LETTERS | Don’t be toxic but effective, responsible opposition

LETTER | All eyes are now on how Perikatan Nasional, winners in the recently-concluded state elections in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, in particular, will play their respective opposition roles in the state assemblies.

Clearly, the state assembly sittings will set the tone for PN Yang Berhormats, especially debutants, on whether they could fight it out right and wisely via quality arguments and questions and prove their mettle as a formidable and responsible check and balance.

On paper, Saturday’s election outcomes keep things at the status quo for PN and its rivals. PN and BN as both coalitions retained the three states they each had control of before the dissolution of the assemblies.

PN won comfortably in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu where it is the incumbent while Harapan-BN won Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

This clearly shows that PN has chipped away at Harapan-BN’s strongholds and powerbases while strengthening its stranglehold in home turfs, with a knock-out in Terengganu where PN swept all 32 seats. PN also goes from zero to five seats in Negeri Sembilan.

Like the rest of the voters in this country, it will be interesting to observe the state sittings of Selangor and Penang, especially where PN has made significant inroads.

PN managed to quadruple from five to 22 seats from the 56-seat Selangor assembly while in Penang, PN improved markedly on its margin with 11 seats, up from one previously.

I do hope that what PN Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Azmin Ali, who once was Selangor menteri besar and touted to be the state opposition chief, said yesterday that PN assemblypersons would not oppose merely for the sake of it will come true and be fulfilled.

Tangible initiatives

The mandate secured from the rakyat must be translated into tangible initiatives that could benefit them.

All problems gripping the rakyat, bread-and-butter issues and all others must be debated responsibly and in a committed manner.

The trust and pledges placed in all assemblypersons to serve the rakyat must never be ignored but upheld and dutifully carried out.

Of course, the state sittings, this time around, are expected to be merrier, noisier and more robust with more opposition assemblypersons, except maybe for Terengganu which is all PN.

But please, YBs, don’t turn them into a circus!

We have had enough of MP’s antics and unruly behaviours in the high-level Dewan Rakyat proceedings!

As opposition, it is not enough to say no but you must provide alternatives so that the systems work to benefit not just your state but the entire country.

Contribute fresh and innovative ideas as well as mature and constructive criticisms constantly.

Constructive performance in opposition is a form of leadership, just as important as protecting and serving the people.

Check and balance

Please do something fast as the present unity government has not done much to ease the rakyat's endless problems, particularly the high cost of living and the prices of goods that have been soaring like nobody’s business.

A sustained depreciation of the ringgit worsens imported inflation, affecting the purchasing power of households and businesses.

The rakyat were promised the moon and the sky, but until today, since the unity government took over the corridors of power about eight months ago, nothing much has been done.

The present government lacks direction in resolving people’s pertinent bread-and-butter issues. It’s all talk and no action, all mask and no measure!

Many promises have been made but until today, they go unfulfilled.

Although the state elections have no direct impact on the present government, losing ground in these traditional power bases, only scuppers the plan for economic reforms for this country.

Most people have become more curious whether the opposition could effectively provide checks and balances to this present government.

Of course, sitting on the opposition bench will not be a walk in the park as they will be locking horns with government assemblyperson. Still, you must prove them wrong as a constructive and responsible opposition.

Be the Voice of the people in whatever way possible. Avoid being a toxic opposition but play meaningful roles and help turn Malaysia around.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.