Penang Malays feeling insecure

The Malay community is worried that it would lose its political voice if more Malays are not given state seats to contest in the next general election.

GEORGE TOWN: The Malay community here is feeling insecure because they fear they would lose their political voice if the Pakatan Rakyat government maintains the status quo in the allocation of seats, said Penang Malay Congress (PMC) president Rahmad Isahak.

This is why there are rumblings of discontent on the Malay ground about the political developments in the state, he added.

There are only two Malay representatives in the state government – Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman and state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

There are 40 state seats in Penang, of which 19 are held by DAP, one by PAS, nine by PKR, while Umno has 11.

Rahmad claimed that both Mansor and Malik are struggling to command the respect of the Malay community and to contain their displeasure over religious as well as socio-economic issues such as affordable housing.

The ill-feelings have spilled over until Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is forced to devote more attention to the Malays who are feeling restless, he said.

He added that although Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is a Penang MP representing Permatang Pauh, he is too preoccupied with helming Pakatan at the national level.

Thus, there is a lack of the Malay voice in the state government, he said.

Unique state

Rahmad said the PMC, a newly-formed non-governmental organisation (NGO), is urging the DAP to allow more of its Malay leaders to be given state seats to contest in the next general election.

The DAP must understand that it is the dominant party in Penang now, so it is best that it reflects a multi-ethnic outlook to convince its detractors that it is no longer just a Chinese-based party, he said.

Although PAS and PKR have been able to appease the Malays here as since 2008, more NGOs are being formed to represent the fractured Malay community, he added.

Rahman said PKR and PAS should be willing to sacrifice some seats in the name of unity within the Pakatan alliance.

“Perhaps, PKR and PAS can be given more seats in other states as a trade-off to allow DAP more seats in Penang. This is a unique state. Its electorate tends to embrace one dominant party. Before, it was Gerakan, now it is the DAP.”

“PMC is a neutral organisation… we do not take sides, nor are we racists.”

Rahmad said Umno is unable to champion the Malay voice effectively in Penang as its coalition partners in the Barisan Nasional (BN) – MCA and Gerakan – have been rejected by the voters.

He said Umno may have some support but MCA and Gerakan are unable to swing the “pendulum” back to the ruling federal coalition.

Hijacking issues

Hence, Malay NGOs here must now look after the interests of the Malays but in a more cultured way.
Rahmad said PMC would not take to the streets to vent its frustration, adding that “this is not our way”.
“Our Malay culture is refined and more diplomatic. We won independence through compromises and
negotiations. We want to express our concerns about the Malay ground but in a more cultured way.”

The PMC has been seeking to meet Lim and after several weeks of lobbying, the latter has apparently agreed to meet the congress.

But some quarters in the state government have accused the congress of being sponsored by Umno to undermine Pakatan.

Meanwhile, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng, who is now a Kita member, hit out at BN for hijacking issues raised by third parties such as himself.

BN should be playing its role as the opposition in a constructive manner, if it wants want to win back the support of the people, he said.

Instead, it is hijacking issues such as the Penang Hill development, and spinning them until they go out of context.

“Although BN meant well, their way of doing things has given more clout to Lim,” he said, adding that Lim is a political animal who wants to profit from the weaknesses of others instead of becoming a good administrator.

Tan, who first raised the the Penang Hill issue, said the Pakatan government here is no different from the previous BN administration when the former approved the redevelopment of the Penang Turf Club.

“Pakatan is unable to quench the thirst for deveopment by corporate entities here. The people are concerned about the environment and over-development.”

He also said that BN has made a groundless accusation when it claimed that Pakatan has approved projects on Penang Hill.