limkamput Says:

Yesterday at 21: 46.07

Why are our MPs so spineless? If DSAI really has the number, show it. Should the MPs be arrested or harassed after the revelation, so be it. This is what our MPs ought to be – stand up and be counted. There is no need to play hide and seek anymore. If PR has the number, do it. If not, just concentrate your role as opposition till the next election. I think this nation can no longer afford this kind of politicking. Frankly, there are shadow plays in both sides. This country has been without an effective government for almost a year. I think it is enough. When we supported opposition during the March election, we have never expected the country will degenerate into quagmire like what we are seeing today.

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Dear Lim,

1. With respect, it seems to me the root cause to your general lament and frustration is your statement “This country has been without an effective government for almost a year.”.

2. You seemed to be directing the bulk of the blame at (a) DSAI, or (b) the crossing over BN MPs, rather than (c) the ruling BN government/ BN MPs who chose to remain in BN. (“Why are our MPs so spineless? If DSAI really has the number, show it. Should the MPs be arrested or harassed after the revelation, so be it. “)

3. My question is is it fair to blame 2(a) and 2(b) when the day-to-day running of the country falls squarely on 2(c)?

4. Perhaps your lament about “Why are our MPs so spineless” should be better directed at 2(c) group, since they are the ruling government. Who chose and approve the sending of the 50 MPs to Taiwan – DSAI or 2(c)? Who chose and decided to detain RPK, Kok and Tan under ISA – DSAI or 2(c)? If you look at the entire situation properly, it is clear that the PRIMARY reason why the government is not functioning has NOTHING to do with DSAI, but is instead the full responsibility of 2(c) group. Yes, PR plays to the gallery too (e.g. sending a smaller PKR group to Taiwan to chase after possible defectors), but a properly functioning government – if they didn’t send the Group of 50+ to Taiwan first could have chosen to stay in the country. Yes, DSAI & PR held a large ceramah on 15 Sep, but so what? The final responsibility of governing or not governing the country rests squarely on the ruling government. And who decided to destabilize the financial situation in this country by changing the Minister of Finance mid-stream – DSAI or AAB?

In short, let’s not forget that no matter what DSAI or PR does in terms of politics, the act and responsibility of governing rests squarely on the ruling government and not on the Opposition.

I merely wish to point out this fundamental fact.
In short, I strongly believe that the reason our country is not being governed properly since 308 is not because of 2(a) or 2(b), but the responsibility falls squarely on the ruling government.

The ruling government would like to blame it all on DSAI. But the truth is, they haven’t done their job. And now, they want to pin the blame on DSAI by threatening to ISA him! How ludicrous!

Dear Lim,

Further to my post above, you also mentioned “When we supported opposition during the March election, we have never expected the country will degenerate into quagmire like what we are seeing today.”

It is only human nature and very natural to feel some regret.

However, I would like you to consider and reflect this question critically – if BN and Badawi did their job properly, could the country degenerate at all, IN SPITE of what PR say or does so long as what PR does remain within the boundaries of what’s allowed by the law and duties of being Opposition?

If you believe the Opposition is to be blamed, perhaps you would like to share a specific action which the Opposition has done that has cause this country to degenerate.

Chances are, I believe a proper and objective analysis will point to the failure of the ruling government to do their job, rather than the Opposition’s words or actions.

The Opposition – as far as I can establish – has not taken up arms like the Communists back in the 50s. The Opposition has acted within the law at all times.

If you are dissappointed with specific aspects such as the Budget 2009, then, this is not the Oppositions problem. The Budget is crafted solely by the Government.

If you are dissappointed with the DNA Bill, this is not something initiated by the Opposition – the Government has a choice and the responsibility to not table this Bill in the first place.

Let’s not blame the Opposition for doing their job.

Instead, let’s condemn the Government for NOT doing their jobs.

Dear ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH,

In response to your long comments Today at 05: 16.29 (12 hours ago)

You’ve made many points in your reply which I find myself agreeing in some parts and disagreeing in other parts. And I don’t wish to comment on ALL the points made, else, we’ll be here forever.

However, my own fundamental belief is that when one is a government, one has responsibilities that one needs to fulfil and cannot blame the Opposition if they are unable to perform their duties. Having DSAI claiming that he has the numbers should not deter the Government from fulfilling that responsibility.

My ideal or benchmark is for example in the more mature democratic countries such as US, UK or Australia. If any one of the Opposition members there had claimed that they had a majority, would the governments there reacted in the same way as the governments here has? Ask yourself sincerely whether our government has responded in a professional manner, and whether DSAI is to blamed to the extent that was implied. He is the opposition – a vocal one – a charismatic one – one who dares to paint a picture bigger than anyone of us dare to imagine … but at the end of the day, he is not the government.

So, when we review in general what a person has done over a period of time (your comments covered 308 to today), reality is extremely complex, and we are bound to focus on / have various perspective. My own feeling is that regardless of our individual perspectives, it is important that Rakyat demands that our government continues to govern in a responsible manner, notwitstanding what DSAI did or what someone else did.

You quote: “however, dsai , and not lks nor nik aziz goes on the hype of 916 and the “crossover” of bn mps.” — well it’s obvious LKS and NA supported 916 fully and publicly prior to 916. DSAI was clearly the champion of 916, and for something mammoth like this, it needs a champion to make it possible. I personally don’t have major issues with any of the 3 leaders.

You quote: “… this certainly would have caused bn to react and need to counter the situation.” — my own view is that for every action or statement made by DSAI, the BN government always have many options to respond. I would personally rate BN’s response as a general “D” in many instances. They could have responded using better methods with an “A” or a “B” grading perhaps. I’m sure if we were to raise specific instances, that you can think of many better ways in which the BN government could have responded better.

You quote: “the government have flawed in many ways, but they are unable to rule with this daily numbers figures of uncertainties.” — personally, I disagree with the latter. Yes, I appreciate it is difficult to deal with DSAI, but not completely impossible when the government controls the newspapers and MSM, the Police, the Judiciary, the Budgets, the Expenditures, etc. etc. etc. It should be obvious the government could have done a much better job.

You quote: “raja petra is lamenting in jail , based on that expectation.” — personally, I’m not quite sure what you are implying. To me, RPK is an adult. He knows fully well what he was in for when he set up the MT website, and when he wrote his MT articles. I sincerely doubt RPK blames DSAI at all for his championing of 916.

You quote: “there is no need for all this jubilations and celebrations even before the eggs are hatched.” — here, I don’t quite understand what you had in mind when you mentioned “jubilations and celebrations”. Certainly DSAI’s ceramahs are captivating and can become passionate with cries of “Reformasi”, but this is not necessarily “jubilations and celebrations”. We know this is not a reality yet. Perhaps just different perspectives.

Anyway, I’ve got to run.