The Position Of Penang State EXCO And Penang Deputy Chief Minister(DCM)1 Will Remain Vacant To Give Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim More Time To Resolve Internal Issues.
PKR leader and Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is unable to accede to my request to make recommendations to fill the empty EXCO seat and appointment of the new DCM1 caused by the resignation of YB Mohamed Fairus on 8.4.2009. Whilst I am disappointed at the delay, I fully understand the various political pressures that Datuk Seri Anwar is facing in recommending appointments to these positions.
Even though I have the prerogative as CM to appoint the EXCO member and the DCM1, I still believe in consulting and waiting for Datuk Seri Anwar to recommend who to fill up the empty positions. As a genuine coalition ally in Pakatan Rakyat, I have chosen to stand together in solidarity with Datuk Seri Anwar in facing up to these pressures, by giving him more time to resolve the internal issues involved.
However that does not mean that Datuk Seri Anwar will not try to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. As an experienced political leader, Datuk Seri Anwar knows that the public are puzzling over the difficulty in selecting replacements to YB Mohamed Fairus. With Datuk Seri Anwar indicating earlier that the replacements must be Malay, many questions have been asked such as:-
1. Why is the EXCO position not filled by YB Maktar Shapee of Sungai Bakap who is the only Malay PKR ADUN available?
2. Why the delay in choosing as DCM1 from one out of the two ADUNs of YB Maktar and Penang State EXCO YB Abdul Malik Abul Kassim?;
3. Is the delay caused by Datuk Seri Anwar arranging for a by-election for Penanti?
I am confident that Datuk Seri Anwar will answer and explain fully all questions after he had decided on who he wants to recommend to be appointed. And that the best person for the job will be appointed in accordance with Penang’s CAT governance based on the principles of freedom, truth, justice, social welfare and adherence(ketakwaan) to God. In the meantime the various portfolios held by YB Mohamed Fairus will be handled by me and assisted by the other EXCO members where necessary.
I fail to see why you must kawtow to Anwar. Your meekness and Anwar’s indecisiveness exposed the inability of Pakatan to make important decisions. This is a huge blow to Pakatan’s reputation and the public perception of the viability of the opposition at the Federal level.
At times, a good leader needs to gather consensus or maybe even allow himself to be lead by his followers. You have demonstrated that by giving Anwar time (up to 2 weeks) but at some point, you need to assert your leadership/firmness. To us, the rakyat, this could only mean 2 things.
1. The DCM 1 post is useless and can be left vacant for extended periods of time.
2. Anwar is running the Penang government.
Please, show us that neither is true and more importantly that we voted in a strong government which can make and execute well-thought-out policies.