by Hou Yalun/translated by Soong Phui Jee
Along the 17 months since the formation of Pakatan Rakyat, the first 12 months was a honeymoon and internals problem, including the personnel disputes within the party and frictions among the three component parties, have started to surface over the past five months.
After BN wrestled back the Perak state government, there were rumours that BN is now aiming for Selangor. Faced with internal and external problems, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who is keeping an eye on BN's governance, could not help but to urge his own party members to be vigiloant to avoid being defeated before the end of their term.
Lim, like anyone else, could not have expected the 8 March general election results. But they still have to complete the promises they made to the people.
However, Pakatan is still unstable even 17 months after its formation. Its internal conflicts are the greatest pressures, as well as the greatest worry for Lim.
Lim seemed to have reservations on whether Pakatan would capture the federal govenrment in the next general elections. “To do” and “can do” are two different things. Lim is still unclear about the tendency of Chinese voters as he is clearly understands that the recent Pakatan problems have made the people wonder whether they should pin their hopes on Pakatan.
Lim admitted that Pakatan is facing the most serious crisis and if they want the people to continue support Pakatan in the next general elections, they will have to first be matured!
After the 8 March general elections, various remarks that incited racial sentiments could be heard everywhere and racial relations are still very acute and sensitive. MCA, which claimed to be the biggest Chinese based political party, is currently trapped in a party crisis. Many issues related to the Chinese community's interests have been shelved. Meanwhile, DAP, with most of its supporters are Chinese, has failed to escape from Pas' Islamic state controversy.
Pakatan's problems have surfaced one after another and Lim realised the disappointment of Pakatan's supporters, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and netizens.
Could Pakatan have another breakthrough after the 8 March general elections to take over the federal government? With the internal and external problems, even a brave politician Lim would nbot venture to guess.
The honeymoon is over
Question: Pakatan was formed right after the 8 March general elections. You said that it was a challenge. And now Pakatan has been formed for one and a half year, could you talk about the cooperation experience?
Answer: The formation of Pakatan was indeed initiated after the 8 March general elections. It was as well the people's will. We were not facing the general elections as a front but it was for the ruling in a few states. The 17 months was a test, a test to see whether Pakatan is able to deliver its promises to the people.
The people had great expectations of Pakatan in the first 12 months.
But undoubtedly, the internal and external incidents over the past five months have made many people wonder: Can we still trust Pakatan?
Internally, there are endless quarrels and externally, the ruling party has taken a series of concrete campaigns to attack Pakatan, particularly after the Perak regime change. BN has shifted its focus on Selangor. It has declared a war to Pakatan by using all the government-owned institutions.
Pakatan is currently facing a very severe test.
Q: Is there any problem among the member parties over the first 12 months of cooperation?
A: There are three different parties with different stands in Pakatan. It is impossible to have no problem at all. Most importantly, we know how to manage these problems. Inevitably, more problems surface as time passes.
Difference in views are inevitable but we must prioritise the main goals. We have a common important task, which is to drive the country's political reform, give a new hope for democracy and end a party's dominance through a two-line system. At the same time, we have to drive democratisation, making the country more transparent, fair and liberal.
The most important thing is, whether we can keep our general direction? We must think whether we want to leave the differences and take the general direction as our common goal or let the differences to cover up the general direction?
Q: The differences over the past five months have made the people wonder whether it was a right decision to support Pakatan. Does this mean that the internal differences have gone out of control?
A: We are still facing the challenge to see whether we are able to overcome the differences without losing the general direction. Therefore, we convened a meeting to reiterate the most important goal and direction for Pakatan, as well as the need to restore the people's confidence in Pakatan.
We must have a sense of crisis in facing internal and external challenges.
We have reached a consensus to reiterate the importance of Pakatan. Simultaneously, we must not ignore the phenomenon of the past few months that have made the people to lose confidence in Pakatan.
Q: Do do you know that the people have started to lose confidence in Pakatan?
A: From the remarks made by NGOs and bloggers, we can see their disappointment. Not only them, we are disappointed with our inability to solve the problems among ourselves. We think that we should not be ineffectively in resolving some of the problems. We ourselves are disappointed.
Q: Do you think that Pakatan will be able to restore the people's confidence by the next general elections?
A: If we can reflect on this issue jointly and understand that we need to restore the people's confidence, I believe that we can come out with a new situation.
Q: Do you have the confidence to solve the internal problems?
A: We all hope so, but every party must have discipline and the same focus.
Q: Do you have the same confidence in the other two parties?
A: We have reached a consensus that we should have a new start. We should give an opportunity for Pakatan to perform its best.
Q: Do you think that all of you have the sincerity?
A: All of us have the sincerity to see a new political situation. We want not only a comprehensive reform after the 8 March general elections, but as well a step further to comprehensively complete the 8 March general election effect.
Q: How much reform work have been completed since the 8 March general elections?
A: It is very hard to say. The point is, we want to truly be a people's united front and a really strong entity. We are still trying to achieve it. (By HOU YALUN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)
MySinchew 2009.09.07
Lim seemed to have reservations on whether Pakatan would capture the federal govenrment in the next general elections. “To do” and “can do” are two different things. Lim is still unclear about the tendency of Chinese voters as he is clearly understands that the recent Pakatan problems have made the people wonder whether they should pin their hopes on Pakatan.
Lim admitted that Pakatan is facing the most serious crisis and if they want the people to continue support Pakatan in the next general elections, they will have to first be matured!
After the 8 March general elections, various remarks that incited racial sentiments could be heard everywhere and racial relations are still very acute and sensitive. MCA, which claimed to be the biggest Chinese based political party, is currently trapped in a party crisis. Many issues related to the Chinese community's interests have been shelved. Meanwhile, DAP, with most of its supporters are Chinese, has failed to escape from Pas' Islamic state controversy.
Pakatan's problems have surfaced one after another and Lim realised the disappointment of Pakatan's supporters, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and netizens.
Could Pakatan have another breakthrough after the 8 March general elections to take over the federal government? With the internal and external problems, even a brave politician Lim would nbot venture to guess.
The honeymoon is over
Question: Pakatan was formed right after the 8 March general elections. You said that it was a challenge. And now Pakatan has been formed for one and a half year, could you talk about the cooperation experience?
Answer: The formation of Pakatan was indeed initiated after the 8 March general elections. It was as well the people's will. We were not facing the general elections as a front but it was for the ruling in a few states. The 17 months was a test, a test to see whether Pakatan is able to deliver its promises to the people.
The people had great expectations of Pakatan in the first 12 months.
But undoubtedly, the internal and external incidents over the past five months have made many people wonder: Can we still trust Pakatan?
Internally, there are endless quarrels and externally, the ruling party has taken a series of concrete campaigns to attack Pakatan, particularly after the Perak regime change. BN has shifted its focus on Selangor. It has declared a war to Pakatan by using all the government-owned institutions.
Pakatan is currently facing a very severe test.
Q: Is there any problem among the member parties over the first 12 months of cooperation?
A: There are three different parties with different stands in Pakatan. It is impossible to have no problem at all. Most importantly, we know how to manage these problems. Inevitably, more problems surface as time passes.
Difference in views are inevitable but we must prioritise the main goals. We have a common important task, which is to drive the country's political reform, give a new hope for democracy and end a party's dominance through a two-line system. At the same time, we have to drive democratisation, making the country more transparent, fair and liberal.
The most important thing is, whether we can keep our general direction? We must think whether we want to leave the differences and take the general direction as our common goal or let the differences to cover up the general direction?
Q: The differences over the past five months have made the people wonder whether it was a right decision to support Pakatan. Does this mean that the internal differences have gone out of control?
A: We are still facing the challenge to see whether we are able to overcome the differences without losing the general direction. Therefore, we convened a meeting to reiterate the most important goal and direction for Pakatan, as well as the need to restore the people's confidence in Pakatan.
We must have a sense of crisis in facing internal and external challenges.
We have reached a consensus to reiterate the importance of Pakatan. Simultaneously, we must not ignore the phenomenon of the past few months that have made the people to lose confidence in Pakatan.
Q: Do do you know that the people have started to lose confidence in Pakatan?
A: From the remarks made by NGOs and bloggers, we can see their disappointment. Not only them, we are disappointed with our inability to solve the problems among ourselves. We think that we should not be ineffectively in resolving some of the problems. We ourselves are disappointed.
Q: Do you think that Pakatan will be able to restore the people's confidence by the next general elections?
A: If we can reflect on this issue jointly and understand that we need to restore the people's confidence, I believe that we can come out with a new situation.
Q: Do you have the confidence to solve the internal problems?
A: We all hope so, but every party must have discipline and the same focus.
Q: Do you have the same confidence in the other two parties?
A: We have reached a consensus that we should have a new start. We should give an opportunity for Pakatan to perform its best.
Q: Do you think that all of you have the sincerity?
A: All of us have the sincerity to see a new political situation. We want not only a comprehensive reform after the 8 March general elections, but as well a step further to comprehensively complete the 8 March general election effect.
Q: How much reform work have been completed since the 8 March general elections?
A: It is very hard to say. The point is, we want to truly be a people's united front and a really strong entity. We are still trying to achieve it. (By HOU YALUN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)
MySinchew 2009.09.07
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