem. No party or coalition can hope to form a government by preaching to just one community or religion. It would be disastrous for multiracial Malaysia.
Politics is about selling hope, as Anwar successfully has done. The jury is still out on whether he will deliver on his promises to Malay-sians, so we’ll have to hold him to that.
Many of us who gave up on Malaysia and its politicians have found that, finally, we can recover what we’ve lost and still salvage the situation.
Certainly, our Rulers have placed their faith in Anwar as the man who, in the opinion of the King, can command majority support in the House.
His Majesty has allowed Anwar to put together a unity government in the shortest time.
Now it’s up to Anwar, as the 10th PM, to prove he can hold the fort and steer us through the many challenges ahead, especially the strong economic headwinds.
He needs to fix our education system at all levels, as it has progressively gone down the drain. It won’t and can’t be done overnight, but it must begin now.
There’s no time for vindictive politics or rhetoric, which scarred the 22-month Pakatan government in 2018 and led to unprecedented apologies issued by the DAP recently to close a chapter with GPS.
The lesson learned here is that politicians shouldn’t be arrogant or resort to burning bridges. After all, no one knows what the future holds.
Let’s hope we see younger Malaysians such as Rafizi Ramli, Hannah Yeoh, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Steven Sim, with a balance of experienced MPs from Barisan and GPS, in the Cabinet. Possibly even technocrats appointed to certain ministries.
It’s wishful thinking, of course. If only Nurul Izzah Anwar, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had won. And we hope for more women in the Cabinet.
Malaysia must move on. We are simply worn out from all the politicking.
There is little time for Anwar to celebrate. Time is not on his side. We want to see results, and quickly, too.
Congratulations Saudara Anwar Ibrahim and may you succeed in restoring Malaysia to its former glory.
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Will the Government deliver or are rosy pledges meant to be broken anyway?
PEOPLE are still harping on election manifesto promises which the new coalition has yet to fulfil.
In the wake of the 14th general election, the 100-day manifesto of Pakatan Harapan is being scrutinised.
Does anyone remember the promises made before GE13 or GE12 or any other election before that?
Remember the Penang Bridge toll promises?
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came to town and promised free passage across the bridge for motorcycles.
Hours later, the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng cleverly upped the ante and promised that the bridge would be completely toll- free.
In Malaysian lingo, we call this ‘wayang’ or political theatrics.
I found it all very entertaining. I looked forward to each retort from the opposite side.
We should not be like children and cry: “But mummy, you promised!”
Now, Pakatan Harapan did fulfil some of their promises.
The Government abolished the goods and services tax and an earnest hunt has begun for those responsible for the 1MDB controversy.
As for the other promises, maybe not yet? Or at a later date?
You cannot fault Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for being honest. He told the world Pakatan could not fulfil all the promises in its manifesto because it did not expect to win!
So the politicians were just putting on a show and we, the audience, bought front-row tickets to the ‘wayang’.
Dr Mahathir would know. Can anyone remember any of the manifesto promises that were never fulfilled during his previous 22-year tenure or during the last 10 years under Najib?
I don’t and I have been around for more than three decades, starting my working life the year Mahathir came to power in 1981.
If elections were won just on fulfilling manifestos, Barisan would not have been able to rule for 60 years because there has been volumes of unfulfilled promises.
Elections are usually won on negative rather than positive elements.
We have a saying in the newsroom: people wanna read about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.
At The Star Online, stories along those lines get astronomical level hits.
In politics, seats tend to be won by candidates who can portray how bad the other guy is!
People want to be shocked by scandals, not lulled by promises.
So we do not have to lament the unfulfilled promises.
It is a universal issue which is not confined to Third World countries as even presidential elections in developed countries are won the same way.
One which comes to recent memory is the United States’ presidential elections in 2016.
Everyone thought Hilary Clinton would triumph but Donald Trump ran a smear campaign on her.
People heard all about her leaked emails and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s case on her.
Both candidates spent millions of dollars taking out advertisements in newspapers and on television.
The focus was more on showing how bad the other candidate would be for the country rather than what they would do if elected.
So for all those who are still hung up on Pakatan promises, forget it.
You can shout until the cows come home and nothing is going to happen.
But they still have four years to make good on their promises, before power comes back to us.
They could be saving the best promises for last. Maybe?
Will the Government deliver or are rosy pledges meant to be broken anyway?
PEOPLE are still harping on election manifesto promises which the new coalition has yet to fulfil.
In the wake of the 14th general election, the 100-day manifesto of Pakatan Harapan is being scrutinised.
Does anyone remember the promises made before GE13 or GE12 or any other election before that?
Remember the Penang Bridge toll promises?
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came to town and promised free passage across the bridge for motorcycles.
Hours later, the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng cleverly upped the ante and promised that the bridge would be completely toll- free.
In Malaysian lingo, we call this ‘wayang’ or political theatrics.
I found it all very entertaining. I looked forward to each retort from the opposite side.
We should not be like children and cry: “But mummy, you promised!”
Now, Pakatan Harapan did fulfil some of their promises.
The Government abolished the goods and services tax and an earnest hunt has begun for those responsible for the 1MDB controversy.
As for the other promises, maybe not yet? Or at a later date?
You cannot fault Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for being honest. He told the world Pakatan could not fulfil all the promises in its manifesto because it did not expect to win!
So the politicians were just putting on a show and we, the audience, bought front-row tickets to the ‘wayang’.
Dr Mahathir would know. Can anyone remember any of the manifesto promises that were never fulfilled during his previous 22-year tenure or during the last 10 years under Najib?
I don’t and I have been around for more than three decades, starting my working life the year Mahathir came to power in 1981.
If elections were won just on fulfilling manifestos, Barisan would not have been able to rule for 60 years because there has been volumes of unfulfilled promises.
Elections are usually won on negative rather than positive elements.
We have a saying in the newsroom: people wanna read about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.
At The Star Online, stories along those lines get astronomical level hits.
In politics, seats tend to be won by candidates who can portray how bad the other guy is!
People want to be shocked by scandals, not lulled by promises.
So we do not have to lament the unfulfilled promises.
It is a universal issue which is not confined to Third World countries as even presidential elections in developed countries are won the same way.
One which comes to recent memory is the United States’ presidential elections in 2016.
Everyone thought Hilary Clinton would triumph but Donald Trump ran a smear campaign on her.
People heard all about her leaked emails and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s case on her.
Both candidates spent millions of dollars taking out advertisements in newspapers and on television.
The focus was more on showing how bad the other candidate would be for the country rather than what they would do if elected.
So for all those who are still hung up on Pakatan promises, forget it.
You can shout until the cows come home and nothing is going to happen.
But they still have four years to make good on their promises, before power comes back to us.
They could be saving the best promises for last. Maybe?
BUTTERWORTH: Six pledges and 60 initiatives – that’s what the Barisan Nasional will be armed with as it attempts to wrest Penang from the clasp of the Opposition.
In its “Save Penang” manifesto launched yesterday, the coalition listed resolving flooding, overcoming traffic congestion and halting hillside development as the top priorities.
State Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow said if it regained power in the state, the controversial undersea tunnel project to link the island to the mainland would be scrapped.
He said further land reclamation at Permatang Damar Laut and Gurney Drive would also be barred.
Teng also announced that areas 76m above sea-level would be declared permanent forest reserves to protect the hills.
On flooding, he said the Barisan would resolve the problem within three-and-a-half years, by installing water pumps and floodgates and implementing a Penang Flood Mitigation Plan.
Another priority was to build 65,000 affordable houses within five years, introduce rent-to-own housing scheme, set the price of a low-cost home to RM40,000 (including a free carpark) and between RM80,000 and RM120,000 for medium-cost units (including free carpark).
The other priorities were listed as economic development, people’s welfare, and tourism and heritage.
Among others, the Barisan pledged to remove toll charges for motorcycles, abolish the water surcharge, provide a special fund of RM2,000 to couples who tie the knot for the first time, provide school bus subsidy to eligible families, provide free parking at council roadsides and residential areas, and allocate RM15mil annually for national-type, religious and private Chinese schools.
The Barisan also pledged to abolish postage charges and other charges for bill payments, provide free water to hardcore poor, reintroduce traffic wardens in school areas, and not to increase water tariff for residential areas within five years.
Thousands of Barisan leaders and members who attended the launch cheered when Teng fired salvos at the DAP-led state government, claiming its leaders made 51 false promises over the last 10 years.
Also present were state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman, state MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, state MIC deputy chairman Datuk M. Nyanasegaran and leaders of Barisan-friendly parties.
Teng (middle) getting waves of support as he
launches the Penang Barisan Nasional manifesto at The Light Hotel in
Seberang Jaya, Penang. With him are Penang Umno liaison committee
chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman (on Teng’s right) and Penang MCA
chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Flood Mitigation plans among BN manifesto
BARISAN Nasional will get allocation from the Federal Government to alleviate flooding woes in Penang within three and a half years if it secures the mandate from the people.
Penang Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow, a former state exco member, said detailed infographics would be required to come up with an action plan as well as a drainage masterplan to resolve the problem.
“We have experience in formulating flood mitigation plans in the past.
“From there, we will take the matter up to the Federal Government to negotiate for the amount of funds needed.
“We also have an emergency manual outlining
standard operating procedures for a state to manage when struck by
floods, and this goes in tandem with the Federal Government’s guidelines
to create a clear chain of command.
“We noticed that in recent years, places in Penang that had never been flooded suddenly experienced floods.
“This is due to poor planning, lack of drainage and failure to identify hotspots.
“The people have suffered because of poor coordination and help could not reach them in time,” he said at a press conference after unveiling Barisan’s manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya.
Commenting on the pledge for 50% of Penang island city councillors and Seberang Prai municipal councillors to be appointed from independent bodies, he said the representatives could join the planning committee to give their ideas.
Teng said that although landowners had the right to plan projects, those staying next door could voice their views including objecting to the projects if they were affected.
“But today, planners are not planning.
“Instead, politicians are doing the planning,” he said.
Teng said planning should be left to planners with expertise while politicians should only make policies.
'Can fulfil promises'
Teng: Penang will receive more allocation if voted into power
DESPITE being an Opposition state, Penang has received RM2.08bil as allocation from the Federal Government between 2013 and 2017.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the amount was the highest among the northern states.
He said Kedah received RM1.76bil followed by Perak (RM1.25bil) and Perlis (RM360mil) during the same period.
“We can fulfil all our promises in the manifesto. The state will receive more allocation if we win the state from Pakatan Harapan,” he told reporters after launching the Penang Barisan manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya yesterday.
Asked why the monorail and LRT projects which were in the 2013 manifesto were missing from the present one, Teng said the people in the state had rejected both projects as Penang Barisan was not voted into power then.
“However, we are open to consultation with the people and those from the civil movements to revive such projects if we are voted into power in the upcoming general election,” he said.
On another matter, Teng said Penang never had it easy during the 22-year tenure of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Penang was bypassed most of the time when it came to development projects.
“It was difficult for then Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to get allocation for projects in Penang as the funds would not come.
“Dr Mahathir, for reasons best known to himself, did not allocate sufficient funds for Penang and most of the time we were bypassed,” said Teng, who was once a state executive councillor.
Click to view details
- By K. Suthakar, Lo Tern Chern, and R. Sekaran, The Star
Barisan Nasional Youth volunteers posing for a
group photo at the recent Penang Barisan Nasional manifesto launching
ceremony at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya, Penang. — Photos: ZHAFARAN
NASIB/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: Six pledges and 60 initiatives – that’s what the Barisan Nasional will be armed with as it attempts to wrest Penang from the clasp of the Opposition.
In its “Save Penang” manifesto launched yesterday, the coalition listed resolving flooding, overcoming traffic congestion and halting hillside development as the top priorities.
State Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow said if it regained power in the state, the controversial undersea tunnel project to link the island to the mainland would be scrapped.
He said further land reclamation at Permatang Damar Laut and Gurney Drive would also be barred.
Teng also announced that areas 76m above sea-level would be declared permanent forest reserves to protect the hills.
On flooding, he said the Barisan would resolve the problem within three-and-a-half years, by installing water pumps and floodgates and implementing a Penang Flood Mitigation Plan.
Another priority was to build 65,000 affordable houses within five years, introduce rent-to-own housing scheme, set the price of a low-cost home to RM40,000 (including a free carpark) and between RM80,000 and RM120,000 for medium-cost units (including free carpark).
The other priorities were listed as economic development, people’s welfare, and tourism and heritage.
Among others, the Barisan pledged to remove toll charges for motorcycles, abolish the water surcharge, provide a special fund of RM2,000 to couples who tie the knot for the first time, provide school bus subsidy to eligible families, provide free parking at council roadsides and residential areas, and allocate RM15mil annually for national-type, religious and private Chinese schools.
The Barisan also pledged to abolish postage charges and other charges for bill payments, provide free water to hardcore poor, reintroduce traffic wardens in school areas, and not to increase water tariff for residential areas within five years.
Thousands of Barisan leaders and members who attended the launch cheered when Teng fired salvos at the DAP-led state government, claiming its leaders made 51 false promises over the last 10 years.
Also present were state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman, state MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, state MIC deputy chairman Datuk M. Nyanasegaran and leaders of Barisan-friendly parties.
Teng (middle) getting waves of support as he launches the Penang Barisan Nasional manifesto at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya, Penang. With him are Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman (on Teng’s right) and Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Flood Mitigation plans among BN manifesto
BARISAN Nasional will get allocation from the Federal Government to alleviate flooding woes in Penang within three and a half years if it secures the mandate from the people.
Penang Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow, a former state exco member, said detailed infographics would be required to come up with an action plan as well as a drainage masterplan to resolve the problem.
“We have experience in formulating flood mitigation plans in the past.
“From there, we will take the matter up to the Federal Government to negotiate for the amount of funds needed.
“We also have an emergency manual outlining standard operating procedures for a state to manage when struck by floods, and this goes in tandem with the Federal Government’s guidelines to create a clear chain of command.
“We noticed that in recent years, places in Penang that had never been flooded suddenly experienced floods.
“This is due to poor planning, lack of drainage and failure to identify hotspots.
“The people have suffered because of poor coordination and help could not reach them in time,” he said at a press conference after unveiling Barisan’s manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya.
Commenting on the pledge for 50% of Penang island city councillors and Seberang Prai municipal councillors to be appointed from independent bodies, he said the representatives could join the planning committee to give their ideas.
Teng said that although landowners had the right to plan projects, those staying next door could voice their views including objecting to the projects if they were affected.
“But today, planners are not planning.
“Instead, politicians are doing the planning,” he said.
Teng said planning should be lefit to planners with expertise while politicians should only make policies.
'Can fulfil promises'
Teng: Penang will receive more allocation if voted into power
DESPITE being an Opposition state, Penang has received RM2.08bil as allocation from the Federal Government between 2013 and 2017.
Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the amount was the highest among the northern states.
He said Kedah received RM1.76bil followed by Perak (RM1.25bil) and Perlis (RM360mil) during the same period.
“We can fulfil all our promises in the manifesto. The state will receive more allocation if we win the state from Pakatan Harapan,” he told reporters after launching the Penang Barisan manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya yesterday.
Asked why the monorail and LRT projects which were in the 2013 manifesto were missing from the present one, Teng said the people in the state had rejected both projects as Penang Barisan was not voted into power then.
“However, we are open to consultation with the people and those from the civil movements to revive such projects if we are voted into power in the upcoming general election,” he said.
On another matter, Teng said Penang never had it easy during the 22-year tenure of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Penang was bypassed most of the time when it came to development projects.
“It was difficult for then Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to get allocation for projects in Penang as the funds would not come.
“Dr Mahathir, for reasons best known to himself, did not allocate sufficient funds for Penang and most of the time we were bypassed,” said Teng, who was once a state executive councillor.
Click to view details
- By K. Suthakar, Lo Tern Chern, and R. Sekaran, The Star
Barisan Nasional Youth volunteers posing for a group photo at the recent Penang Barisan Nasional manifesto launching ceremony at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya, Penang. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
