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Cafe Latte with the Home Minister: Homing in on Home issues

Sunday April 20, 2008

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar is responsible for one of the most important, if not powerful, ministries in the Cabinet. Speaking to The Star’s Group Chief Editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai, the senior politician talked about his tasks from heading law enforcement agencies to deciding on the role of the media, his upcoming plans for the ministry, Umno, and the country's political outlook.

What are your plans for the Home Ministry?

Syed Hamid: The Home Ministry is the second biggest with a staff of 159,000. I think the most interesting part of it is bringing it into its original state. We are undertaking the merging exercise of both the Internal and Home Ministries. Now we are more open to public scrutiny. This is a challenging and interesting ministry and it’s close to the people's hearts.

If you talk on matters of immigration, visas, passports, the National Registration Department, permanent residence and citizenship status, all are in the limelight.

In the case of newspapers, you have the licensing. I'm conscious of a lot of things that need to be adjusted. A few people have spoken about our successes in implementing the delivery system. One thing that is crystal clear about the Home Ministry is that things are moving very fast now, like the issuance of passports. The ministry is like a ministry of “till death do us part” – from the registration of death in one section, the other section is freedom.

You are holding the portfolio of one of most powerful ministries. In the changing political scenario in Malaysia, how do you see yourself handling this portfolio?

Since Pak Lah came to power, there has been a paradigm shift. We try to be more liberal and free, but at a cost, because our intention of creating a harmonious and peaceful society is still in the process of being moulded. It's tough. I consider it challenging because as a person who believes in due process and freedom, whatever I do, I will search my conscience first.

Public rallies or demonstrations create public debate and excitement. I will not interfere. I will ask the police to access it and see the perception of their threat to national security, peace and public order. We are just like being on a trapeze. We provide the balance and we do want freedom. But we also fear the consequences if we keep on inciting and adding fuel to the fire and that will not help. My thinking is that we are not going to control you (media).

One factor behind why the Barisan Nasional did badly in the recent elections was the issue of the Government not being able to tackle crime. Even as the police want to hire more personnel, the Government needs to race against time to stop this problem. It's still a lingering concern of the Government.

It's a question of whether you believe in absolute numbers, whether you believe in percentages or in relative comparison with other countries. On that score, we have done very well. We need the public to have confidence in the police. Most importantly, the force must be more visible and be seen as a protector of the people. The thing that jeopardises our efforts is the question of high-profile cases. We need to solve them.

We have improved anti-crime efforts through Rakan Cop and community policing at the police station or district level. These have produced results. I want to see the police improve their overall performance through better pay, welfare and assets. The police don't even have enough MPVs. I’ve told the ministry to get these things done.

No holds barred: Syed Hamid expressing his thoughts freely with Wong during the Cafe Latte Chat last week.

For KL International Airport, security is under the Malaysia Airports Bhd. I’ve decided that this place is an important target area, which the ministry has gazetted, so we want to be involved. On the recent robbery there, the transfer of money to the moneychangers is being done in the millions, they’ve been doing it quietly. This time it’s an inside job. The worst part of it, for example, is that only 30% of the CCTVs are working. You can’t have that. The static CCTVs were also not turned on and you cannot replay the recordings. I said this is ridiculous. I’ve given instructions. We are going to have special units at the airport. It's done that way all over the world. I've also asked for a discussion about this with the Transport Minister.

The Chinese community is not happy with the police. We need to have more Chinese officers. We have asked, but not many want to join. We have to go on another campaign. We asked that we take action on secret societies. I said I don’t like detention orders. I want them to be charged in the courts. But they told me the witnesses are not willing to talk. Now we taking in retired soldiers. The police are doing many things including moving people to fill up the posts. I told them it’s still not enough. Let’s try and see how we can revamp and see how to give the best service.

One way for the Government to lighten the burden of the police is by employing volunteer policemen to do simple crowd control like they do in the United Kingdom, where the community police are involved in crowd control. Can that be done here?

It’s not as simple as that. For example, people who have been placed under restricted residence for drug offences are being put under observation by the police, especially by the anti-narcotics department. The police have to do that. I’m trying to get the anti-narcotics agency to study this. Our drug problem is that we have 10,000 undergoing rehabilitation while 300,000 are in the anti-drug community programme. The police have to observe all these people. We need to get more volunteers. We are utilising Rela and Immigration Department officers along with the police.

But many Rela officers are not well trained, as seen in several negative incidents reported in the past.

We have got 500,000 Rela members. The Rela is a good concept because it is a multi-racial organisation. We now use smaller trained units, not the ordinary Rela personnel, because of a lot of complaints before this. We are giving a lot of emphasis on training. We still need a lot of public feedback on how to improve Rela.

What are you going to do about the influx of illegal foreigners in Malaysia?

Malaysia cannot take more foreign workers. There are three million of them here and at least one million are illegal. Everyone is asking for new workers to be brought in. I think it’s wrong. People are complaining to me from all sides. I think we must have a certain minimum wage for workers. Otherwise we will continue to see foreigners as security guards, lift attendants and restaurant workers. I asked (MIC president) Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu why so many young Indians are unemployed, but yet there are young barbers coming in from India? Can’t you train Malaysian Indians? He got angry with me. The Indians have a lot of social problems because they are unemployed. So why can’t we train our own people? Have we actually searched enough for our own people?

Is there a timeline for these plans?

Taiwan has a population of 23 million, whereas the number of foreign workers is only 400,000, and it's a very competitive country. We need to look at our salary structure. Part of the problem is also our political problem. You must think of your country, we are our own stakeholders. We must stick to the rules that professional foreign workers work here for 10 years and five for unskilled workers and not more, and they should be sent back. In Singapore it’s two years. Sometimes these foreign workers leave their children here. We have stateless persons –people without documents – and their country of origin don't want them back. We're stuck. I'm addressing this. Malaysians must recognise that.

Public perception about the huge number of illegal immigrants here is it’s due to corruption and bad enforcement. What's your take on this argument?

That is a possibility. We have long maritime borders, over 3,000km long, and the land is porous. I've asked all our enforcement agencies to look for the source and kill the demand, which means that we can tackle the illegal immigration problem from both sides. Otherwise we cannot succeed. We need public cooperation too. A lot of people use shortcuts (in employing illegal foreign workers) because they can pay low wages; they don't have to pay Socso or EPF benefits. The matter of tackling illegal immigration should be made a Malaysian agenda because it's for the good of the country.

Does the experience of having served in so many ministries make you more than qualified to become Home Minister?

Usually this portfolio is held by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister because the ministry handles a lot of sensitive issues. The foreign diplomats met me recently and said the thing that kept people very happy and that the country is okay is when I was appointed Home Minister. That is quite nice to hear. People see that I'm a tough person but at the same time I’m fair. I've never taken emotions or sentiments into my decision-making process.

You are the first Home Minister who is not Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister since Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie held that post.

He was the last Home Minister. The other part is that I also don't have political ambitions. I'm not an Umno vice-president and I don't seem to be aspiring for anything. I've never considered a job as part of the party position. I'm in the old school mould – I think people should recognise me for what I can do. Pak Lah sees me and thinks: “This guy works hard.” My wife always tells me that I'm a workaholic.

One month after the general election, the public perceive, rightly or wrongly, that Umno has not changed in the way it tackles issues.

Umno has not found its direction. It's still in a state of shock and there's the infighting within the party. We have produced different cultures and values. I'm not surprised the public is watching with dismay the squabble in the party and calls for the leaders to step down, which is not the Umno style. If there is any problem and when one wants to bring down the leaders, it's done very subtly. It's a new culture.

People must recognise that we have moved away from the elections. We have to start doing something that the public wants, and we have quite a number of issues that we need to tackle. It should be that Umno leaders are serving the public; we don't want abuse of power and we are not corrupt. When we talk about corruption, we must be whiter than white.

The message is to teach us a lesson. The non-Malays were dissatisfied with Umno; everyone is blaming Umno. But everyone has got a share in tackling these things, especially in the Barisan.

The Barisan has not come together cohesively because the component parties suffered badly.

The Pakatan Rakyat governments have introduced a lot of populist decisions. How does Umno intend to counter these with its own reforms?

On the giving of land titles in Perak, we have issued over 50,000 titles but that is actually an accumulation over time. You don't see that but when it's a new thing, people can see straight away and pick these things up. It's because you're not being judged yet. You are starting on a clean sheet.

We have done so much and yet the people rejected us. We planted the trees and now they are bearing fruit and other people are plucking them. Our problem is that we didn't package ourselves well, and in this election, there were a lot of issues that we didn't address properly, like crime, tackling corruption and countering allegations of bloggers, where all sort of things tend to become the truth.

The sentiment is that Umno as the biggest party has a chance to represent Malaysians. Why does it choose to talk about Malay issues only, when it can talk about Malaysian issues and represent everyone?

Since independence, Umno has always represented everyone. It has done very well for everybody – the current policies; the economic growth of non-Malays has been very good. Sometimes when we emphasise things, it's as if it's for the Malays.

During the NEP process, for example, the economic growth rate and equity ownership of the non-Malays was bigger than during the British administration period. We need to realign our policies. We need to help the people who are left behind. I feel Umno has done so much to create a multi-racial society. Otherwise this country will be in turmoil and it will become a failed state. The Chinese schools are better now than before.

The industries are controlled by non-Malays, but the non-Malays have not taken their money out. Instead they have reinvested into the country. They are Malaysians. Let's make the country grow. Unfortunately, when you start to talk of the NEP, it's about the Malays. No, NEP is for everyone – problems affecting the Malays, the Chinese and Indians are a national problem.

Don't you think that now is a good chance to overhaul and repackage the policies?

They have to repackage. An example such as the eradication of poverty has succeeded across racial lines. We can say that we have a national economic policy or the Wawasan economic policy. People say it's only the Malays who are benefiting, that the ketuanan Melayu (Malay dominance) concept is a Malay concept. My Chinese friends told me: How can you say ketuanan Melayu when they were born and lived here for 50, 60 years.

I think we need to mould the concept properly that this is Malaysia and it should be recognised that they are indigenous and we have built the country together. When we want to move forward, we have to work together. But we cannot work together from a racial perspective. My idea, and I told (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak the other day about this, is that we need to reinvent or revisit the ways that we do things as a political party.

Do you see Barisan becoming a single entity gradually?

We need to, but we need to also revisit the power-sharing concept. The Pakatan Rakyat used our concept. But they are a coalition formed after the elections. They are not bound by strictures of accommodation and compromises, which will make everyone unhappy. The only compromise they made was not contesting against each other – a PAS or PKR candidate for a Malay area, the DAP for Chinese area, the Indian representatives go to mixed areas. They are improvising what we have done.

But what you are suggesting is very difficult (to implement). You need to introduce a new way of looking at things. The role of the media is also important. The media is still arguing on the basis of race. It's very difficult – the media is saying that this community is not benefiting. I read the Tamil papers: it's terrible. I was looking at the number of arrests – there are quite a number of Malays who have been put to trial for treason, put under the Internal Security Act and hanged because of extremism.

There is no place for extremism in this country. Of about 50-over ISA detainees, over 40 of them are Jemaah Islamiah members and some have been held for six years. This is not about an ethnic issue. It's because of what extremism can bring. Extremism is like a spark – when you cannot control it, it will become very bad.

The game of politics is about presenting populist ideas. So far I've not been successful in bringing forward my suggestions. I've suggested that the Government should give this or that. I'll also suggest that the bottom 15% of the poor should receive free schooling and university scholarships.

I once suggested that we should have an anti-corruption body like Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption, and judges should be given back their integrity and credibility. – Transcribed by ZULKIFLI RAHMAN

Time for all of us to move on

ON THE BEAT with WONG CHUN WAI

THE general election results would have been very much different if the Barisan Nasional government had acted on certain matters earlier.

Last week, the Prime Minister announced the setting up of a Judicial Appointments Commission.

Promising reforms in the judiciary, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also said ex-gratia payments would be made to the judges who were sacked or suspended in the 1988 judicial crisis.

The decision will certainly help to restore confidence in the judiciary, maybe not overnight, but important steps have been taken.

It was also the closure of one of the darkest chapters in our country’s history. It’s now time to move on.

Surely it has not been easy for Abdullah as there were leaders who expressed their reservations, if not disappointment, at his decision.

There were concerns, even within the Cabinet, that the decision could split Umno further as supporters of his predecessor would not be comfortable, and even alienate Abdullah further.

Even some of his supporters asked if this was correct, given the massive loss in votes during the polls when voters punished Abdullah’s administration over the V.K. Lingam video clip issue. It was the Prime Minister who allowed the public inquiry and he paid heavily for the decision.

Then, there are those who feel the announcements were no more than “political cosmetics” by the Barisan to make up for the loss in the polls.

But the move to reform the judiciary must go beyond politics. DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the Opposition was prepared to support the Government in providing two-thirds majority required to amend the Federal Constitution.

The Bar Council and Government have also rightly invited Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah to the dinner last week.

But there will be plenty of work to do. The criteria and scope of the judicial commission would have to be drawn up and made known.

While legal experts, judges and lawyers would make up the board, the Government should also pick representatives from non-governmental organisations.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said consultations would possibly involve former Lord President Tun Salleh Abas.

There was also another piece of good news – Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz reportedly said the Anti-Corruption Agency wants to be independent and has suggested it should operate like the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption.

It was reported that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said had seen Abdullah over the proposal.

There is no reason why the Government should not support the proposal. The leaders have nothing to worry about if they are clean.

The public has long called for the independence of the ACA and that is what a credible anti-graft agency should have. Its work in weeding out corruption should not be meddled with by politicians.

Malaysians are not impressed with statements like the ACA also probed a RM9.90 bribe. Please! We are more interested in bribes ranging from RM9mil to RM90mil and more.

One popular dinner conversation among businessmen in Malaysia is why certain projects are allegedly over-priced and why taxpayers should be burdened with these extra costs from kickbacks.

Down the line, among ordinary wage earners and traders, we hear about corruption involving enforcement workers from the Customs and police to the local councils.

These lower rung government officers feel they should ask for some coffee money if the “jaws” are getting away with it.

And among Umno delegates, the word often used is money politics but seriously, it’s just a euphemism for corruption. Let’s not kid ourselves with the juggling of words for vote buying.

Malaysians also want to see a pro-active ACA which does not wait for reports to be lodged before it carries out investigations. And certainly broad terms like “abuses of power” have long confused Malaysians, who see them as punitive action against political rivals.

Abdullah needs to carry out these reforms quickly if the Barisan is to stay relevant in the next four years.

The pledges to reform the judiciary and to fight corruption were part of his 2004 election promises.

Malaysians are glad that he has finally started to carry them out.

Like a bull in a china shop

IT’S a terrible loss of face. For the Chinese government that is preparing for the biggest celebration of the New China, it must surely have felt the protests as an affront to the country.

The protests against China have certainly hurt the mainlanders but it would not be wrong to suggest that Chinese all over the world suspect that the demonstrations are planned to humiliate China.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said whatever the intentions of the demonstrations, the people of China believed that the protesters wanted to inflict the maximum humiliation on China and the Chinese people more than the Chinese government.

He warned yesterday that the recent protests along the Olympic torch relay had angered the Chinese people and would create “consequences” beyond the Games themselves.

Lee said it was a pity that the West could not understand the postings on the Internet from young Chinese, that “these displays of contempt for China and things Chinese” would have its impact well beyond the Games in August.

It doesn’t help that most countries depend on Western news agencies and news network for their coverage of the torch relay, and the sentiment is that the coverage is seemingly anti-China. The interviews have always been with pro-Tibetan protesters and hardly, if any, with pro-China protesters. Likewise the visuals on international news network, especially the CNN and the pro-right Fox News.

It doesn’t help that China seems unable to come up with a sophisticated public relations exercise, relying mostly on its Foreign Ministry spokesperson who has failed to project a refined and mature side of China.

Speaking entirely in Chinese at press briefings, surely Chinese leaders should realise that the rest of the world also want to hear directly from them, not via the translation of the newscaster.

China has its own CCTV station and those who had followed the protests in Tibet would have caught footages of riots, including attacks by Tibetans on Chinese, which have somehow been omitted by the Western media.

And it doesn’t help that the coverage by China on the Dalai Lama has been biased, emphasising too much on physical development without tackling the issues of the disappearing Tibetan culture, with allegations of a cultural genocide.

Neither has China helped its cause when its people resort to racial tones with criticisms that Tibetans are unproductive, aggressive and unappreciative of what China has done for them or high-handed talk of “crushing the rioters”.

One Australian journalist, Michael Backman, writing in The Age, said he received threats for “providing viewpoints that run counter to prevailing wisdom”.

He had highlighted some aspects of the Dalai Lama that most media reports ignore: the fact that in running his government in exile, he has been extraordinarily nepotistic by appointing many relatives to senior positions. He went a step further, accusing the Dalai Lama of being on the CIA payroll.

The murders of Chinese by Tibetans, he argued, were racially based attacks, comparing it to the 1998 riots in Jakarta. He said in Lhasa recently, four Chinese girls were burned alive when a clothing store in which they worked was set alight by Tibetan protesters.

The article, written in conjunction with his visit to Australia last year, was to counterbalance “the huge uncritical media coverage given to the Dalai Lama” at that time, which Backman said “has been excessively favourable and uncritical”.

In an article which the Western media missed – the real Tibet story on April 9 – Backman wrote that “China genuinely believes that Tibet has long been a part of China. The Tibetans genuinely believe the opposite.”

He argued that many rich Western travellers would prefer Tibet to stay stuck in the Middle Ages for their own personal enjoyment, “much in the same way economic sanctions have preserved Burma as the world’s largest living museum”.

He commented that “the vested interests that surround the Tibet issue are many and make it a great deal more complicated than simple slogans such as ‘Free Tibet’ suggests”.

It is not incredulous that Backman has been threatened. The mood, especially in Western countries, is against China and it has been never been easy to go against the flow of public sentiment. It is normal for people to hear what they want to hear and Backman, as a Western journalist, does so at the risk of being unpopular.

But the fact is that China has opened up to the world in recent years. By all purposes, it has embraced the capitalistic system.

For most Asians, the mainlanders have become overly materialistic and the manner some of the rich Chinese flout their wealth has irked many Asians.

With the explosive expansion of the middle class, it would only be a matter of time before the young demand democracy. Communism has to end in China eventually but certainly not the Russian way, as the West would want, which has disintegrated the Soviet Union.

China also cannot run away from the Tibet issue and, at some point, it should offer Tibet autonomy status, at least, as it has done for the predominantly Muslim province of Xinjiang.

As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. In the case of China, the opening ceremony on Aug 8, 2008, at 8 minutes, 8 seconds to 8pm, does not seem too prosperous now.

The old ways must go

LET’S give credit where credit is due. With a stroke of the pen, Perak Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has approved permanent land titles for new villages and planned villages.

True, the villagers may not get their titles overnight because surveys have to be carried out to determine land size before the titles can be issued. But the point is the people will be more secure now that the new state government has made a decision about their homes, which they have lived in since 1948.

The populist move by the Pakatan Rakyat government will surely make the fight for the hearts and minds of Malaysians with Barisan Nasional more competitive.

The new governments of Perak, Selangor and Penang, in particular, have also given power-sharing a new dimension among the major races.

The three parties of Pakatan Rakyat have come out with well-accepted line-ups, reflecting representation of the main ethnic groups. In one or two instances, the formula was more meaningful than under the previous Barisan state governments.

Fair decisions

In Penang, an Indian state assemblyman is a Deputy Chief Minister and there is talk that a Chinese may even be made Speaker of the Selangor State Legislature.

In Perak, PAS has been given the powerful Mentri Besar’s post although the other two parties have more seats combined.

In short, if these new state governments continue to make fair and popular decisions, the task of wresting these states back will become more difficult for Barisan, especially when there is no racial backlash to these decisions.

The March 8 election results serve a lesson not just for Barisan, which suffered a massive setback, but also to Pakatan Rakyat.

One, PAS has now adopted a more realistic approach by putting aside its agenda of setting up an Islamic state and implementing hudud laws.

Younger leaders such as party secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar are good moderating forces, and would wrestle with the party elders to meet the new demands of Malaysians.

Given the acceptance of the Islamist party by non-Muslims and vice-versa, and the Malays to the DAP, these opposition parties would have to adopt politics of accommodation, which Barisan parties have long practised.

For Barisan, the three main parties of Umno, MCA and MIC must accept the fact that they can no longer be too fixed on communal interests.

Umno, for example, should not be too constrained with Malay concerns to the point that its other loyal partners in Barisan are put in a spot. Sometimes, these concerns are merely imaginary.

Take the case of the Perak new villages, which was a bold decision by Nizar. In a pre-March 8 scenario, Umno could possibly be reluctant to be so generous and would have taken into account Malay concerns on such concessions.

The result is that the Barisan parties ended up tying themselves in a knot for being over-sensitive for no reason.

PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad, for example, reportedly visited the Church of Divine Mercy in Shah Alam to thank the congregation at the community hall and promised that PAS would be fair to all.

The challenge now is whether Umno politicians would be open-minded enough to do the same, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has done.

Of course, these could be dismissed as mere political expediency by PAS, especially to project a moderate approach. But Barisan leaders can no longer assume it is business as usual. These are unusual political times and the ruling elite had better wake up.

Young Malaysians do not find it appealing when parties merely champion the rights of their communities. They prefer a Malaysian response to issues that affect everyone.

Perceptions matter

The days of fiery speeches – with politicians expounding their narrow communal stance and pushing the political temperature with subtle threats – are over. The racial bogeyman no longer exists.

That’s why Barisan politicians must be careful when they focus their time and attention on their internal party polls so soon after the March 8 results. They must realise that Malaysians will question their commitment to the people.

Instead of rebuilding and reinventing their parties to meet the challenges ahead, some party members are only talking of contesting in polls that are scheduled for the end of the year.

These politicians should not portray themselves as being merely interested in securing party posts. Perceptions of the ordinary folk are equally important.

With PKR, DAP and PAS having already announced the formation of an alliance, Umno as the backbone of Barisan cannot afford to remain in a situation of perceived uncertainty.

Umno must reinvent itself and reinforce its leadership role in Barisan because the political equation has changed.

Our elected reps deserve better

Another Opposition MP said he was asked by the father of a bright student to buy a desktop computer, which was something new to the non-governmental organisation activist.

One Penang MP said he was stunned to find out that there were a few hundred Taoist temples in his constituency. Not only was he expected to turn up for prayers at every temple, but also to make donations.

From buying football jerseys for the school team to giving donations for a school magazine and wedding angpows or gifts, the average Malaysian MP is expected to say yes to all these demands, and more.

During the elections, many Opposition candidates campaigned along the lines that constituency concerns such as clogged drains should be left to the councils and, as legislators, they should be left to focus on the broader issues of the day.

Unrealistic expectations

They are right. Ratepayers should expect the local authorities to do their work and that the complaints should be channelled to these agencies rather than to their elected representatives, especially Members of Parliament.

Ideally, that should be the way but Malaysian voters, in both urban and rural areas, have bigger expectations, sometimes unrealistic, of their elected representatives.

Seasoned DAP MPs like Teresa Kok, Fong Kui Lun and Tan Kok Wai would have by now realised that their supporters require them not only to speak up in Parliament but also carry out mundane tasks like helping the children of their voters to enrol in certain schools deemed as prestigious.

These are unglamorous roles and their energies are often sapped just listening to complaints from residents, who think their MPs can wave the magic wand.

In a real world, however, the roles of our Yang Berhormat are not confined to just making speeches in Parliament, send out press statements and blog on the Internet. Good MPs work terribly hard and they keep long hours.

Many of the new MPs this time are full-time politicians, especially those from the DAP-PAS-PKR coalition, and certainly their budget would be affected in some ways.

It costs money to maintain a decent service centre with a few staff, sometimes paid ones, sometimes volunteers, and there are telephone bills to be paid. Certainly their allowances and claims as an MP, which average around RM13,000, are insufficient. A state assemblyman gets over RM5,000.

These are unrealistic amounts for professionals who want to give up their jobs to devote themselves to their constituencies.

In the DAP, the part-time politicians are also expected to deduct about 25% of their allowances for their party while for full-time politicians, it is around 15%. Recently, PAS reportedly expect their elected representatives to use 30% of their allowances for their constituents.

Our elected representatives, regardless of their parties, deserve a better deal. If they cannot have more allowances, at least the salaries of their workers or research assistants should be paid by the Government.

If our politicians, even those in the Opposition, have to depend on financial contributions from businessmen and interest groups, they would be indebted, in some ways, to these people.

Contributions from ceramah only help these parties in a minor way but not in the daily functions of a good service centre.

There would always be temptations to accept “donations” for party war chests but, as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. In state governments run by the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition, there will be no shortage of businessmen willing to support their “cause” but Malaysians expect these new leaders to be shining examples.

Top-notch candidates

For that matter, our ministers should be better paid, like those in Singapore and Hong Kong, if we want top-notch candidates to enter politics. By paying them more, we will actually save more but there should be a catch – the price to pay for corruption should be high.

There is no reason why the Anti-Corruption Agency should not be made independent and answerable only to Parliament. What is the point of talking about transparency and integrity if we are unable to allow the ACA to act without fear or favour?

People should not be entering politics to make money. If that happens, political parties would be doomed from the start because the wrong people would be attracted to join them.

But the March 8 elections have brought in a new breed of politicians who are determined to fend off the old demands of voters. Just as voters demand change, they, too, must change in their demands.

New politics demands reforms

COMMENT BY WONG CHUN WAI

NEWLY-appointed Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Chik still stays in an apartment. The Terengganu politician insists he hasn’t changed, and will not.

“I have just told my colleagues at Angkasapuri not to ask me to give away prizes at a radio station music awards presentation,” he said.

“You don’t see the US president giving away Grammy awards. It’s better that a name like M. Nasir be invited.

“Let’s leave entertainment to people who know it best. That would be my last award.”

Shabery has also given another instruction to his staff at Angkasapuri – there is no need for him to be in the news bulletin, unless it is newsworthy.

“My ratings may go up, but the station’s ratings would go down,” he joked to senior newspaper editors at a lunch on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

In short, RTM will now focus on news, not personalities, to ensure Malaysians are well informed, and to stop the practice of making the Information Minister the “No 3 Man” in the order of news priority after the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. That’s not all.

He has pressed the right buttons so far, including acknowledging the growing importance of the alternative media by saying he would meet with bloggers.

But the group of seasoned newsmen was also quick to remind him that newly-elected politicians often took office with much promises and enthusiasm but along the way forgot the pledges they made, regardless of their political allegiance.

Shabery has one of the most difficult portfolios in the Cabinet.

As Information Minister, he has control over RTM and Bernama, the national news agency, and other information departments.

But it is Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar who has more clout, as the annual renewal of newspaper permits comes under his purview, while private television stations are answerable to Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

Still, at Cabinet meetings, the views of Shabery, who used to contribute articles to newspapers, would be sought when it comes to issues relating to the media. Just like his predecessor Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin.

Shabery is one of the youngest ministers, and certainly one of the most open-minded. It is a plus point, because the old rules are no longer applicable after the March 8 political tsunami.

The Barisan Nasional, especially Umno, and the Government, must realise that it can no longer be business as usual.

It would be foolish for the Barisan to dismiss the electoral setbacks as merely temporary, and to expect a massive swing to the coalition in four years.

Malaysians have not just spoken up, but have made massive changes to the political system, too.

They want the old ways to go. They also want the media to change; and there are options they can turn to, including the New Media.

At the luncheon, Shabery said that one of the reasons the people did not support the Barisan in the elections was that they did not understand issues such as the rising fuel prices.

A better approach would be the way the media disseminates information.

For a start, Shabery should attempt to reform RTM along the lines of the British Broadcasting Corporation, which is state financed but has maintained its independence.

It would not be easy, and the Cabinet may not agree with him, but he has to try new approaches to change from within.

He must also fight to remove the laws affecting the media such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which has become obsolete in the present time with tools such as the SMS on mobile phones and with the Internet.

The annual permit for newspapers is like a shackle to the print media; and, worse, it makes the Government look bad.

There are enough laws, such as the Sedition Act, and civil suits against newspapers and bloggers. So, let’s remove the ones that impede press freedom.

At a time when the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition are making populist changes in the states they control, the Federal Government must be prepared to show it is more open and ready to make radical reforms.

Removing laws that hinder press freedom is not a sign of weakness or bowing to pressure, but a sign of strength – that the Government listens to the people.

Shabery seems to be ready to adopt fresh approaches, and just as the PKR-DAP-PAS state governments must be given a chance to perform, let’s see how Shabery intends to carry out reforms in an age regarded as the new politics of Malaysia.

A new age of politics

On The Beat

By WONG CHUN WAI

FOR decades, the first thing DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang did every morning was to read the newspapers over breakfast. That included the evening edition of Chinese newspapers from the night before.

He would then spend the morning writing his daily press statements.

Today, not much has changed. If the former journalist once used his typewriter, he now relies on his computer. He has embraced all the new tools of communication, including setting up his own blog.

The veteran politician hits hard at his targets: every issue, from his perspective, is almost a scandal and he is fond of calling for the setting up of an independent commission of inquiry.

An orator, he still pulls the crowd at every ceramah, as evident during the recent general election.

It’s a hard life, but even Cabinet ministers privately acknowledge that Kit Siang is an institution in Malaysian politics.

This time around, he did not contest in any state seat, choosing to defend only his Ipoh Timur parliamentary seat.

If he had contested, he would probably be part of a state government, whether Perak or Penang.

But it seems fated that he remains in the Opposition bench and, this time, not even as the Opposition Leader as the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition has decided to let Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail take that role.

Changed roles

His son, Guan Eng, has been luckier. He is now the Penang Chief Minister and his aides joked that he can stop writing press statements every day, like his father. They want him to act like a Chief Minister and stop being the Opposition man.

But being in Opposition may be tough for the previous Mentris Besar of Kedah, Perak and Selangor: Datuk Seri Madzhir Khalid, Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli and Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo will certainly have to start afresh.

Former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon may have had a Gerakan CM-in-waiting but the results have totally obliterated the Gerakan presence in the state assembly.

Still, it can be expected that his views will be sought, as though he were Opposition leader, on issues regarding the performance of the state government.

What is clear is that, for a start, all these Barisan stalwarts will have to accept the political reality after the March 8 political tsunami. Without the privileges of power that come with holding the reins of government, they have to start carrying out their functions with party backing.

They have to think and act like opposition figures, to scrutinise the performance of the new state executive councillors and to jump on them like good oppositionists.

As state opposition leaders, they would also need to create issues that can seize the imagination of the people, and hope that these can be translated into votes in the next polls.

They also have to convince their followers, and possibly even themselves, that there is now a new age of Malaysian politics.

The political tsunami did not happen without the combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian voters who wanted change. There was cross-ethnicity voting, with Malays voting for DAP and the non-Malays readily backing PAS.

In short, issues relating to protecting Malay rights such as the New Economic Policy did not strike a chord. Neither did the PAS’ agenda of implementing Islamic laws frighten the non-Malays.

PAS has been quick to reinvent itself. Its young leaders have put aside religious issues, making its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang seem out of place with his hudud talk. Even Kit Siang has talked of an arrangement with PAS.

The last thing these Umno state opposition leaders would want to talk about is any issue that smacks of race. They should also ask their leaders to stop any form of protest gatherings.

With the Umno party elections just months away, there would be the temptation to project the ethnic slant but a lesson to learn is that certain instances of such posturing, such as the keris-wielding incident, have cost the Barisan massive damage. So did the fiery speeches. If they had helped, the Barisan would not have got into this mess.

It’s the same with the MCA and MIC. They have to be cautious with the issues and projects that they want to impress on their delegates. It may earn applause with the middle-aged delegates but not necessarily with the younger voters, who make up 53% of Malaysians aged 24 years and below.

Five years is just a short time away. Barisan component parties have begun serious assessment of themselves, even hiring independent analysts, to find out the causes within and outside for the setbacks.

Wake-up call

The Barisan may have been punished at the recent polls, much more than even the voters could have imagined or wanted, but the coalition has not been rejected entirely.

It would not be presumptuous to say that the voters want them to wake up and to think hard.

How the new Cabinet ministers perform, how the various Barisan component leaders behave, and how the Umno state opposition leaders conduct themselves – all would be crucial for the future of Barisan and the country.

Even how the mainstream media carry out their role need to be scrutinised.

The old ways do not work any more.

The New Politics of Malaysia has emerged with Malaysians demanding changes, not just from the Barisan, but from the new state governments they installed.

Malaysians have spoken loud and clear. They have tasted the power they have to shift the political landscape in just 24 hours. They will be more demanding than ever before, and that’s good for a more dynamic Malaysian civil society.

Cafe Latte Chat with Lim Guan Eng

What’s brewing for Penang?

CAFE LATTE CHAT

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng is aware that expectations are high for his newly-elected administration in governing Penang. He has had his share of headlines, sometimes for the wrong reasons, but he is determined to get on with the job.

In this special Cafe Latte Chat, the first one-on-one discussion since this series was started last December, he shares his thoughts with The Star’s Group Chief Editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai while responding to selected e-mail questions sent in by readers.

In just two days, The Star was overwhelmed with over 500 e-mails for the new Chief Minister. The questions came not only from Penangites but from all over the country, as well as a good number from Malaysians abroad.

Although the number was high, the questions posed were roughly along the same lines. Some were concerned about local issues like traffic congestion and even street names. Many, however, wanted the Chief Minister to bring the shine back to Penang, asking him to clean up the beaches, restore the free port status, and focus on tourism.

There were also questions on how to attract foreign direct investment and lure Penangites home to serve the state. A popular question was how the state would deal with the Federal Government.

Online queries: Lim looking at the questions sent in by readers of The Staron Wong’s laptop during the Cafe Latte session at the Chief Minister’s office in Penang yesterday.

ADMINISTRATION Without any experience working in the state or Federal Cabinet, how do you expect to run the state? Arlene

Lim: When we talk about experience, I always say that I don't have experience in corruption and misappropriation of funds. So it is with that attitude – that if we are honest and have a sense of integrity, we have the ability and capability to do it. Of course it is a learning curve but if based on good principles, values and governance, I think we can benefit the state and get things done.

How will you ensure that Penang will be better than when it was previously under the Barisan Nasional especially in carrying out projects like the monorail and Second Penang Bridge? Unnamed

Lim: Number one is that there will be no “sweetheart deals”. We want everything to be above board. We want public interest to be paramount. If there is any hanky panky going on, we will immediately identify and take action. The fact is that this government is built on integrity. Don't try to get your way around through sweetheart deals and don't expect handouts. We are doing everything clean, everything above board and what we want is your service and your ability to deliver.

We support all federal projects like the monorail and Second Penang Bridge but we are suggesting using money from Petronas so that we don't have to bear such a high cost. Look at the Sungai Nyior toll plaza. Just because you convert it from a “federal road” to “highway”, you charge a toll. That is ridiculous. How can there be four traffic lights at four intersections? So that is why when we talk about federal projects it must be about the people. Basically, I am saying that profits should not be privatised.

INVESTMENT/ECONOMY

How would you handle the delicate balance between the need for development and economic growth of Penang, the Federal Government and DAP objectives? Keith Saw (Melbourne, Australia)

Lim: This is a symbiotic relationship. You cannot fulfil the equity aspect without growth. You have to have growth to deal with the equity requirements. Just like a ship. If a ship wants to turn, it cannot do so immediately, it must move forward first and then turn. So when you talk about the equity aspect, you must grow first, then you can move. We must grow together and I believe we can have shared prosperity.

Since you may face many difficulties in getting financial resources to develop Penang, would you consider going out to the community residing abroad, namely in China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan to get their support to invest in Penang? WM Mak

Lim: I do not want to talk about the Chinese, Indian or Malay diasporas. What we are talking about is the Penang diaspora. We should not just look at one country or a particular group. We will be more resilient if we do not limit ourselves.

There is talk about bringing Penangites home. How do you propose to do that? And what are the areas where you feel they can contribute? Jelutong Boy

Lim: They can invest in the state or adopt old buildings. Even if you adopt a small wing it will be good. Help make Penang a place where tourists want to come. Tourists are interested in greenery like the Botanic Gardens. This should be enhanced but needs heavy investment so the only way is to draw foreign investment.

I am a Penangite currently studying in the UK. I would like to find out what is the way forward for Penang? What will be the emphasis? Jason Goh Wei Hsiung (Newcastle Upon Tyne)

Lim: ‘I don’t boycott newspapers’

Lim: The aim is to make Penang dynamic again. We have said that many times in our campaign. We are not just talking about physical development but we are also making sure that the people's needs are being taken care of. We want a kinder, caring government that listens to complaints. We must make sure that basic services are provided for. We have taken the lead in democracy and must continue to do so in socio-economic justice and equal economic opportunity so when we talk about development, it must benefit Penangites and not just a few people.

I am a Malaysian residing in Bahrain – the hub of financial movements in the Gulf Region and Middle East. I have been promoting bilateral links between the business community of Malaysia and the Middle East. Before the general election, we established the Malaysia Gulf Co-operation Countries Business Council and were promoting Malaysia as the preferred location for investment and business manufacturing operations. However, the key investment locations like Perak, Selangor and Penang have fallen to the Opposition. How strongly will the government of Penang and Selangor assist potential investors and provide positive assistance through the Ministry of International Trade and Industry? B. Norman Nathan (Secretary-general, Malaysia Gulf Co-operation Countries Business Council)

Lim: If they are a proven outfit that can draw in quality business, we will lend support. We have no qualms. We want quality investment. Our main priority is for Penang to prosper but we want quality investment that lets us move up the value chain and makes us a premier tourist destination. For that we need infrastructure and hotels that are up to mark. We need high standards and the Penang state government will take the lead together with the private sector.

POLITICS You have been on the other side for quite sometime. What is the difference, being on the powerful side now? Mohamad Khairulnizam Bakeri (Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia)

Lim: Of course, it's an eye-opening experience; the fact that the destiny and fate of 1.5 million Penangites are on my shoulders. You feel it heavily. At night you cannot sleep. You think about the many things you haven't done and need to do.

But at the same time it is easier to get information and hopefully, the information is correct. I want to ensure that public interest is protected.

For example, planning approvals. I want to introduce in the state exco meeting that planning approvals also be required for non-Muslim places of worship.

Is there a formalised blueprint on the new state government's pledge to help bumiputras in Penang so that they are not marginalised? Ahmad Faizal Abdul Aziz (Gelugor, Penang)

Lim: When you talk about helping Penangites, you cannot just limit it to one community. It is not just the bumiputras who have been left out. The non-Malays have also been left out. We should help every Penangite in need. We should be colour-blind and if the Malays are the ones marginalised, there is no question about our commitment to helping them. Also, bear in mind that we were not the ones to marginalise the Malays. So if they say that the Malays are marginalised, are they saying that they marginalised the Malays? I am not going to play the racial game. I don’t want to compartmentalise and say that I only want to help Chinese, Indians or Malays. We want to help all Malaysians in need.

One of the major reasons the people rejected the previous government was because of the lavish lifestyle of the leaders. Can you eliminate this and focus on being down-to-earth leaders? Rizal H Ruslan (Tasek Gelugor, Penang)

Lim: Let me give you an example. For safety reasons, I was requested to move into the chief minister's official residence. The CPO said that my personal safety was his top priority.

I was making plans to do so but then I found out – typical Malaysian problem – bumbung bocor. But they just did the renovations. It will cost RM300,000 to repair but I did not want to come into my first term and spend so much money, so I am staying at my dad's place temporarily.

This is the message I want to convey – we do not want to splurge unnecessarily except for the office where you need the latest equipment.

Land alienation is another big problem. We want to make it public and do it on an auction basis. That way we can get the highest price.

The past practices were riddled with corruption and cronyism. The only way to get rid of this is through transparency and open tender and public disclosure. If we have it on the Internet, everyone in the country will have access to it.

We cannot completely eliminate abuse but we can reduce it. I believe that everyone in Penang will support it. Some people question why the same faces are always getting it but with transparency, at least even if they don't get it, they will be satisfied.

Do you think the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition will measure up and deliver in five years or less? Chooi Kah Mun (Bayan Lepas, Penang)

Lim: We have no choice; otherwise, we will be thrown out. So we have to measure up. We have to meet the expectations of the people but we hope that the people will give us the opportunity. We are under tremendous pressure from the Federal Government and certain parties that want us to fail. We cannot fail. That is not an option.

Since the rakyat has given the opportunity for the Opposition to rule five states, will the DAP, PKR and PAS change its name to Barisan Rakyat? Kelvin Chan

Lim: That is definitely on the table. We would prefer that the state governments we form with the support of all the three parties would be a push towards creating a framework for cooperation but that is still a long way down the line. Let us allow the state governments to function before we talk about the future. This is something that is definitely on the table although it wasn't in the past. This is something even the people realise. As long as some fundamental issues like freedom of religion, Islamic state, or hudud laws are not principle struggles of PAS and they want to talk about democracy, that is a positive step.

Can you comment on the fairness of mainstream media? Ng Mok Huat

Lim: Let me give you an example: A newspaper asked me what I was going to do. I said we would still go ahead with the open tender. What was reported was that Guan Eng would continue to go against the NEP. This is completely false reporting.

We have complained to Bernama and they apologised. They take responsibility and hopefully will improve on this. What we want is factual reporting. This newspaper, however, is still caught in a time warp. They are in the dinosaur age.

Can you comment on calls to boycott the mainstream media because of unfair reporting? Ng Mok Huat

Lim: I don't boycott newspapers.

LOCAL GOVT

What is the state government's commitment to preserving the heritage buildings in the state? Lim Sue Lin (Penangite in Kuala Lumpur)

Lim: What we are committed to is that in the planning process, we will not give blanket approval. But refurbishment and restoration is expensive. I am willing to go abroad not only to get investment but also to get funds for restoration but we must sort out the legal aspects.

If we cannot sort out these legal problems, we must see whether we can get the owners to restore the buildings.

If they cannot afford it, they should give us a lease or sell it to the government or international bodies who are interested in conservation. The question is whether this government is interested in development or conservation.

The public parking lots are full of unwanted rusty vehicles – mostly cars with flat tyres in the Sungai Dua, Gelugor and Relau areas. These have become an eyesore in Penang. Thomas Wong

Lim: We have to get enforcement officers to do it. If we can sell it to the besi karat people, we can make quite a lot of money. We will get the council to act on it.

Parking fees are not standardised and are too high in Penang. Some use meters and some issue tickets. Parking fees even stretch through 10pm during Sunday/public holidays. This system only applies in Penang. Ng Mok Huat

Lim: This also happens in other states, even in Kuala Lumpur. We haven't made an analysis but I was made to understand that this was because some areas have high demand.

Sometimes standardisation may not be possible but we will do a study. The more important issue is simply issuing summonses. That is why we cancelled all those parking summonses. I am sure many reporters were very happy because they have been victims where they pay but are still issued summonses because the number was written wrongly. We have asked MPPP to improve. We must have a review with common guidelines implemented. We don't want to create chaos unless it is creative chaos.

What are the plans to improve Komtar to its previous state? Khoo Keng Cheang (Tanjung Bunga, Penang)

Lim: The previous administration wanted this to be the shining crown of the Pearl of the Orient but as you can see, Komtar is run down and might probably be outshone by the Penang Times Square.

We have asked the PDC to come up with a plan to redevelop Komtar and probably we will have some input but Komtar is important to rejuvenate George Town. You cannot expect Penang to prosper without George Town prospering. Komtar must shine again but it must not be at the expense of the local traders. It must be a win-win situation. Our main offices are also here and we do not want to move. We should just set up branches of administration.

TOURISM What's your plan to improve Penang tourism, to the next level? William Cheah

Lim: I was meeting with Matta the other day and we were looking at macro plans. There are certain aspects that we can improve. We need more tourist attractions.

Whether aquarium or aqua tourism projects, we will consider. We want to develop more tourism attractions not so that private companies can profit but to enhance and make the places easier for people to enjoy. For example Bukit Bendera – we must improve access. Fundamental problems like cleanliness, traffic congestion and inaccessibility, and creating basic infrastructure must be addressed.

You talk about inviting tourists but you must also focus on inbound tourists. We do not understand why Penang is treated like a stepchild. We are not included in the main itinerary for tourists when the three main destinations in Peninsular Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur-Genting, Langkawi and Malacca. What about Penang, which was supposed to be the Pearl of the Orient?

We hope that with Unesco listing, we can attract more people to come here. Penang has her own natural brand name. We must build on that because this will also benefit the neighbouring states as well as Malaysia.

Penang airport is very dirty, giving tourists a bad impression. Thomas Wong (visitor to Penang)

Lim: Sometimes I also find that it is not up to mark but this is beyond my control because it does not come under my purview.

I was recently talking to Datuk Syed Mohd Aidid – he is an Umno man but he gets things done. When the Penang Port was under him, the ferry system was making money; so why not find people who are able to make money for Penang run the show again?

Now they are making losses. But I can't do anything because it is under federal.

What I am saying is appoint the right people for the job. The main criteria are that they are honest, and have a track record of getting things done.

ENVIRONMENT What are the top environmental priorities that your state government will address this year?

Yeo Bee Hong (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah)

Lim: We have to deal with cleanliness. It is a fundamental environmental issue. There is a long-term need to see how we can make Sungai Pinang and Sungai Juru not the dirtiest rivers in Malaysia and South-East Asia. These are considered level-five toxic.

One of my assemblymen plunged into one of these rivers and came out with swollen feet even though he only immersed himself for 15 minutes – you can imagine the toxic levels. It is not an open sewer – it is a toxic dump. Cleanliness and cleaning up – how can we achieve this? We definitely cannot do it in a year – no way – but we need to make some improvements to the cleanliness of these two rivers.

Gurney Drive needs your immediate attention. Could you please let us know if you have any plans to clean up Gurney Drive? Tan Phaik Chee (Persiaran Gurney, Penang)

Lim: I think this has to do with the land reclamation projects like PORR. Now the only way out is to reclaim Gurney Drive. The water current and contour changes with the tide so that is the danger of messing around with nature. Nature always has a way of getting back. So when you talk about the dirty water and the physical changes along Gurney Drive, it is not something we can change. The whole character has changed.

What we can do is to think of other methods like reclaiming an island outside to prevent silt from coming in.

We have to see the impact of the Tanjung Tokong reclamation first. We have planning approval powers so we will ask the developers to look into this. As Chief Minister of Penang, I invite you to clean up the beach of Batu Ferringhi. Anthony Fowke (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)

Lim: That we will try to do but I have been informed by the municipal council president that they do conduct regular checks and the beach is quite good. So to those who have complaints, please let us know or call the council. If they do not act, we will act.

Penang tap water contains too much chlorine. Thomas Wong (visitor to Penang)

Lim: The quality is not as good as before and we need to have a check with the PBA to see how we can improve. Five to 10 years ago, it was much better and I find that sad.

CRIME

How would you make Penang a safer place to live where residents do not have to worry about crimes just like in the 70s and 80s. Koay LK (Jelutong Road, Penang)

Lim: We are putting in more CCTVs but the most effective way would be to increase police patrols and cut down red tape and abuses. We need more personnel.

I feel that patrolling is more effective than having more police stations. Some police stations only have one girl taking down reports at midnight. She is in danger because people can just come in and hurt her.

That's why I am saying that we need more police personnel. Instead of patrolling the streets, the police are doing administrative work. We will continue to press for this at the federal level.

Behave like true sportsmen

On The Beat

By WONG CHUN WAI

IF is there is one thing true sportsmen learn from day one is that you shake the hands of your rivals after a game.

You congratulate them, sulk all you want in the changing room and then go back to the training ground to gear yourself up for the next match.

The winner, on the other hand, should not gloat over his win and be unnecessarily arrogant.

And of course, the last thing you want is to have your fans, whether of the winners or losers, to go to the streets to cause mischief.

The politicians in Penang should take a leaf from true sportsmen. Not the sort one watches on the English Premier League, where arrogant footballers abuse the referee and throw tantrums, even when they wear the captain’s armband.

The impression one gets after the protest by Umno leaders at Komtar on Friday is that they are bad losers.

The reality is that the DAP, with the support of PKR and PAS, has formed the Penang state government and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is now the Chief Minister.

It is hard for the Barisan Nasional, especially Umno, to accept the fact that they are in opposition but the people have decided. For the next five years, the DAP will be running the state and the Barisan must learn to live with that.

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was knocked out in the elections, graciously accepted the loss like a true gentleman. He called up the Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow to congratulate him and promised a smooth handing over of power.

He turned up at the swearing-in ceremony of Lim, difficult as it may have been; he has earned the respect of most Penangites, even those who had been highly critical of him when he was Chief Minister.

He has also called on the federal government to continue with projects such as the Second Penang Bridge, Penang Outer Ring Road, monorail and the public transport system despite the calls from Penang Umno to scrap it.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, too, conceded defeat in the states even before the official announcements were made.

Despite the allegations of massive rigging and cheating, the opposition won five states. That means democracy is alive in Malaysia and just as the Elections Commission has been bashed, it now deserves to be commended for carrying out a fair election.

The police, too, came under criticism but they displayed their professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities, like good referees do. Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has our salute.

But it is something else for the Penang Umno leaders. Having criticised the opposition for street gatherings previously, they should not stoop to that level; the communal slant is certainly regrettable.

They disrupted the traffic at Komtar and the shopkeepers had to shut down their businesses, which was no different from the Bersih and Hindraf street protests in Kuala Lumpur which we condemned.

There should be no place for political grandstanding or emotive outbursts, as lawyer Zaid Ibrahim correctly said on a news website, as the winners and losers grapple with the results. For sure, there should be no fanning of communal sentiments.

At the same time, Lim cannot be simply left off the hook. Call it political inexperience if you want, but it was wrong for him to announce that he would end the affirmative actions of the New Economic Policy from day one. That gave his opponents plenty of fire to shoot him and certainly he doesn’t need it as he tries to run a state government, which won’t be easy for him. He needs to realise that his government machinery is predominantly Malay and many Malays also voted for the DAP.

There is nothing wrong with the NEP, only its implementation. Lim has to ensure that the NEP benefits the poor and not the rich with political connections. No one would fault him for that.

These are early days for all sides. Opposition parties can no longer be called opposition at state levels and they are struggling to keep the governments running, realising the complexities of it now.

The Barisan component parties, with internal polls for Umno and MCA ahead, have gone on to the blame game. It will certainly not help them redeem their dented image and may cause a further slide.

Their priority is to reassess themselves and to ask how radical the changes they need to make to remain relevant – or will they stick to the old mould?

The Barisan is still in charge at federal level and they have many chances to make populist decisions if they want to.

We have to face the fact that the political landscape in Malaysia has changed. The New Politics has emerged with cross-ethnicity voting taking place and no one party dares say it is fully entrenched.

Denial syndrome must end

COMMENT
By WONG CHUN WAI

THE SMS has got to be the most effective weapon in helping the Opposition knock out the Barisan Nasional. With over 22 million mobile subscribers, the SMS link connected urban and rural Malaysia such that news in one part of the country reached another part in mere seconds.

Three hours before polling closed, Malaysians were flooded with messages alleging electoral fraud in several constituencies contested by key Barisan leaders. That was enough to further raise the political temperatures of many Malaysians, who had already made up their mind to vote against the coalition.

There were more blows to come. Umno Youth deputy leader Khairy Jamaluddin was accused of being in a sex video. Those who took the trouble to check the blog found it didn't even resemble him, but the question remains – how many people were duped into believing this rumour or took the trouble to check?

Some of these messages were serious and direct but most poked fun at the Barisan. And certainly they worked effectively in this general election.

The bloggers and alternative media also inflicted serious wounds onto the Barisan but the impact may not be as strong as it has been made out to be. Admittedly, Urban Malaysia preferred these channels of information to the mainstream media, which certainly was part of the debacle of the Barisan defeat.

But it was the mammoth-sized ceramah, especially in Penang, that translated into votes, especially in the western states of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah.

New Media analyst Oon Yeoh correctly commented in an article that the Internet was mainly for city folk. Many rural folk do not have access to the Internet and so did not benefit from information sent via online media, blogs or e-mail, he said.

During his visit to Jelutong, where blogger Jeff Ooi contested, Oon found out that most voters had barely heard of Jeff's blog and even fewer had visited it. It was the Chinese dailies, according to Ooi, who helped make him a known face to Penangites.

Oon wrote that one of the volunteers, a 42-year-old salesman who wanted to only be known as William, confessed he had never heard of Ooi before nomination day, much less visited his blog.

Ooi himself stopped blogging midway during the campaign period, preferring to give press conferences to the print media, speak at ceramah and meet his voters directly.

It was the traditional method of campaigning that played the major role. Certainly, it was the Rocket symbol, rather than Jeff Ooi the blogger, riding on the anti-establishment mood that led to his strong victory.

Some Barisan candidates also turned to blogging, hoping to connect with the young, but they gave up because the number of visitors was just too low.

Another development was that the Internet helped raise over RM100,000 in online donations, primarily for the Opposition candidates, with a large portion coming from overseas. It is probably the first time in Malaysian political history that political donations were raised this way.

Two news websites emerged during the elections, MalaysiaVotes.com and MalaysianInsider.com, but being newcomers, it was difficult for them to compete with the more established Malaysiakini.

The websites of mainstream newspapers had an even tougher time, being overly cautious on accuracy, particularly on results, and not wanting to rely too much on unconfirmed news.

In the end, the alternative media scored better as it did not have to worry too much about accuracy. An example was the newsflash on the purported 14 unopened ballot boxes in Lembah Pantai, implying there would be rigging. The report turned out to be false.

But this election was a wake-up call to the nation, not just to the leadership, but also the media. A serious and honest soul searching is required to truly feel the pulse of Malaysians. The mainstream newspapers have to learn, quickly, or face being abandoned by their readers.

As Bernama general manager Datuk Azman Ujang rightly said, Malaysians have spoken loud and clear, “not only on what kind of government they want but also the kind of media they prefer”.

Despite the mainstream media bashing, newspapers have sold well over the past two weeks, with the Singapore Straits Times quoting a media consultant G. Manimaran as saying that “for the first time in 20 years of journalism, I am seeing people queuing up to buy newspapers”.

With opposition parties now in control of five state governments, the media, including government-run TV stations, must be prepared to relook its editorial policies. Some vernacular newspapers, too, must end their communal slant as they should take into account that the votes for the Opposition came from all races.

The winds of change have swept through Malaysia and the fact is everyone, especially the media, has to wake up to that reality. It should be accepted, not resisted. The denial syndrome has to stop.