Stand Up, Speak Out

On the 6th of March 2008, DAP’s 23 parliamentary and state candidates in Penang made their pledge at the Penang Esplanade.

Part of DAP candidate’s pledges to the people if they were elected as representatives were:
- To promote greater efficiency, accountability and transparency.
- Provide a credible check-and-balance in both state assembly and parliament to ensure people’s interests are put at the top priority and not political interests.
- Champion for justice, fairness and equality for all regardless of race, gender, creed, status or belief.

On the first day when DAP formed the Penang state government, they waived all summons issued by the local council against hawkers and parking offenders.

Then they claim to have canceled the state EXCOs’ official cars which have been purchased by the previous government.

And recently, they efficiently formed a special panel headed by Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin will comprise Deputy CM II Dr P. Ramasamy and exco member Phee Boon Poh to investigate the “land improprieties” during the previous government’s practices.

When it comes to the recent malicious short message (SMS) has been circulating that accuses Koh Tsu Koon of cheating the people of Penang by placing a 1.52ha piece of land at Rifle Range in the name of Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been keeping quiet since a few weeks ago. If he is to promote greater efficiency, people’s interests are put at the the top priority and not political interests & champion for justice, fairness and equality for all regardless of race, gender, creed, status or belief; he should have called for a stop on the issue and make clear of the issue. As a matter of fact, the land was registered to the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).

Another case is on the RapidPenang’s bus drivers who were threatened with parangs by their rival’s bus drivers. RapidPenang has since then divert their picking and dropping passengers’ spot to another location which has caused inconvenience. If the DAP were talking about putting people’s interests at the top priority, they should have handled the issue ASAP as it concerns the public’s safety and convenience.

To promote greater efficiency, accountability and transparency.
Are they really sincere in promoting greater efficiency, accountability and transparency? Or are there any political motives behind their actions? If they hold to their pledges, they should have make clear of the issue instead of letting it floating around the SMSes for weeks. All they have to do is to clarify the ownership of the land with the Land Office and send a press statement to the press. Maybe, this issue brings benefit to the DAP-PKR government if the rumours keep on spreading among the public.

Provide a credible check-and-balance in both state assembly and parliament to ensure people’s interests are put at the top priority and not political interests.
This case has shown that the new state goverenment put their political interests as their top priority. I am sure people of Penang can judge this case fairly.

Champion for justice, fairness and equality for all regardless of race, gender, creed, status or belief.
Justice, fairness and equality for all regardless of race, gender, creed, status or belief? It is already a fact that the land was registered to the MPPP. They didn’t hold to their pledge to fight for justice for Koh since they promised to fight for all.

It seems like they have kept their pledges and promises by waving the local council’s summons, canceling the purchase of the EXCO’s official car. But, they didn’t make clear of a rumuor. They didn’t quickly solve the issue concerned with the public’s safety and convenience. And again, can they really be trusted to keep their pledges?