With Gerakan Harapan Baru, PKR must take a stand

This article was published in The Malaysian Insider and Malay Mail Online.

By Low Teck Kuan

I think it is great news for Selangorians and Malaysians as a whole that Gerakan Harapan Baru has been formed by progressive leaders of PAS.

Although things has been looking gloomy for opposition parties since the demise of Pakatan Rakyat which had gained a lot of ground against Barisan Nasional since 2008, personally I think Malaysians have a lot to look forward to now that each political parties future position into the next general election is slowly taking shape. 

But before we speculate about the next general election which is still a few years ahead, let us discuss about Selangor and PKR’s current situation. This is relevant and important as just three days ago, Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin and Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib, both of PAS, committed themselves to GHB.

Selangor State Assembly composition in June 2015

One of the most discussed topic when PAS had cut ties with DAP early last month, was on the position of the Selangor government led by PKR’s Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Back then, it was clear to all that despite Pakatan Rakyat ending, PAS leaders who held positions in Selangor had refused to quit the state government. This in return led to DAP pressuring Azmin to form a new government and exclude PAS representatives.

However, Azmin could not do so. Some would say that it was perhaps due to his gratitude towards PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who had supported him in favour of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as menteri besar during the Selangor leadership crisis.

But taking a legal position, I think that it was because Azmin did not have a clear majority in the state assembly and that deterred him from taking any risks that would jeopardise PKR’s position in Selangor.

If Azmin, with PKR’s 13 state seats and DAP’s 15 seats, had declared that PAS will be excluded from the state government administration after the demise of Pakatan Rakyat last month, the coalition would have lost 15 seats that belonged to PAS.

Worst, PAS may even join hands with Umno, which has 12 seats and the independent Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who holds one state seat.

Simply put, Azmin’s DAP-PKR 28 seats in the state assembly will tie with the PAS-Umno-Independent’s 28 seats as well. This will result in a hung state assembly and constitutional crisis which can only be resolved via a state election.

Having a state election three years before its due date could cause some backlash from Selangor voters. In addition, it will also incur the wrath of the Selangor Sultan who had repeatedly demanded for stability in the state government.

Hence, breaking ties with PAS last month would have been unwise and a decision that was too risky to make. Unless and until PKR secures more seats in the state assembly, it would be best for them to maintain the status quo.

Current Selangor state assembly composition

Thankfully, the political situation has shifted dramatically over the past one month.

On July 23, 2015, it was widely reported that two PAS state assemblymen and one Member of Parliament had chosen to join the new GHB, a splinter group from PAS. GHB was formed by disgruntled progressive PAS leaders who disagreed with PAS’s directions since year 2013.

With GHB recruiting two new state assemblymen, PAS’s state seats can now be considered to have reduced to 13. And if GHB declares their vote of confidence for Azmin, together with DAP’s 15 seats, PKR will have a clear majority of 30 seats in the state assembly.

Even if PAS wishes to join hands with Umno and the independent Khalid, at best it will only have 26 seats. This would make it impossible for a PAS-Umno-independent state government to be formed.

Hence, the first thing PKR should do is to obtain an official declaration by GHB that it supports Azmin as the Selangor MB. By doing so, it will give them the certainty that it will be able to govern Selangor until the next general election.

Why Azmin should take this decision immediately

Now that PAS's Haron Din has come out with a statement, or rather as I see it, a threat against PKR that PAS would not hesitate to sever ties with it, I would strongly urge PKR to immediately cut ties with PAS and form a new state government with GHB and the principled DAP.

This is so because firstly, due to the current gloomy and frustrating political situation, it will provide supporters and those who are against the Barisan Nasional government a much needed boost of hope for Malaysia.

Secondly, with calls from many people calling for the opposition to get its act together, it answers the critics directly on how they intend to challenge Barisan Nasional in the next general election. By showing to the public that PKR intends to work with DAP and GHB instead of PAS that is aligned to Umno, it will give voters a clear alternative, and one which Malaysians desperately need to replace Barisan Nasional at both the state and federal levels.

Thirdly, it will allow the state government comprising DAP, PKR and GHB, and led by Azmin, to prove its credentials and leadership in managing Selangor to Malaysians.

More importantly, it will also instill confidence in Malaysians that this new coalition can administer the government harmoniously. Certainly, it will also be able to make a better case in replacing Barisan Nasional at the federal level.

Fourthly, by including GHB into its state administration, it will allow GHB to build its profile among the electorate before the next general election. As it would be foolish for PKR to contest the elections with the two-faced PAS, PKR should provide platforms for GHB to prove its credentials to the voters, in particular the Malay rural voters.

For example, by giving GHB the Islamic Affairs & Malay Customs Exco Portfolio, GHB will be able to prove its Islamic credentials and leadership in order to allow them to compete directly in Malay majority seats that are currently held by Umno or PAS.

Finally, this new political development will allow PKR and DAP to exclude PAS altogether in managing the state government for the next few years. It will also provide them ample time to make the necessary planning with GHB for the next general election.

PKR must take into consideration that the next general election is just a few years away. If it does not provide sufficient time for all parties to negotiate and finalise seat allocations and prepare for the next general election, even when Barisan Nasional is at its weakest, it will concede their best opportunity to conquer Putrajaya.

Hence, Azmin and PKR should cut ties with PAS and form a new alliance with DAP, GHB and any other like-minded political parties that share their common goals.

It will lose support from Malaysians as a whole if it continues to align itself with PAS who obviously supports Umno even under the shadow of the worst financial scandal to hit the country.

PKR has to take leadership and together with other parties, put an end to Barisan Nasional’s dominance in the next general election.

In Tony Tan Chee Chong, we have the new Lester Melanyi

This article was published in the Malay Mail Online

By Low Teck Kuan

Tony Tan Chee Chong, ex-DAP man and former personal assistant to Teresa Kok has come out with guns blazing claiming that Tony Pua, one of the staunchest critics of the 1MDB scandals should not be so happy as to demand for accountability from 1MDB just yet.

This is because under his possession, he has documentary proof that behind Tony Pua’s backyard he has amassed RM 3 millions of savings stashed overseas under the name of his wife.

Tony Tan further declared if Pua cannot declare his assets in a week, then he will publish documentary proof of Tony Pua’s allegedly RM 3 million in savings overseas.

But in Tony Tan’s haste to discredit the DAP’s star man down, obviously because Pua has been at the forefront of putting the Prime Minister and his government in check, he has misunderstood the reasoning behind not just Pua, but all other opposition members and NGOs demands in asking those who holds executive positions to declare their assets publicly.

Why asset declaration is necessary

Those who hold executive positions, whether they are elected into the law making body (State Assembly or Parliament) or not must declare their assets publicly simply because they are in a position where the responsibility of managing taxpayer’s monies are heavily entrusted onto their hand.

They are in the positions where they hold substantial powers to allocate the public’s resources, If abused, it will result in taxpayers monies going missing for personal and illegal gains. The MARA scandal, where properties in Australia were purchased by MARA (a government linked company) at an inflated price just so that kickbacks can be given back to MARA officials, is one fine example.

Now here begs the question, does Tony Pua hold any executive positions? Or is he appointed into any government linked companies backed with allocations from the federal government?  No.

Pua is simply an elected Member of Parliament, who only receives a fixed monthly allowances paid by the Parliament. Therefore, why does he who does not have any responsibility of managing taxpayers monies need to declare his assets?

Tony Tan should not confuse the responsibility to declare assets by the Prime Minister (who is the head of the executives and a Finance Minister), with those who does not have any responsibility in managing the country's resources. In his attacks against an MP, he either could not tell these differences or has a sinister agenda in trying to discredit Pua even when his credibility is in doubt.

Much like Lester Melanyi, the bankrupt who could only shoot off his mouth without substantiating his claims of tampered documents with evidences to the contrary, Tony Tan has a credibility issues as well.

Back in February 2014, accompanied by Ramesh Rao (the same guy who backed Lester Melanyi), Tan had previously lodged reports to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission twice accusing Teresa Kok of misappropriating party's funds. However, the MACC did not find any misappropriation at all. He also filed a case against her in court but lost.

If Tony Tan, perhaps like Lester Melanyi who "acts out of his conscience”, has time to question Pua and his innocent wife, he should instead direct his time and resources in seeking answers from the Prime Minister on the many unanswered allegations against him.

For starters, he should question on how and why 1MDB’s USD 700 million been deposited into Jho Low’s Singapore company Good Star Ltd back in September 2009? Until this date, 1MDB and PM Najib have not provided satisfactory answers to the public.

Gutter politics must be condemned

To also hear Tony Tan, dragging the families of Pua who is not involved in politics at all is disgusting to say the least. Its gutter politics, clearly out to demonise Pua and to draw an illogical perception that he and his families had abused his public office in enriching himself. Even when as a Member of Parliament, Pua merely receives a fixed monthly allowances!

Malaysians, by and large, are currently witnessing the dirtiest and most undignified political plays. As seen by all, it is orchestrated by Ramesh Rao (who is a staunch supporter of the Barisan Nasional government) and various unscrupulous parties against the critics of the biggest financial scandal in history.

This must be condemned. Not just because these constitute harassments against opposition members who are doing their level best to keep the government in check, but on grounds that Malaysians do not tolerate dirty politics and diversionary tactics designed to divert the our attentions away from the real issue at hand. That is, where has 1MDB’s unaccounted and missing funds gone to?

As the buck stops with the Prime Minister, Malaysians must therefore focus their attention solely on 1MDB and seek accountability from the man whose office holds the greatest responsibility of managing the country's vast but diminishing resources.

Quick comments: Lim Kit Siangs letter to Dr Chen Man Hin back in 1969

I'm reading Lim Kit Siangs letter to Dr Chen Man Hin when he was incarcerated for the first time under the ISA right after the May 13 1969 riot, and I am really amazed by his understanding of the political situation at that time despite his arrests, and his determination to play his part in rebuilding the nation his own way.

Til this date, the contents of his letter are still largely relevant to our current political situation. Read below:

"Malaysia's survival as a united nation depends to a large extent on the will and stamina of our movement and cause for multiracial Malaysia. If we remain firm and dedicated to the cause of multiracialism, we may play the role which decides whether Malaysia splinters in a welter of a racial bloodbath, or hold together as a united people and nation.

Our way ahead will be an ardous one, but when other movements, in other ages, countries and climes can overcome even greater and more challenging problems, I do not see why we ourselves cannot have a good chance of success. We cannot guarantee that the cause of multiracialism will triumph in Malaysia, but we can guarantee that if it fails, Malaysians shall perish !

It is our duty therefore to march in the frontline of struggle to spread the word of a multiracial Malaysia to Malaysians of all races, in both the urban and rural areas.

Let us not shirk from our responsibility and duty to our nation, ourselves, our children and children's children"

It's this reason why I still have good hopes for our country. And why I support DAP's political cause. No matter how bad the situation is, for as long as good people are in politics fighting for what is right, someday Malaysians will find light at the end of the dark tunnel.

I still have a long way to go before completing this book 😜 but I already consider this as one of my most inspiring book

P.S. Uncle Kit was only 28 years old when he wrote this letter !

Time for asset declaration by the PM

This article was published in Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider & the Malay Mail Online

By Low Teck Kuan

July 3rd marks one of the most embarrassing day for Malaysia. For the first time in our history, a sitting Prime Minister is accused of embezzlement and corruption where monies amounting to USD 700 million, or about RM 2.6 billion were directly banked into his personal accounts!

What's more disbelieving is the fact that this is our Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib, who is also the son of our former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. Tun Abdul Razak, throughout his tenure as the second Prime Minister had always preached for integrity as a public servant. He was not even willing to spend the taxpayer's monies to build a swimming pool in his official residences for his families.

Hence, to now hear that our sitting Prime Minister has pocketed billions, and with Wall Street Journal stating clearly that they stand by their report, it has not just represented a huge slap of shame on PM Najib personally, but to all Malaysians as well. In the next few days, our country will again gain international fame in the press all for the wrong reasons. 

The dust of MARA financial scandal has not even settled, and yet we are rocked with this biggest scandal of all times. This is on top of having to shoulder the ever increasing costs of living due to GST, higher petrol prices and (soon) toll hikes as well. To now hear that an international media claiming that PM Najib has pocketed billions of monies, is seriously one scandal too much

Instead of denying these extremely serious allegations outright and clearly, or threaten legal action and provide assurances to Malaysians that he will prove his innocence against these allegations immediately, Prime Minister Najib could only cry political conspiracy by his detractors against him.  This unfortunately answers nothing to these allegations nor provide assurances to the public.

On every Malaysians mind, we have these 3 most urgent and pertinent questions that requires immediate and substantiated answers:

1) Does the Prime Minister Najib owns personal bank accounts at Ambank ? If he does, what are the account numbers ? 

2) Are they "2112022011880",  "2112022011906" and "2112022009694" under his name of “Dato’Sri Mohd Najib Bin Hj Abd Razak” as alleged by WSJ and Sarawak Report?

3) Is it true that such vast amount of monies amounting to almost USD 700 million were transferred to these accounts ?

As these questions forms the crux of the allegations made by international press Wall Street Journal and Sarawak Report, the Prime Minister needs to take the initiative to dispel this misinformation by showing evidences to the contrary.

To restore confidence to Malaysians, PM Najib also have to declare his assets publicly with his banking details. The public has the right to know whether PM Najib indeed has bank accounts in Ambank. In addition, asset declaration has to include his families members as well so to clear these allegations and doubts for once and for all. 

As Prime Minister of Malaysia. The burden is on him now to dispel these allegations of bribery and corruption, Anything less will only further fuel or reinforce the perception that PM Najib has not just a lot to hide, but lots and lots of monies to hide as well. 

It is time for full accountability to Malaysians by the Prime Minister of Malaysia