Selangor performance a vital benchmark

Selangor performance a vital benchmark

Richard Teo | Mar 17, 08 4:30pm, Malaysiakini.

The opposition capture of the Selangor state is an important milestone. Many, including the opposition, did not expect such a prized windfall. DAP alone could not have accomplished the feat and neither could PAS and PKR achieved such success if not for the fact that there was complete trust and cooperation among these three parties.

Despite the absence of a pact between DAP and PAS, there was obvious mutual benefit in the voting pattern. The Chinese on this occasion had no qualms voting for PAS and vice-versa there were Malay votes cast for DAP in the respective areas contested. This indirectly translated into Malay votes for DAP and Chinese votes for PAS.

That perhaps explains the good results for both parties in mixed areas where Chinese and Malay voters were contesting with BN candidates. Similarly in areas where the Chinese and Malays were minorities, the votes cast for DAP and PAS respectively made the difference.

Having accomplished the task of taking Selangor, it is of vital importance that a new transparent way of administering the state government be prioritised. In this regard, the best person to initiate such a task would be Anwar Ibrahim.

His years spent in many of the portfolios as a minister would put him in good stead to introduce reforms that would be a departure from the previous administration. For a start, he has advised the incoming state assemblymen not to indulge in wasteful expenditure for renovations and the purchase of new cars for their use.

This is a refreshing start and if other similar measures can be introduced the rakyat can immediately see some tangible change.

For Anwar to be Selangor menteri besar, there needs to be a by-election and one of the state assemblypersons has to make way for him. It will be a sacrifice for the person concerned but it will be a worthwhile sacrifice when we consider that the success or failure of Selangor under the opposition will determine the future survival of the three opposition parties.

For the moment, they have achieved an important milestone in capturing the five states but whether their success can be perpetuated in the next election will depends on the success or failure in the governance of the five states.