Again, let me emphasize, respecting this blog and you, the rat are very different things. Sometimes mentally challenged rats just don’t get it.

Could it be limkamput’s face??

Hhmmmm…I wonder what they saw under the skirt that turn their vision into a bad dream.

In the 60′s and up to early 70′s Penang was a free port, an elegant city, a pearl (Pearl of the Orient it was known in yesteryears) and a joy of a place for locals and tourist alike. When Penangites voted for opposition in 69 they were hoping for an even brighter future. But when opposition turncoat went under the skirt of BN it was the start of a vision turning into a bad dream.

In the 35 years under BN was there really an improvement (relative to other places in Malaysia) for Penang? Chinese CM, yes, but look at what is really happening in the state! Numerous returning tourists are aghast at the state of Penang now. The poor 40 odd % of Penangites have been screaming all these years but only to find their voice muted. When necessary, the bitter pill have to be swallowed. Wake up from the bad dream before it becomes a NIGHTMARE.

But where do we go from here? In fact it has been Penang’s strategy for a long time to vote for BN at the state level and oppositions at the Federal level precisely because of the concern you expressed earlier. But to me Penang has already lost out by continually supporting a rotten regime except for a brief spell after the 1969 election. Gerakan (when in opposition) came into power in Penang precisely because the people of Penang were not happy with the Alliance Government at that time. However after Gerakan joined the Government, all these were conveniently forgotten and today we are faced with the same issue again. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and try out and see what happen. The Federal Government cannot ignore all state governments if more of them come under opposition. Remember, the Federal Government has no territory other than KL, Putrajaya and Labuan. I believe the system of discrimination again opposition held states and constituencies can not go on forever if the central government that does so is rotten and corrupted to the core. I know some of you may want to quote Singapore’s example in unfairly treating opposition held constituencies. That is different, Singapore government is benevolent.

Other than PAS and PBS (in Sabah at one time), the DAP was never given a single opportunity to govern a state before. The only state that provides some glimmer of hope is Penang. May be we ought to trust the DAP and PKR at least once and see what they can do. May be they are able to forge a better and a more even keel relationship with the Federal Government. May be they are able to manage better whatever little resources Penang has at the moment. Why are Chinese so kiasi and kiasu is beyond me? For information, Penang is already fast emerging as the garbage of orient under the BN. And with rapid global relocation of industries and plants, Penang may face a serious problem if farsighted actions are not taken quickly. What else can be worse?

I agree with you that Penang is not Kelantan. By saying so your comment is an indirect testimony to the fact that in the case of Kelantan, the federal government has in fact not done its best to help with the economic development of that state. That as we all know is only half the truth.

Kelantanese Malay psyche sets them apart from other Malays in that they rather see their state remain less developed than accept federal funds freely because they think it means more non-Malays will come to the state, more of them will lose their land to non-Malays etc – an integral part of the process of modernization which they’ll not be able to stop once the ball gets rolling. That has been their perception and has not changed much since independence. They even tried to secede from the federation!

Like you say Penang state is in a different situation. That is only half true. Penang in the hands of the Opposition will not be able to get its hands on the kind of funds it needs to fund its development expenditures. It cannot raise funds overseas, cannot tap into the international capital markets which would need federal government guarantee – Penang not being a sovereign state. Like all other states it depends on federal funding for its projects and I’m not talking only infrastructure here.

Penang would not be neglected, of course. I don’t think it could be called economic neglect – perhaps ‘losing out’ would be a better term. It would lose out to the other states which would see a more rapid economic development.

After five years in Opposition control, Penangites would once again be ready to return to their time tested formula of “Vote Opposition at the federal level, and vote the National Coalition at the state level” to ensure peace and prosperity for themselves.

So why change at all if the dynamics are still the same?

Because of the nature of our constitution which gave the most important revenue sources to the Federal Government, the states have to depend on Federal Government for financial support. This is a fact.

Yes, capita and road grants are provided in the constitution. Basing on population and road mileage within each state, these grants are not negotiable and the Federal Government must honour them unless they choose to violate the constitution. So far, states under opposition were not denied of these grants. The quantum of constitutional grants is strictly based on population and road mileage in each state and they cannot be reduced by the Federal Government. Some nut heads do not know what they are talking about here.

In addition to those grants provided for in the constitution, the Federal Government through the National Finance Council also provide other grants/assistance/loans the quantum of which varies according the need and “stage of development” of each state. In other words, unlike constitutional grants, these other grants may vary from state to state but so far no state, including Penang, is denied. They do have criteria to decide on the quantum, but I am not saying whether the criteria are fair or otherwise.

Grants given for each parliamentary constituency are not constitutional grants. They are decided by the Federal Government of the day mainly based on political consideration. Some nut heads get it all confused. But this is expected. I am just stating what is the present system. I am not saying whether the system is fair or otherwise.

I did not contradict anything. Federal projects at the state level are decided by the Federal Government of the day. There is no constitutional provision (article, in case some nut heads don’t understand again) mandating how many projects must be implemented at each state. But as far as capita and road grants are concerned, these are provided for in the constitution which the Federal Government must honour.

Colonel, others may just be laughing at your ignorance and stupidity. You are the one who do not know what you are talking about, not me.

Limkamput says: “No states in Malaysia are self-sufficient financially. That is the reality basing on our existing constitutional arrangement.”

Q. What constitutional arrangement? Never heard.

Limkamput: “he federal grants given to the states each year, such as capita and road grants, are based on constitutional provision.

Q. What constitutional provision? Never heard.

Limkamput: “Over the years, the Federal Treasury in consultation with National Finance Council had also provided other grants/loans to the states based on needs and “stage of development” in each state. Penang, being a “more developed” state, will usually get less than favourable consideration.”

Q. We already know that. But what is there to stop the federal government from reducing (not eliminating) the allocations provided to Penang? We see this happening in constituencies controlled by DAP elsewhere in other states. Economic development comes almost to a standstill as punishment for voting for the Opposition.

Limkamput: “If Oppositions gain power in Penang, I don’t think the Federal Government can stop providing the grants to the state unless it is prepared to violate the constitution provisions.”

Q. What constitutional provisions? The federal government would of course not stop giving but would likely reduce or refuse financing for what it would then deem as ‘controversial’ projects, as being politically motivated and what in its opinion would not benefit Penang state as a whole etc. Excuses are not hard to find. Penangites know this. You’re shockingly naive especially for someone who gloats.

Limkamput: “Be that as it may, federal support to the states should be assessed from the number …”

Q. Nobody is asking for your opinion on what should be but rather what could happen if Penangites were to vote for the Opposition. Don’t you know the difference?

Limkamput: :The Federal Government can frustrate the state governments under oppositions by withholding or delaying federal projects. As we know…”

Q. Here you’re contradicting yourself because earlier you said the federal government cannot do this!

Typical of limkamput who does not know what he’s talking about. Sheeesh…!

What constitutional provisions are you talking about? What constitutional arrangement?

Nope? No can say? Don’t want to say? Go read for yourself?

If Oppositions gain power in Penang, I don’t think the Federal Government can stop providing the grants to the state unless it is prepared to violate the constitution provisions. With regard to withdrawal of oil royalty given to Trengganue state when PAS gained control of the state, that was because sharing of oil royalty was a “gift” from the Federal Government. Oil found off shore Peninsula Malaysia belongs to the Federal government. This is slightly different in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Be that as it may, federal support to the states should be assessed from the number of federal projects planned and implemented in each state. The Federal Government can frustrate the state governments under oppositions by withholding or delaying federal projects. As we know, most projects at the states such as schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, police stations, etc are federal projects financed by allocation from the central government.

This is the reason why Penangites are pragmatists and would vote in the same party that controls the federal government, but would vote in an opposition party to represent them in the federal Parliament to safeguard their constitutional rights and to help any excesses at the national level.

Uncle Lim as your party is with limited resources, Sun Tzu’s statement should have a bearing on your overall election strategic approach

Sun Tzu, “For this reason, to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the hallmark of skill. The acme of skill is to subdue the enemy without even fighting.”

Uncle Lim wish you the very best in this coming election