State of Perak in the wake of global recession.

2009 February 5

tags: Barisan Nasional, Malays, malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat, Perak, Politics, Society and Culture

by saoandco

Who do you support for Perak state government – BN or PR?

BN is an alliance of several parties comprising all races in Malaysia, which include Bumiputera Malay, Chinese and Indian parties, and that of Sabah and Sarawak. PR is Pakatan Rakyat whose member parties include PAS ( Party Islam Malaysia, majority Muslim Malays ), DAP (all Chinese and non Bumiputera) and Keadilan ( a combination of all races but mostly Indian and some Malays). BN had been the alliance party that had ruled Perak state from 1957 until the last general election which lost to newly formed PR.

After winning the state the PR government had made many controversial issues, one of which is to grant a 999 year lease to Chinese new village land owners. Some analysts point out the issuing of a 999 lease was a bait for more grass root support from largely Chinese community, thus in this case, PR had forgotten the history of the alienation of the land as new villages were located within the Malay areas. Most people remember, especially the Malays in that these new villages were new settlement for the Chinese and that they were a trade off for them leaving the disposed communist party and it’s supporters. (Is communism a threat to Perak state again? just wonder)

Although led by a Muslim Malay as the MB, the composition of the coalition was to the advantage of DAP (a Chinese race based party, which formed the majority in the number of elected people representatives).

The MB did not have the right number of supports from his own party and from the coalition partners to protect the interest of the Malays, who form most the Perak’s population. This leads him accused of being disloyal to his own race, the Malay, and had become synonym as a puppet of DAP party since then. To make thing worst for the alliance DAP has severed relationship with the royal over rows of issue in the appointment of new MB at start of forming up of the state government.

DAP is an urban based party, and in Malaysia Chinese occupy major urban areas within many states in the west of Malaysia. Thus, major towns are the ground for Chinese support. The swayed general election to the opposition came after so much problems BN had over it’s shoulder. The main problem was the accusation from the opposition that BN is aligned to corruption and cronyism in governing the state. This accusation of corruption and cronyism on the part of the past government had been well politicized by the opposition, and had won the heart and mind of urban dwellers who are mainly Chinese to vote against BN.

The casualty of the above accusation was the PM who had been requested by his own party members to step out of the government.

In the wake of global recession, and job loses everywhere, the state of Perak too will be affected by the likely economic downturn. It has no major natural resources after tin has vanished it’s value in the commodity trading line.

BN over the last rule of the state had started several schemes to improve the state economy by introducing several new growth areas in the state covering the education, tourism and industrial projects, which for some reasons are not top priority for the PR government and were abundant or shelved.

As a first timer in governing a state, PR that had small majority of members in the state assembly was seems rather anxious to gather more grass root support than improving the state’s economy. It will be just a matter of time PR would lose support of the state assembly as Perak too would be affected by the world economic depression.

With over 50 years in governing both the state and federal governments, BN is set to come back to Perak. Allowing fresh new leaders from within the alliance parties, it is possible for BN to regain control of states that were lost during the last general election. After all, PR too has failed to field quality leaders who can command visible visions and to plan the need for all strata of voters (at about 54: 31: 13:0.2, National average 61:24:7:1.7 Bumi, Chinese, Indian, and Non citizen).

If Perak falls to BN, it is likely other lost states will also fall to the lap of BN, as happening in the domino theory.

With deepening global recession and job loses worldwide, Perak isn’t immune. A shrinking economy is a tough task to meddle about and worst from lack of dedicated and experienced leaders. As it is now, PR is seems keen in politicking and more in power grabbing and of course non economic.

So who do you support BN or PR. And who is able to improve the livelihood of the people of Perak?.