Too early to ask for Kajang’s gratitude
Voters need a rep who works for them, whether or not he is a world class leader
I’m currently unrepresented in the Selangor state assembly, thanks to Lee Chin Cheh,
who has given up his seat in the hope that voters will allow his party boss to occupy it.
I must confess to being a little thrilled by the thought that my decision at the Kajang
ballot box might make a difference to Anwar Ibrahim’s political future.
I haven’t decided whom to give my “X” to. And PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had better
think again if he thought he could win me over with his call for “gratitude” from Kajang
folk because a “world class leader” had decided to represent them.
I’m not at all bothered whether the candidate is world class or not, as long as his intention
in seeking election in Kajang is tied strongly to his concern for my interests as a citizen.
If he can convince me of that, then I’ll be willing to disregard allegations that he is using me
and my neighbours as a springboard to the Menteri Besar’s office from where, it seems, he
will be in the proper position to resolve his party’s internal problems.
There’s yet another reason why I find Azmin’s plea offensive. The call for gratitude is
too reminiscent of Barisan Nasional’s condescending attitude. We are all tired of hearing
BN leaders tell us to be grateful to them for doing what they are paid to do, and we don’t want
to hear the same from other parties seeking our support.
Excuse me, Azmin, there are 38,965 voters in Kajang and not all of them are
thumb-sucking toddlers in awe of Anwar just because you say he belongs “not just to Kajang
or Selangor or even Malaysia, but to the world”.
For the record, Lee Chin Cheh’s performance as state assemblyman was dismal. Unlike
his predecessor, Lee Kim Sin, he was hardly seen in Kajang after he won the seat in the
general election last May.
Instead of a world class leader, what we need is a hands-on wakil rakyat who is capable
of resolving local issues.
We voters will probably have quite a few candidates to choose from. MCA has confirmed that
it would field its candidate on behalf of BN. Also in the running apparently is Anwar’s former
legal aide, Yuktes Vijay, who has said he is contesting as an independent with the intention
of reducing PKR’s majority, which was 6,824 in last May’s election.
There might be a few other contenders. Both Parti Socialis Malaysia and Berjasa have said
they were considering fielding their own candidates. And not to forget Senator
KS Nallakaruppan who wants to represent BN.
Last May, the people of Kajang, in choosing PKR, rejected MCA, Berjasa and
three independent candidates.
The coming by-election will pit the general anti-BN sentiment against voters’ anger with PKR
for trying to use them to solve its own internal problems.
K Pragalath a FMT team member lives and votes in Kajang.
source : fmt
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