I was ‘pleasantly’ surprised that PM appointed TI Malaysia Chairperson Datuk Paul Low into the cabinet.
Even though I thought that PM might appoint some Chinese from NGOs, i thought the person(s) would most probably come from one of the Chinese NGOs. Some of the Tan Sris in those NGOs must be very disappointed.
I welcome the appointment and hope against hope that Low can do something to tackle corruption, check abuses, and promote transparency and accountability.
Note that I used the phrase ‘hope against hope’. It means that although i hope for this to happen, the odds of it being realised are slim.
This is not to pour cold water on Low.
Remember in 2008, the former PM invited Zaid Ibrahim into the cabinet as de facto Law Minister, hoping that he can reform the judiciary and some archaic laws. What happened to Zaid is now well known and I need not delve further.
I remember what a Minister from Gerakan (now deceased) once told me in jest. When asked why certain things were not brought up in cabinet, he answered that it was a case of one mouth against 20 over mouths..His voice was simply drowned in the chorus of ‘warlords’ and sycophants in the cabinet. I myself had a taste of this when I was a lone voice seeking change in CC meetings of a political party, even though what I predicted would happen to the party if no radical changes were carried out had now happened.
So as a lone voice, in a milieu surrounded by those with their own interest to be considered, I doubt Low can do much to tackle corruption. If he is given a free hand– mind you, no one would give him a free hand– most of the politicians inside Big Brother including most ministers would have to go. That is simply not possible because PM has the party election later this year to think about.
I was also surprised by PM leaving only the Transport Ministry to MCA in case they overturn the decision not to accept cabinet positions. MIC has 4 MPs, and was awarded 2 full ministers. MCA has 7 MPS, but given only one full Minister’s post? That is a real slap on the face. But I suppose MCA has not much of a face left now, ever since it has elected a tainted person as its president.
So don’t blame anyone; MCA can only blame itself,for choosing a president, who is instrumental in pushing through the resolution not to accept any cabinet posts if the party did badly than last time.
This strategy is like a blackmail.. You dont give me this, I will do that.. And like blackmail, this is highly dangerous. Now that it has really done worse, and has to call a EGM to overturn its former decision, the blackmail has actually backfired.
This is also political suicide. If a party which is part of the ruling coalition does not want to be in cabinet and does not want to operate service centres for the rakayt, then how does it expect to win the hearts and votes of the rakyat? By tagging on the coattails of the Big Brother?
The Big Brother might as well do it on its own without having to look after someone tagging at its coattails; it only adds weight to its coat and becomes a burden.
I think MCA has expected 2 or 3 minister positions to be left vacant for its MPs in PM’s cabinet, as most people expected that the party would eventually make a U-turn and go back to the cabinet. Now even if its new leadership makes a U-turn, there is only one place left. Who fault is that? Who was the one who gave up three seats even before the fight during GE 13? It is like hanging out a white flag before a battle.
With its poor strategy, it has now painted itself into a corner. There is simply not much of a choice left. Is there?