Thesun 2009-06-08 Page05 Pkr-dap Ties Tested Again

theSun

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| MONDAY JUNE 8 2009

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PKR-DAP ties tested again PENANG: The relationship between Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP in Penang is boiling again following dissatisfaction over power distribution in the state government administration. Although the leaderships of both parties has denied any strain in their relationship, dissatisfaction at the grassroots appears unable to be contained, triggering reactions that affect ties between the two parties with different ideologies. Just as the crisis between PKR and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in determining a replacement for deputy chief minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who resigned two months ago, abated, the PKR-DAP relationship is put to the test again. This time, it is over the appointment of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) president. PKR claimed it had stated its wish for a politician from the party to be appointed to the post in the state government through Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) consultative council but the DAP-led state government said no decision was reached on the matter and retained the appointment of a civil servant to lead MPSP. Lim’s claim on Saturday that the move by eight PKR councillors led by chief whip Johari Kassim to boycott the swearing-in of the new MPSP president on Friday was a result of dissatisfaction of a leader not appointed to the post. This was almost immediately refuted by Johari and state PKR liaison chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim. Several months earlier, Zahrain had said that PKR wanted more powers and roles in the state government administration and its agencies so that it could give effective contribution to the state administration. Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the confusion that happened

was due to the brittle relationship between the two parties. “Their cooperation and collaboration are seen strong only on popular issues but in terms of state administration, the points of understanding have not existed. So, if this situation continues, it can bring long-term implications to the PR alliance,” he said when contacted by Bernama. He said demands and more demands by both parties could undermine the strength of the alliance whose joint intention was only to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN). “The fact is DAP, PKR and PAS have very different ideologies. Their symbols and struggles are also not the same. Not just PKR which is seen as the rebel but PAS has also started to voice out and demand equal treatment. “How long can the PR last if they do not have a uniform ideology and how far can a party in the alliance stand and capitulate to the demand by the other party?” Sivamurugan also did not believe that they were ready to sacrifice their ideologies and fight on the same fundamentals because each party seemed to be trying to show its own strength and domination. “The question now is, are they sincere and honest in participating in the alliance? Are they willing to contest under one symbol? The people have started to question whether the PR is capable in governing a state,” he asked. BN, meanwhile, was formed on the same ideology and struggles and the solidarity among its components is there. “Even if there are problems, it is within the component party itself, but ties with other components are still strong. If BN can overcome internal problems in its component parties, it is seen as a good effort to restore the people’s support towards it,” he said. – Bernama

No need for exco member on PKA board: Hwa Beng SHAH ALAM: Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng yesterday said there was no need to place a Selangor executive councillor to sit on the PKA board to monitor developments in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue. He felt both the Selangor government representatives from the State Economic Planning Unit (EPU) committee, Datuk Noordin Sulaiman and Norazmie Biron, who sits on the PKA board and PKFZ Sdn Bhd respectively, were more than enough to monitor and study the developments in the PKFZ. “So, for the time being the need doesn’t arise to place a new exco member on the board of directors of the PKA, which has been a practice of the previous state government until now. I believe both of them (Noordin and Norazmie) can report directly to the mentri besar. “I am an accountant by profession and was the chairman of a public listed logistics company before I resigned ... I know the business far better than anyone else,” Lee told reporters before handing out prizes to winners of SP Setia Badminton Age Group Tournament 2009 near here, yesterday. He was responding to a recent statement by Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who said the state government had the right to

place an exco member on the PKA board of directors. Lee also said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had extended the contract of Noordin, who is also Selangor state EPU director, to occupy the seat in the PKA board. Lee who is also chairman of Setia Badminton Academy said he was prepared to face any eventuality including legal suit from any party pertaining to issues or queries relating to the audit report on PKFZ by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “Don’t forget that PKA is not my company, it’s a federal agency ... I will carry out my duty at the best of my ability ... I represent the federal government and the money which was invested in the project came from taxpayers,” he said adding the PKA board also comprised representatives from Transport and Finance Ministries and the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority. Later when met by reporters at a function near Kuala Selangor, Khalid said the Selangor exco felt it was better to place an exco member on the PKA board. “Considering the chaos surrounding PKFZ, it is better if we place an exco, so that decisions could be made quickly and better communications can prevail between the government and PKA,” he said. – Bernama