New Straits Times
http://www.nst.com.my
7 May 2008

All in a lather over the Kah Choon switch
By : SHANNON TEOH

Pakatan Rakyat has ruled for almost two months in three states with
significant Chinese populations. SHANNON TEOH ponders if Datuk Lee Kah
Choon’s exit from Gerakan could be the first of many among the
predominantly Chinese parties

"I DON'T see what the big hoo-ha is all about," says Fui K. Soong,
chief executive officer of the Institute of Strategic Analysis and
Policy Research, MCA's think-tank. She feels Datuk Lee Kah Choon
should just be left to work on his new jobs.

She's probably right that the former Gerakan deputy secretary-general
should be allowed to choose between his professional aspirations and
his political affiliations.

"Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye jumped from DAP to 'pro-establishment' for the
same reason, because he wanted to serve," Fui notes.

But the "hoo-ha" is there because the move has sparked many other
debates, chief among them the question of crossovers.

Prior to Lee's appointments, Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman
Datuk Seri Najib Razak had dismissed claims of MPs crossing over. He
has since decided that "we have to deal with it with urgency".

"We cannot dismiss it as pure fabrication."

Across the fence, Lim Guan Eng's election strategist Liew Chin Tong
claims that the chief minister's offer to Lee to helm Penang
Development Corporation and investPenang was a move to foster
bipartisan co-operation -- no invitation has ever been made to Lee to
join the party.

Liew, now MP for Bukit Bendera, infers from the election results that
many BN members in Penang must have voted for DAP candidates.

"We recognise the support from BN members and this encourages us to be
inclusive.

"We complained about BN excluding us from everything, so now we are
encouraging co-operation."

While BN leaders disagree and worry about "mutiny", some grassroots
members have spoken in support of Lee.

"We object to the use of the word 'crossover'," says Cheras division
chief Dr Hsu Dar Ren.

"He wanted to still be a Gerakan member. We see it as a civil service
post for the betterment of the people."

Dr Hsu is in a group of Kuala Lumpur-based leaders, led by KL-Federal
Territory chief Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who blame party adviser Datuk
Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik for the loss of Lee, widely regarded as a leader
of integrity and ability.

While many observers may not see Lee's move as a defection, there is
no doubt that this has led to thoughts about crossovers, especially
among disillusioned members of BN's predominantly Chinese parties,
Gerakan and MCA.

In Penang, Perak and Selangor, states with a large proportion of
Chinese, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) governments have been rolling out
reformist policies; issuing land titles to villagers and modernising
pig farming. Fui notes that the election saw volunteerism swinging in
DAP's favour, with people queuing up to be polling agents.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, formerly with Gerakan's Sedar
think-tank, feels it is legitimate to cross over as there is no point
to being part of a winning team if you can't play a role.

"Even if they feel they can be more vocal now in BN, can they be as
vocal as Pakatan Rakyat? In BN, you will be reprimanded for being too
outspoken."

Ong Kian Ming, now reading for a doctorate in political science at
Duke University in the US, claims that higher up the chain,
politicians will look to protect their interests.

"They can still leverage appointments such as directors of
public-listed companies," he says, citing the instance of Datuk Chor
Chee Heung after he was dropped as a deputy minister in 2004.

Khoo notes, however, that PR now has many positions in state
government agencies to fill.

"They are plugging gaps. In any industry, if you're new, what you do
is hire experienced people from your competitors because it will
benefit you and hurt the competition."

Fui observes: "It's the same as what Parti Bersatu Sabah did in 1986
and Gerakan in 1969. In DAP's case, it is hiring people out of BN to
plug the gaps."

But would such a policy cause strife in DAP? Party chairman Karpal
Singh has expressed a personal view that Lim should not have offered
such a position to a BN member. Perhaps he was aware that DAP members
might not have been happy with being overlooked.

But Khoo thinks Karpal should rest easy, as there are more positions
than can be filled internally: "The reality now is that if you don't
promote your good people, they can and will leave because so many
positions are available. It's career enhancement."

Liew sees the party as masterful at acquisitions. The recent crop of
MPs such as Tony Pua and Charles Santiago have emulated the likes of
vice-chairman and three-time Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw, who joined
DAP in the late 1970s.

Reformers in both Gerakan and the MCA want the BN structure
re-examined due to the perceived dominance of Umno. Some Gerakan
members also call for a return to a multiracial platform. On the other
hand, some MCA members want the party to be seen to do more to
champion the interests of the Chinese.

However, while leadership change is not inconceivable, these reformers
look set to be disappointed.

Much of the focus will be on the perceived failings of top leadership
in the March 8 aftermath. It is only among a few grassroots leaders
such as Dr Hsu and perhaps some veterans of the heady days of 1969 in
Gerakan that there is a rethinking of ideology.

These figures have even mooted the idea of leaving the race-based
politics of BN to pursue their multiethnic ideology. Says Dr Hsu:
"It's almost impossible to realise our ideology in BN. There has been
a suggestion that we form a third bloc that supports good policies
from either coalition."

Khoo, however, thinks there is insufficient sentiment to turn the ship
around. "Those seeking reform want to trigger more divisions and
branches to speak out. But it has not happened."

The endgame is uncertain. The more idealistic Gerakan members also
happen to be the more loyal and are likely to follow the example of Dr
Hsu, who insists he would rather duke it out in the party than leave.

Khoo says it is hard to predict any crossovers, as it would depend on
whether PR would have a role for them. But he is certain many would
quit if they see no change.

Perhaps Fui's attitude is the most pragmatic, given the circumstances.

"It's a good opportunity to clean up the system. Then you will know
that those who are left behind are the ones genuinely with the party."
+++++++++++

Lobbyists all out to woo delegates
By : ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR

CAMPAIGNING for the Umno elections has found its way to Parliament.
While aspirants do not openly campaign there, a handful of
self-proclaimed "lobbyists" are now often seen in the building
whenever the Dewan Rakyat is in session.

For those who are familiar with these faces, they are quite easily
spotted -- in the cafeteria for instance -- trading information,
cross-checking facts with one another or merely mingling with aides of
cabinet ministers and deputy ministers.

While those already "working for someone" could be seen playing their
roles in earnest, the others were simply pitching for potential
"employers". And they tend to be quite choosy as to who they would
work for as there are many among the Umno lawmakers who are keen to
contest in the December party polls.

Using the services of these lobbyists or campaign managers, as some
prefer to call themselves, is an acceptable practice in Umno. It has
been going on for a long time although some say this norm breeds money
politics in the party.

These lobbyists are also widely recognised in Umno circles as people
who can make or break aspirants, being quite adept in pushing for
certain candidates to get elected, or equally skilled at thwarting the
rise of ambitious leaders by destroying their credibility.

And, of course, they work for money.

Those who engage them regard them as useful bargaining tools, as it is
widely believed that they have information on the unfavourable sides
of certain party leaders.

A couple of them, who are bloggers, claim they are in Parliament to
update their blogs with the proceedings in the House.

"I will be here throughout the parliamentary session," says a KL-based
lobbyist, who also blogs.

Have they abandoned their usual haunts -- coffee houses, roadside
cafes and mamak shops?

No, these activities have not stopped either. In fact, they are
getting interesting as one put it, since "party leaders from all over
the country are in town".

"It's convenient to operate in Parliament, given the fact that
everybody is here," says another, referring to the incumbents and
prospective candidates.

The main party elections are more than six months away but to the
aspirants, time is running short as they need to touch base with
people with influence in the 191 divisions throughout the country.
This has to be done before the divisional elections from Oct 9 to Nov
9, where nominations for posts of party president, deputy president,
three vice-presidents and 25 supreme council seats will be made.

They cannot afford to take chances for fear of losing out to their
opponents.

So far, only Umno president aspirant Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk
Mukhriz Mahathir, who is going for the Umno Youth chief post, have
campaigned openly at the divisional level to garner support for their
candidacy.

Most leaders do it in a more subtle manner -- sending out feelers
through trusted aides to the grassroots and through SMSes that they
are offering themselves as candidates.

They have to make their intentions known early because of the quota
system of nominations that requires them to get certain percentage of
nominations to be eligible to contest.

There are also worries over rivalries among division leaders in some
states and some foresee excessive jostling for the G7 -- the seven
representatives elected by each division to attend and vote at the
central party elections.

And this is one of the lobbyist's job as well -- to get supporters of
the leaders they work for to be elected as G7 delegates

*************From Uncle Yap**************
** Berita Malaysia - Free Malaysian News & Discussion Group **
Archives/manage subscription: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beritamalaysia
Subscribe : Blank e-mail to: beritamalaysia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: Blank e-mail to: beritamalaysia-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

** bmalaysia - Just The Malaysian News (Free of charge) **
Archives/manage subscription: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmalaysia
Subscribe : Blank e-mail to: bmalaysia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: Blank e-mail to: bmalaysia-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com