- When it rains it pours. Ironically, a torrent of changes in Selangor’s political landscape sparked by Anwar Ibrahim’s “Kajang Move” could mean more dry spells for its residents in 2014 as the federal and state governments continue their bitter battle in the never ending water saga.
- Could new leadership in Selangor, the richest state in Malaysia, lead to more twists and turns in the prolonged water issue and plunge it deeper into crisis?
- After an unsuccessful RM9.65 billion bid last year to take over the four private water companies in Selangor – Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), Konsortium Abbas, Puncak Niaga and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor – the federal government intervened last month by invoking the WSIA (Water Services Industry Act 2006).
- Consequently, Selangor MB (Menteri Besar) Khalid Ibrahim announced that the state and federal governments would be jointly taking over the management of the four water concessionaires under Section 114 of the WSIA. It also looked to have paved the way for the long delayed Langat 2 water treatment plant to finally take off.
- Even so, there are still plenty of uncertainties and negotiations between both parties to smooth things over. Multiple scenarios could play out in the consolidation process. Major changes in the Selangor state administration could still force both parties back to the drawing board.
- That would be a major setback not just to Selangor but to the national economy as well. Selangor is the largest contributor to Malaysia’s economy with more than 20% of the national annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product – goods and services produced).
- “This is not just a Selangor problem. It’s a national problem,” said energy, green technology and water minister Maximus Ongkili.
- However, in one fell swoop recently Khalid’s own PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) has managed what his political opponents could not pull off in last year’s general election – emasculate his position as the undisputed head of the state just over eight months into his second term. Make no mistake, Selangor will now have a lame duck MB.
- In what is now popularly known as the “Kajang Move” PKR stunned everyone by forcing a by-election, purportedly to quell party infighting and preempt a coup of the state by the BN (Barisan Nasional) led federal government.
- Rumours are gathering pace that former deputy prime minister and PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim (the new PKR candidate for the vacant state seat of Kajang) will be replacing Khalid as Selangor MB if he wins the by-election.
- Will Khalid’s decisions and manoeuvering in the longstanding water impasse be overturned by the new Selangor MB? Will the federal government be as receptive in their negotiations with a new leader in Selangor or could it lead to further deadlock and foot dragging in the water crisis?
- The Kajang by-election has been announced for March 23 and an intense tussle is expected for the coveted MB position not just within PKR and but among the other PR (Pakatan Rakyat) alliance parties PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) and DAP (Democratic Action Party) as well.
- Combined with changes in the state administrative team and lest we forget the Sultan’s required consent for a new MB, it could well be months at least until the dust finally settles in Selangor.
- By then, who knows what kind of economic (not to mention political) havoc the water crisis in Selangor would have wreaked. No amount of political window dressing or charm offensive can disguise the fact that PKR has dropped the ball horribly this time. It is struggling to provide sound arguments to back its “Kajang Move”.
- There is much political gobbledygook and scaremongering by PKR’s head honchos as they attempt to drum up support for what is essentially a flagrant blindsiding of its own fervent supporters.
- Power struggles. Rising tension caused by racial and religious issues. An all-or-nothing political coup by BN. All forms of spectres, real and imaginary, are being put forth to convince a dumbfounded public.
- But if mere political rivalries or chicanery are good grounds for forcing a major change of state leadership, we could be having by-elections nationwide every fortnight. It’s like having a heart bypass to lance a boil.
- Nobody doubts the legality of the Kajang by-election but in principle there should at least be a fair and reasonable basis (assessed with concrete evidence) to put voters through the election wringer time and again.
- Financial corruption? Abuse of power? Vote rigging? Sexual misconduct? Health problems? Definitely. Maybe even suspicious or outright odd behaviour like incredulous broom-giving or inexplicable wads of cash in briefcases. All of the above could probably be within the parameters to warrant a clamour for a change of MBs. Or sheer administrative incompetence, should there be ample evidence.
- “Although we have high respect for his administrative prowess, we also have to call a spade a spade. Khalid is not a skilled and experienced politician to face Umno’s racial and religious political games,” said Rafizi Ramli PKR’s director of strategy.
- Khalid who has been widely praised for turning around Selangor’s finances and leading it to a thumping victory in the last general election is now deemed to be a political liability within his own party.
- Although he has great business acumen, his detractors claim he lacks political chops. There are also suggestions that he could perhaps be retained in some capacity (Anwar as MB, Khalid as Special Economic Advisor?) in the new administration as a compromise.
- Nevertheless, under this “dream team” scenario (as touted by some quarters) would the critical Selangor water issue be decided by Anwar the political maestro or Khalid the economic wizard? It is both a political and economic time bomb. Something (or somebody) has got to give.
- And what if things don’t improve under the new MB? Would it then necessitate another political gambit similar to the “Kajang Move”? Perhaps a “Dusun Tua Move”? A double whammy “Tanjung Sepat-Sekinchan Move”? A triple checkmate “Batu Caves-Balakong-Batang Kali Move”?
- All these fly in the face of something quite revolutionary in Malaysian politics – common sense. For better or worse, there can and should be only one captain of a ship and the same applies to state governance.
- Let’s be blunter than Rafizi and call a cangkul a cangkul. Something stinks to high heaven about the “Kajang Move” and it most certainly is not wafting from bad skewered meat or stale peanut sauce. Selangor residents deserve better than this and may bite back. -- from Kinibiz
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