For my son, when he grows up, this site will be my legacy for him. The decisions his mother and I made for him, to understand them, to learn from them and to lead a life without prejudice and to succeed in it on his own merit.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Loser keepers, finder weepers

REMEMBER, DIRT STICKS

AFTER more than seven months in power, the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor is still discovering "irregularities" committed by the previous government formed by the Barisan Nasional which it ousted on March 8. Had the previous administration abided by the principles of good government, it could have stayed on. In fact, for about 50 years the people of Selangor knew of no other government than that formed by the BN.

However because of the long tenure, it gathered a lot of dirt just like any other government which stayed too long did. There were, therefore, abuses and cover-ups.

After 50 years, it tended to lose sight of why it was there in the first place and was lulled into a false sense of security that no matter what it did, the people would return it to power in the next election. So sure was it of being returned again and again that many malpractices – sometimes no longer considered so after years and years of being considered perkara biasa – were not even covered up by the time of the general election, hoping to do so when it was sworn in again after polling day.

But the people, no longer amused by being taken for granted for years and years, decided that enough is enough. The latest "irregularities" are found in the government’s property development arm, the Selangor Government Development Corporation or PKNS. Discovered was a conflict of interest situation in the management structure of the corporation for a long time considered as perkara biasa. Among other abuses also probably considered perkara biasa by PKNS was the payment of RM100,000 "bonus" to its former chairman and mentri besar, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. The series of abuses in the corporation was disclosed by Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Monday. He said more disclosures would be made later. While the discovery of the irregularities could provide a lot of political mileage for the parties in the ruling state government, it should also act as a warning to them to constantly remind those at the helm of power in Selangor that they are accountable to the people for whatever they do.

Those governing the state now, too, can leave dirt that will be certain to be discovered when the next government takes over. Thus, those in the ruling group should take heed that whatever "evil that they do" can come back to haunt them later. At the same time they are also to be congratulated for attempting several innovations that can only augur well for the future and happiness of all the people in Selangor. One of them is the appointment of one of PKNS’s Chinese managers as the corporation’s overall boss, albeit in a temporary and acting capacity.

- The Sun Speaks

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