Penang MCA Deputy Chairman, Tan Teik Ching’s recent statement that the proposed Penang snap election was a fiasco only goes on to show his ignorant and low view of democracy.
In our Westminster democracy, the head of government has the right to request for dissolution of the legislative assembly at any time. Barisan Nasional Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers have taken such move before.
Objective of snap election is clear: return power to the people
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been very clear about the snap election: it is to return the power to the people of Penang to decide on the fate our their state government. Although the Chief Minister may make such decision on his own just like what all Barisan Nasional Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers have done, he chose to consult extensively with our coalition partners. This is democracy.
Clearly, Penang Barisan Nasional panicked because they were caught unprepared for the election. This shows that Penang Barisan Nasional leaders are enjoying their prolonged honeymoon since 2008 with federal government posts and perks.
Unlike the PM, CM submitted himself to the scrutiny of the law, the media and the people
Tan also said that the snap election was to divert attention from the court case against the Chief Minister.
Although Tan is a senior MCA and Barisan Nasional leader as well as a federal appointee being the Chairman of the Penang Port Commission, he obviously did not follow Penang news closely.
It is as if after losing the election BN leaders have given up on Penang and chose instead to enjoy their federal appointments and perks.
If he had followed Penang news, Tan would have realised that the Chief Minister never once hid away or refused any investigation or scrutiny against himself. He has willingly cooperated with police and Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to the extend of being investigated in his office, at home and also being detained overnight on 29 June 2016.
Does Tan realise how the Chief Minister’s “nothing to hide”-transparent approach is a far cry from Tan’s big boss, Prime Minister Najib Razak who has “everything to hide”?
May we remind Tan that while the Prime Minister has avoided scrutiny, replaced the Attorney-General and top-guns at the MACC, blocked online news portal and silenced the opposition, the Chief Minister has submitted himself to the scrutiny of the law, the media and the people of Penang and Malaysia.
Is Tan brave enough to call on the PM to dissolve Parliament to return power to the people?
If Tan has now decided to do something for the people of Penang, I advise him to open his sealed lips against the Prime Minister and 1MDB. 1MDB-related assets are being confiscated by the US Department of Justice and its activities are being investigated by at least six countries around the world. Yet Tan remained silent, perhaps concerned about his own position which was given to him by the Prime Minister.
Penangites and Malaysians are suffering under a corrupted regime which imposes GST on the people. Bank Negara itself acknowledged that our economy is facing a crisis of confidence due to various unresolved financial scandals. Not only foreign investors’ confidence are affected, but Malaysians as a whole have lost confidence towards the Prime Minister. As such, will MCA and Tan as well as other Barisan Nasional leaders have the guts to call on the Prime Minister to dissolve Parliament to save Malaysia and return power to the people?