Not good enough

By Hakim Joe

The new CPF by the Pakatan alliance might be the onset to something new (and concrete) where a set of joint policies are embraced as the ideology behind the Opposition’s validation as a legitimate alternative to BN.

No doubt that this has never happened before and promises much for the people. However, it must be stated that this is merely a set of guiding principles with no legal standing at all. It might augur much but there are no avenues for redress if some rogue members decide not to adhere to it or be selective when following these guidelines. Neither are there any remedies if the leaders choose to go on a different tack later.

Why did Pakatan Rakyat go to such lengths to produce such a document in the first place? If indeed the three parties are joining together, and Pakatan Rakyat as a political faction is to be registered, why then the requirement for it? A party constitution can, and will be more effective, right?

I for one do not agree to the release of such a document unless it is the precursor to something more permanent. It can be agreed that the voters might not be as politically suave as the politicians themselves but this is not true for all voters, and the release of such a document can only but backfire on Pakatan. Even without such a document, it is already difficult enough to attempt containing people like Hasan Ali, Mat Isa and Hadi Awang. With this document in place, all Hell’s gonna break loose. How bad will the setback be if even a minority of the members from any of the three parties, decide to leave because they do not agree to the CPF?

Will this single document be able to unite the three parties? The pertinent question should be “to what purpose will this release be”? A set of common policies is not enforceable. Look at what Zaid stressed. It merely touches on the doctrine of separation of powers, checks-and-balances, public accountability, transparency and to weed out the abuse of power and exercises in absolute power. Well said, but isn’t that what we expect of Pakatan anyway? Additionally, isn’t that what all political parties (and the federal constitution) promises?

As for the CPF being a manifesto for Pakatan, how about legally forming Pakatan Rakyat first before releasing it, not as a framework but to be included into the constitution? Wouldn’t that be more significant to the real cause? Isn’t that what it is all about (instead of this rigmarole)?

Oh yes, Pakatan has to begin somewhere and this might be the start of something good. However, can’t Pakatan make it better by first forming a legal entity and then getting the respective member coalition parties to form a (combined) committee to look into the setting up of a valid constitution?

To be able to attract the people of Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat needs something more concrete than this, something that can be enforced. A Common Policy Framework is just not good enough.