While many Pakatan supporters were rejoicing over Chua Jui Meng’s entry into PKR, I had this nagging feeling.
The Pakatan probably needs a psychological boost after Pas’ reduced majority in Manek Urai.
But isn’t there a danger that if more BN types, sidelined by their respective parties, are welcomed to the Pakatan fold, the Pakatan could one day end up becoming “BN Lite”? In the case of Chua, he looks set to be invited to sit on the PKR Supreme Council.
Already there is concern in some circles about some of the ex-Umno types in PKR. Will the party now have to wrestle with ex-MCA types? Remember, race-based politics is not something that is easily shed.
My concerns over such political “catches” were confirmed when I got a late night text message from a political analyst who said he was not euphoric over MCA members joining PKR after suddenly seeing the light. Why does Anwar keep courting such people, he asked. Why not citizens with no political baggage – but with a proven track record in struggling for justice and freedom along multi-ethnic lines?
Don’t ordinary citizens count? Are the Pakatan leaders so desperate for BN leaders to jump like ‘kataks’ into their ranks?
Aside from that, how are we to change the course of Malaysian politics, economics and other spheres when a future Pakatan government could very well see a number of ex-BN leaders from race-based parties in positions of influence? Where are genuine meaningful reforms going to come from then?
Of course, people can change and evolve over time. It is good that Jui Meng says he wants to work to preserve a two-party system and work for change.
But Pakatan leaders must exercise greater “quality control”. What is Jui Meng’s stand on the ISA and other oppressive laws, for instance? What progressive policies did he introduce when he was Health Minister to improve the affordabilty and accessibiltiy of quality health care for all – and to make sure that no Malaysian is denied quality health care due to lack of means?
It is not enough to just focus on attracting “talent” or big names. Future leaders must be those who have shown over time that they are 110 per cent committed to human rights, democracy, social justice, workers’ rights and people-centred, ecologically friendly development before they can be welcomed with open arms as fellow travellers in the reform process.
That raises the question which the Pakatan should mull over: is it seeking power as an end in itself or as a means to realise social justice, democracy and human rights?
What do you think? Is Jui Meng’s entry into PKR good for the reform struggle?
I believe that Chua Jui Meng’s entry into PKR augurs well for Pakatan. Presently except for PAS (Kelantan) and a handful of policitian (DSAI – former DPM etc.) the present PR folks have no direct experience in the management of a state let alone the country. I sometimes feel that DAP especially and PKR went into March 8 thinking like the opposition and when suddenly thrown to manage a state, they find that it is a very very different ball game. Sometimes their inexperience is painful to watch.
Chua Jui Meng brings with him many years of experience as a politician and one who had played a role in co-managing a ministry. I hope he is sincere in his expressed intentions as to why he is joining the party. His past, I am willing to forgive, if he use his experience for the better of our nation when PR takes over.
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I have a strong suspicion the history will be repeating itself. Remember the 3 FROGS of the State of Perak?
I have to strongly warn the PR leaders of the warning given to Julius Ceasar by the blind oracle,”Beware the Ides of March.”
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I beg to disagree. CJM has said the PKR’s platform is very similar to the one he submitted during his fight for the post MCA President.
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The fact that Chua Jui Meng was side line is because he does not tag along the line as the rest of MCA leaderships that just ‘angguk angguk’ type.
Very simple, you are out if you speak your mind and that is BN way. Hopefully in PAKATAN there is no such thing that everyone must follow even without reasons.
Lets see, but the Chua Jui Meng looks like a fighter just like the PKR de facto leader.
Common Chua J M lawan tetap lawan as this will be your last lap in putting the nation on the right path. Be on the right side of history Anil.
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Anil,
I think you posed the wrong question. It should be: Should CJM be automatically offered a PKR Supreme Council position? Why should PKR deny anyone from joining the party, former BN member or not?
Put another way: PKR could groom its core members dedicated to fighting for genuine meaningful reforms and still open to accepting members from BN. Does it have to be one or the other? Thus the question is shouldn’t CJM be given some time to prove himself before PKR considers offering him a Supreme Council position?
Yes, you certaintly have a point there, Kok Keong. – Anil
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Hello Anil !
Go a little bit easy on Dr Chua Jui Meng, and do not judge him right off the bat because what is seen as the man’s personality is 1/8th of his total. Jui Meng may yet prove himself as an excellent force for the Pakatan Rakyat cause. I would not wuestion his intentions at this point, and I support those who claim that it is right to attract MCA cross over, and why not, more members means more voting and more influence.
Consider what is going on with the MACC & Police behaving like (this) and the UMNO government and police and judiciary (seemingly) not requiring accountability; what have the ordinary citizens have to protect themselves ? Do we need forever to build a meaningful opposition ? I do not think so because if the Pakatan Rakyat does not replace UMNO by this 13th election, then there (may) not be another election for the Pakatan Rakyat to make meaningful progress. There (may) not be another election because UMNO is set even as we speak, to head for a dictatorship.
Mr Anil do not ask for the moon, some meaningful progress will be something to celebrate about and may I ask if Jui Meng defecting to PKR is not something to be happy about ? I will say ditto to that.
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It’s my stand…., I feel we dont need people like Datuk Chua in PKR. He might be just another TROJAN HORSE for BN…..don’t believe Politicians….
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PKR has not learned its lesson.Why is Anuar desperate for BN ‘FROGS’?What is trying to prove,that he is more popular than Najib? Well, he better look out for the fall of Selangor State soon!With NG and Ngeh Perak was ‘handed on a silver plate’ to BN morons,now,with problem of DAP men in Selangor, PKR can ‘kiss’GOOD-BYE to Selangor soon. Anuar should be looking into these problems instead of having a welcome party for Jui Meng![typical BN attitude].Jui Meng’s cross-over is more benefical to him than to PKR.
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Unless he shows that he has truly turne over a new leaf, I believe Anil and those of us who are not that thrilled with him jumping onto PR are right to look at him carefully.
By right, no right-thinking non-UMNO politician should still be with BN …hey, sorry, ‘right-thinking’?? what am I thinking??!!
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Chua so far .. i think he is not that bad , but i hope he will not given special post .. maybe penasihat or whatever .. must be fair to those who fight the pkr since 1998 ..
I also wish Michael Chong and Lim Ah lek to join PR .. both are good candidate .. sooi lek please dont ..
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The way I see it, it is OK in principle to leave MCA and MIC and UMNO and seek to join DAP or PKR or PAS.
But WHY is that person making that move?
If you get the right answer to that question than it is OK. Otherwise, with respect, I think the answer should be a firm “no thanks” or else the party/coalition that is accepting them, PR in this case, is almost certainly making a mistake that is going to risk alienating and driving away its funders and supporters.
And speaking hypothetically, if it were up to me and someone from BN wanted to join my opposition coalition (now that there is a good chance of BN going down the sewers into the political wilderness) then I would make it a condition of joining – non-negotiable – that that person switching over from BN would not be entitled to ANY of the top party positions until a stated probationary time period was successfully completed and the switchers had PROVEN themselves to be principled and competent to the party leadership and its members and supporters.
Accepting or settling for anything else is to say to the world out there that there is no real difference between BN and PR. Sorry.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon
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Jui Mengs resignation from MCA is just like what happened 2 months back ar Penang Gerakan. More than 1500 members resigned as they were fed up with Mr KPI=Koh Tsu Khoon!!!
Its not surprising……people are just tired…..
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Pakatan Rakyat needs all the help to move forward. It matters not that he is from MCA. Any person from any Party in BN is welcome. He may be just a drop in the ocean. But “little drops of water make a mighty ocean” goes the saying.
Of course, Pakatan Rakyat could also groom its own youngsters so that they could become credible leaders.The question that needs answering is whether PR has the time and energy to quickly groom leaders. Take Football as an analogy. Big, rich clubs “buy” players from other clubs, for time is short; and talents are limited.
Time is a good test of one’s character. We hould not cast aspersions without trying out the enwcoemrs just as football players who are bought.Time will tell; and those who are up to the mark will sooner or later be found out.
In any venture, more so in a political Party, risks are involved. You simply have to take calculated risks. MCA, UMNO. Gerakan, PBS, SUPP, etc also have a pool of talents. If they believe in the same reformist movement and philosophy, why shut the door?
Let us not prejudge any person.
S.H. Huang
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It’s not wrong to welcome UMNO/MCA ex-members to PKR. It’s good because it strengthens the party. But does the welcome need to be in the form of a seat in the Supreme Council?
How will those diehard PKR supporters fighting from Day 1 see this trend of rewarding frogs? Will it demotivate them?
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I see another coming DAP’s way!
Maybe another going UMNO’s way?
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I support Jui Meng’s entry into PKR. Most of PKR’s members are also ex-UMNO members, so is DSAI. The most important point here is DSAI moved ahead to form a multi-racial party (just like DAP) and for Jui Mend to join PKR is an effort to be applauded. The 2 party system should be kept alive if Malaysia is to become a truly develope nation. Anything less will spell doom for Malaysia once oil is no longer sufficently available to support the country’s growth.
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Since PKR and DAP are multi racial parties, why not merge and be the biggest multi racial party in Malaysia. This merged entity will eventually be bigger than Umno Baru.
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Two solid reasons why PKR should welcome Chua Jui Meng:
1. To say that he is ex-MCA and should not be trusted is not logical because almost all PKR members are from UMNO, the biggest one is Anwar. And between Anwar and Jui Meng, I trust the latter becaue I know that CJM has repented of his past failures.
2. Chua is one of the prominent politicians who is influential among Msian Christians. He speaks in several churches. He could be a bridge between Anwar/Pakatan leaders and the Christian community, who are big swing voters in March 8 GE.
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I understand that some will be worried or threaten by cross overs and maybe race based political styles. However, this is probably a bigger step for these politicans than PR. We need a start at some point of the party’s growth and PRU-13 is not too far away. Is better to iron out all the kinks now than three years from now. Remeber our enemies is BN but the person we need to win over are the rakyat. I think these ex-BN leaders brought with them ability to lead and experience that are trully lacking in PKR. This provide leadership and at the same time provide guidance to theyouger generation of leaders in PKR and PR. I say go for it.
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Get rid of B-end is the top top priority and getting Chua into PR is a move closer to this priority. Other issues can be handled when it comes.
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I was at the PKR forum when Chua Jui Meng arrived with Anwar to a standing ovation amidst a rousing fanfare. Politics is a form of theatre – and CJM’s defection to PKR was good theatre, and therefore good politics. Looking at CJM closeup, he still has traces of the BN arrogance – but the man is intelligenet, articulate, confident and comes across as somebody still capable of learning, adapting and evolving. That’s all we can hope for in a political leader, and Chua Jui Meng undoubtedly has personal charisma, a relatively untainted track record, and I felt energized in his presence – always a clear sign that someone has positive energy and holds to certain ethical principles.
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Chua is definitely a big asset for PKR, an outstanding politician, sidelined after the fight against Ling Liong Sik’s gang some years ago.. also because Liong Sik was one of Mahathir’s cohorts. Chua won the GE but was dropped from the Cabinet by Mahathir… and you can guess why. Also, DSAI has known Chua for many years and I’m sure they would have come to an understanding about his role.
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We need more members for the opposition, it help to boost morality and unite our team. PKR, as a multi-racial party, must always open it’s door to care and listen to the Rakyat regardless of who is joining in! Who knows, one day, our Tuns, like Tun Dr M and Tun Abdl may join PKR!
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Chua will cause the beginning of a DOMINO effect.
The FALL of the BeEnd empire ?
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jui meng has plenty supporters in MCA, who supported him not because of expecting projects and contracts.
jui meng’s speech skills is undeniably very articulate and impressive
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