By Dr. Malcolm Puthucherry
The truth is finally laid bare – for anyone who cares to look.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s assertion that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) does not need a shadow cabinet is nothing less than an admission that the three-party pact he leads is very much less than the sum of its parts.
He offers the excuse that PR’s parliamentary committees have been adequately performing the same role as a shadow cabinet, thus making the latter unnecessary. Well, no one is buying that for a second. Hardly anyone offhand can rattle off the names of some of those committees and their members. That they remain so obscure more than two years after being formed tells you what a poor substitute they have been to a shadow cabinet.
No, the real reason for not having a shadow cabinet which Anwar, ever the consummate political creature, refuses to tell the public is plain and simple: PR lacks the necessary cohesion and collective vision to come to an agreement between its member parties as to which ministerial portfolio ought to be entrusted to which party and the courage of conviction to announce it to the public. No amount of obfuscation by Anwar or any other PR leader can cover up that vulnerability of the pact.
For the voters, what they don’t want see, were a new government to be set up in Putrajaya, is for the winning component parties to descend into a fractious scrimmage over who gets which ministry. A shadow cabinet thus offers reasonable assurance that such a scenario would not come to pass.
PR’s problem is that the unseemly scrimmage may well occur if they try to cobble together a shadow cabinet now and thus put a massive dent to any electoral prospect of forming a new government. A chicken-and-egg situation, if ever there was one, for which the typical Anwarite solution is to sweep it under the carpet and pray that people won’t notice.
Having promised the specific reforms it will undertake within a specified timeframe, the three opposition parties have failed to see that the next logical question voters will ask is: which among them will be assigned the task of accomplishing which reform? A fair question to ask as in reality successful completion of a task hinges on which individual is held directly accountable for it. Thus, the necessity of a shadow cabinet to back up campaign promises. Opposition party leaders however appear to have settled for thinking in half measures.
For far too long, PKR, PAS and DAP have been peddling the line, “Put us in government, we’ll sort things out, everything will be OK”. Well, that is wearing a little thin. The three parties do not seem to have been able to go beyond this and show that they can be a cohesive and viable coalition fit and ready for government. The only thing going for them is that their adversary is BN. Slim pickings indeed for the voters.
As for Anwar, his boldness in anointing himself the shadow prime minister is not matched by any similar boldness in the arduous task of putting together a shadow cabinet – the oddity of a shadow prime minister without a shadow cabinet does not seem to bother him. Such is his ambition. Presumably, his promise to the country remains unchanged from the time he was an Umno deputy prime minister: make me prime minister, I’ll sort things out, everything will be OK.
Libra
February 24, 2011
It’s easy for an arm-chair critic to write what he wants. Anwar is in a no win situation and that is why Najib wants him to name his shadow Cabinet so that Utusan can go to town with the story day after day and brand him anti Islam and anti-Malay.
Perkasa will lodge police reports and stage demonstrations all over the country. It will tell the Malays that Anwar is selling Tanah Melayu to the Chinese.
Any politician worth is salt will wait for the outcome of the GE to name his Cabinet – allocating positions in proportion to the number of seats each party secures.
Anything can happen in Malaysia. We do not know how many big guns will flee BN and how many BN parties will join Pakatan. Even Kuli can be the next PM. It need not be Anwar.
This is Malaysia, stupid.
jaas torres
February 24, 2011
This shadow cabinet issue has been brought up numerous times, way before Najib made his statement and Utusan (as well as other MSMs) publishing it. Wong Chin Huat raised this back in November 2008, and his article is still spot on despite being over 2 years old.
Part of being a leader, especially a Prime Minister, is to make the hard call. Is Anwar capable of doing so? As the writer has correctly pointed out, Anwar’s solution to all problems is “to sweep it under the carpet and pray that people won’t notice”. We have seen this classic Anwar maneuver in the PKR elections, in taking disciplinary action against renegade PKR members, the 16 Sept. takeover that never happened…
Now, going back to the shadow cabinet issue. Either Anwar doesn’t have the guts to do it, or he is incapable of getting everyone together to agree on who should be holding which portfolio, or maybe, there is really not that many smart MPs in Pakatan Rakyat to cover all the portfolios…
I think Libra does not really understand the function of a shadow cabinet. Please read up on the role of a shadow cabinet before calling people stupid, least you appear to be like one.
Thank you.
Armchair critic
February 24, 2011
For someone who finds it easy to call others stupid, Libra is missing the point. This letter is highlighting Anwar’s skill in disguising his lack of courage with so-called tactical reason – for the benefit of idiots who are held under his spell….
ong
February 25, 2011
In life, at least the life that I know, there are times when “lack of courage” is actually ‘discretion’ in disguise, as in the saying “discretion is the better part of valour”.
Who knows, this could be one of those times.
jawa moden
February 24, 2011
Dear Dr. Puthucherry:
It’s not that Anwar is incapable of naming the shadow cabinet, the problem is there’s no shadow in the closet ….wink, wink.
shar101
February 24, 2011
When you stay in the shadows (sic), you’ll never be the light.
There’s no BN, only UMNO Baru at the wheel.
And there’s no PR, only PAS, DAP & PKR chasing the same prize.
cruzeiro
February 24, 2011
While it would be ideal for Anwar to name the shadow cabinet, wouldn’t it be foolhardy? Umno is just waiting for Anwar to give room for attack- and Anwar may just be keeping his cards very close to himself ….
What difference would it make anyway to the opposition?
cruzeiro
February 24, 2011
Maybe Anwar is a fool, but I don’t think he’s as big a fool as Umno tries to make him out to be ….
soon
February 24, 2011
Dr – Your arguments are sound. But then, Libra’s views are similarly valid. Another reason that AI has chosen to be silent on the shadow cabinet is simple – with each shadow cabinet post left open, it acts as a lure for those BN MPs who may be contemplating jumping over to PR. If AI were to put a name to each of those positions, what incentive is there for those who may have their eye on power and position to consider switching camps?
looes74
February 24, 2011
cruzeiro,
# On second thought, why Harris wanna put this in the blog? Always remember everybody has an agenda. However noble he is. Again we must ask Harris certain questions….He has been extremely supportive of Zaid…..What’s his position about Zaid accepting Tan Tee Beng#
Why letting Zaid getting away with it? Next you sure SNAP would really agree with share its candidates with MCLM……Harris can’t resolve the real issue of bringing in Felda folks
# That would leave in UMNO ruling Malaysia in perpeituity…..Soh Chai Soh How So now
ong
February 25, 2011
looes74,
The answer lies right here, http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/is-it-parti-kita-or-parti-kitar/, in the same blog actually!
Remie
February 24, 2011
If PR is serious about forming the next Government, it should show a credible lineup of their Shadow Cabinet. Credible enough to withstand attacks from all sides.
Problem is, PR have none to show. The bickering & posturing will start after the next election, when they have a chance to form the next Government. While they bicker & posture, BN will be sworn in as the next Government.
Thank you very much.
ong
February 25, 2011
A lineup of their Shadow Cabinet that is “Credible enough to withstand attacks from all sides”, so say you.
Ha! Ha! Ha! I think you must be a newly arrived migrant or visitor to 1Funny + 1-of-a-kind Malaysia. You don’t know just how potent and deadly is the combibation of our KETUANAN MELAYU, UMNO, PERKASA & UTUSAN MELAYU. When this combination is applied on to our BTN cum UMNO indoctrinated Malays, even Superman will roll over.
Ellese
February 25, 2011
PR was to reform of our politics. to show better governance and tranparency. As opposition they should have started by declaring assets and form shadow cabinet. It will put bn on defensive with this new way of politics. it would have put our interest first. But what we get is the same or worse as evidence from pkr shameful election. If you can cheat manipulate and commit fraud on your members, what more at federal level. With many people gullible to simple excuses like “we need time to reform” our nation under them would be in dire straits. So show simple action of declaring assets and shadow cabinet before they can gain our trust. Actions speak louder than words.
MohdHashim
February 25, 2011
Azmi @ Puthucherry,
Your writing style is terrible. Please go back to school!
The Most Top
February 25, 2011
When God is about to confer a great responsibility on man, he will first exercises his heart with suffering, his sinews and bones with toil.
He will exposes the man body to hunger, subjects him to extreme poverty. He confounds the man undertakings with setbacks and troubles, therefore to stimulate his heart (or mind) to have patience and toughen his nature in order to supply (or to provide him with benefits despite of) his in competencies.
Meaning no pain no gain.
It’s a quote from Mencius (Meng Tzu), a Chinese ancient philosopher.
apin
February 25, 2011
There may be good reasons for not giving the votes to BN. But equally, what are the good reasons to give the votes to Pakatan? Hatred for the BN people does NOT mean automatic support to AI and gang. He gotta justify why he deserves to be voted. Until then, shadow or no shadow, sodomy or no sodomy, you will be closely and critically watched.
ong
February 25, 2011
You appear to be one of those who are quite lost and indecisive as to who to give your vote to. Allow me to help.
Serious and successful politicians rarely belong to the type of humans many can love. When I say love, I mean really love, at least for the long term, if not permanently, and not just temporarily when they give in to your unreasonable demands. Lovable types of humans rarely make good politicians. You must not get mixed up between your friendly priest (or nun) and your friendly politician. They are different types of ‘friendly’. We have to be realistic.
Give your vote to the one you hate less. If you think the word ‘hate’ is too extreme, then give your vote to the one you dislike less.
Simple, isn’t it?
Chong, Lee Mei
February 26, 2011
Less dislike? Ok. My vote go to BN then.
Just Saying
February 25, 2011
Even if Anwar is able to form a credible shadow cabinet, which is doubtful at this point in time, surely he’s not that reckless to announce it to the whole nation knowing full well Pakatan will be pecked to death by the hovering vultures Perkasa and Utusan and the pack of braying Umno warlords. Ironical that he should have the ‘perfect’ excuse NOT to form a shadow cabinet precisely because of Umno and its cohorts.
Anyway, don’t really see why the Umno govt is demanding for a shadow cabinet…..it already has one (those ‘cabinet’ puppets from MCA-MIC-Gerakan-dll).
ong
February 25, 2011
My guess is that the problem is with very important and critical posts like DPM and Finance Minister. It will be quite incredulous that not even a single non-Malay from either PKR or DAP is fit and suitable for at least one of such posts. How to name a shadow cabinet without a DPM and a MOF?
But with the current mentality of majority, maybe even a large majority, of our Malays, including many educated ones, how to make the announcement of a shadow cabinet with a pendatang as either a prospective DPM or Funance Minister, or even worse, both? UMNO + PERKASA will have such a field day that PR will never get to Putrajaya. Quite possibly, maybe even likely, that PR will lose half the states it now controls.
Therefore what will be the purpose of a shadow cabinet that will permanently remain in the shadows and never become a real life cabinet? In this case I don’t fault Anwar and PR for stalling on the shadow cabinet issue. Discretion is the better part of valour.
Remie
February 25, 2011
So many words from one commentator.
Simplify “PR do not have the “right” candidates to satisfy AI’s criteria”. Malay, Muslim, Malay, Muslim. The rest is for show only.
ong
February 25, 2011
Remie,
Your cynical perception or maybe even imagination of AI’s criterion of “Malay, Muslim, Malay, Muslim” has just caused you to fail the English comprehension test. Your interpretation of what I actually meant is completely wrong. You get 0 (zero) out of 100.
You also fail the grammar test. You should use ‘criterion’ and not ‘criteria’ which is the plural for criterion, unless of course you had also mentioned at least one other criterion (besides the “Malay, Muslim, Malay, Muslim”) which got deleted by the webmaster.
Please stick to issuing your own personal opinions or even rebutting others’ opinions instead of trying to explain or to rewrite other people’s opinions.
Chong, Lee Mei
February 26, 2011
Ditto. Cant agree with you more Remie
bc
February 25, 2011
Do you seriously believe, Dr Puthucherry, that the present BN government will give two hoots what the PR shadow cabinet has to say?
Look at a recent case. Tony Pua talked about the excessive defence spending involving OPVs…but he is being hounded and threatened. IS that a government in action? MOre like Mafias, to me!
Inefficiencies and abuses brought up even by the Auditor General himself are routinely ignored (brushed under the carpet), year in, year out.
Some ministers of the present cabinet have many a time come out to make statements to such effct that “only constituencies under BN will get the annual allocation” RM1 million or whatever, the figure, it means both supporters of BN and PR are bing punished.
Dr Jeyakumar is fighting this issue in the courts right now.
So, what use is a shadow cabinet if the government is not willing to pay due respect to sitting MPs elected by the rakyat?
To you Dr Puthucherry, who among the ministers and deputies in the cabinet of DS Najib are those that may be taken as sterling examples of whom we want to steer Malaysia into the future?
Nazri? Ahmad Mazlan? Moohyi? Kohilan? Pala? Yen-Yen? Rais? Hisham?
These are the more prominent ones that we often see strutting about along the corridoors of power…forget about those from the preiphery who are just taking up oxygen in the cabinet.
BTW, IB Ali would probably take up an offer within a heartbeat if given a place on the gallery…and it could happen again. After all he was Deputy Minister of Law in TDM’s cabinet.
Quality, huh?
If the present parade represents the depth of leadership that we hope would steer this nation to greatness, then I think Malaysia is doomed to trail Vietnam and Thailand soon.
Our government has conveniently gagged the media. Our politiciains show how immature they can be. So, in the process many a brain get stunted. Some have become too lazy to think beyond what is in fornt of their noses.
To me, for as long as we blindly indulge in partisan politics and are do not want to see goodness in the rival camp (despite it being genuinely kosher and halal and good), we can never reach political maturity, the kind that respects the opinions of both sides.
Only then can one side demand of the other such sophisticated components of democracy such as a shadow cabinet or Ombudsmen or a truly neutral Royal Coomissiion or for that matter a Parliamentary Committee of Rights and Privileges. These are routinely available in political structures of mature democracies.
So DS Najib put in place the many other things first before you even talk about a PR shadow cabinet. For example, will account for how Rosmah uses the RM100 million of the 2011 budget allocated to PERMATA? And why do you deny the 70 plus MPs their annual allocation due to their constituencies?
And doc, there is really no need for a shadow cabinet, when we can do some of the work if we demand more transparency and accountability of our government.
Not in Malaysia. Not yet.
Johan
March 1, 2011
Haris, it is easy to talk. As a democrat, I will love to see PR come up with a shadow cabinet but as a realist and understanding PR/AI’s strategy, I pray that he will not come up with such a list. The reasons are simple-The 1Malay pm & dpm are just trying to set a trap hoping that PR will fall into it. Having a shadow cabinet is good if the bn parties are matured, fair minded and gentlemenly (like in a matured democracy such as the UK). In Malaysia, the ruling party is run by RACIST immatured tyrants who have absolutely no intention to adhere to principles of fair play. IF PR were to name a shadow cabinet, these tyrants will play the racial card to the hilt – and we Malaysians can forsee the following scenario – for eg. if Kit Siang is allocated to Ministry A, the 1Malay pm and dpm will scream that it is a “ketuanan” ministry and should not be held by a Malaysian Chinese, if Hadi is allocated to Ministry B, the mca henchmen will also scream themselves hoarse trying to hoodwink the rakyat that Ministry B should not be held by a Muslim, etc., etc. regardless of whether these claims are true or not. And utusan will twist and exaggerate and lie to fool those with no access to alternative news….Johan