Returning power to the people?

Writer: Sun Tian Mei

Sin Chew, July 28, 2016

Penang DAP and the party’s secretary general Lim Guan Eng insist on dissolving the state assembly for a snap election despite doubts raised by Pakatan Harapan partners. He declared “returning the power to people” but I am curious. Has Penang under Pakatan’s reign deprived Penang voters the rights to participate in politics or banned them from doing so? Can we regard all the claims and noises made by DAP and Lim in the media as a self-admission to having damaged the democratic system and spirit of democracy?

The phrase “returning the power to people” usually means a call to return the voting right of people in countries living under limited democracy or dictatorial rule to choose their own government based on its political approach and direction. If the government went against the aspiration of the people or against public interest, the people would also have the right to reject it. In addition, people also have the right to stand as election candidate to be elected. These are the rights enjoyed by all citizens above the age of 21 since Merdeka in 1957. The Penang people have never lost anything. What is there to return?

After Lim was charged with corruption, he and DAP want to use a snap election to show public support. They are using it as a weapon against the judiciary, or even riding above the law. Lim is playing DAP and the democratic system for his own interest. Isn’t it laughable when he calls it “returning the power to people”?

If Penang voters are happy with DAP’s service in the state, they will vote for DAP in the next election regardless of whether there is a snap election or not. If Penang voters think that DAP’s performance in the state is bad, they would not vote for DAP even in a snap election.

Lim and Penang DAP, in proposing for a snap election, made no mention of any development related to Penang but instead link it with Lim’s corruption case. It may indicate a self-admission by DAP that the Penang state government hinges on the reputation of Lim. And so if Lim was jailed, DAP will vanish from Penang. This also explains why the whole Penang DAP has to play along with Lim in such a farce.

Regardless, Penang DAP is free to equate its survival with Lim. Only that a party which has survived for half a century should find it fit to get involved in a game of “returning the power to people”. Such a pity!

PKR has been bullied for a number of years and why should they continue to be submissive and get involved with the game of “returning the power to people”? Your vision is to replace Barisan and build a better Malaysia but what kind of hope Pakatan Harapan headed by DAP can offer now besides “returning the power to people” which has never been taken away in the first place.