Malaysians who want more, real and meaningful political reforms that will bring about A Better Malaysia for All should rise to the occasion and vote P

Speech delivered at DAP USJ East Dinner held on Saturday, March 3, 2012

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Malaysians who want more, real and meaningful political reforms that will bring about A Better Malaysia for All should rise to the occasion and vote PR for the state and federal power.

In 2007, former Finance Minister Tun Daim had warned that BN might face tough electoral fights in the states of Penang, Selangor and Kedah. Not many people took him seriously, certainly not the arrogant BN leaders.

The political tsunami that took place in the 2008 general election proved that he was right.

The political tsunami has proven what people power can do to the mighty and arrogant BN which was certainly superior in the 3 M of politics- money, machinery and manpower.

Today in the China press Daily, Tun Daim has in an interview predicted that Pakatan Rakyat will retain Penang and Kelantan, lose Kedah. He said that there will be tough fights between BN and PR in the states of Perak and Selangor.

In the same paper today. Selangor MB tan Sri Khalid has expressed total confidence that PR will retain state power in the next general election.

I shall only talk about Selangor chances tonight and I dare to say that in the next general election, PR will not only again retain power but also with two thirds majority!

There is no doubt that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib is most anxious to want to win back Selangor – the richest state in Malaysia.

There is no doubt also that Selangor PR will face tougher challenges, now with the Prime Minister personally leading the battle.

But my confidence is based on the fact that Selangor government has performed well and delivered as promised.

Under the able, efficient Selangor government, state revenues have increased, investment continues to pour in. PR government has outperformed previous BN governments.

Good policies to help the people have been implemented. Let me just cite a few examples here.

RM1, 000 will be given to all children of Selangor citizens (from families earning RM1, 500 and below) pursuing degrees/diplomas in IPTA or IPTS.

Implementation of Golden Age Friendly Scheme (SMUE) to help families senior citizens / disabled persons regardless of gender, race, religion, political belief, economic status and social status.

Selangor also provides free use of water supply for the first 20 cubic meters for domestic consumers.

In short, PR Selangor government has not failed the people. It has proven that it is a government that can deliver as promised.

Tun Daim has in fact said Tan Sri Khalid has a clean image and it will not be easy for BN to win back Selangor power.

Hence, I am optimistic that the Selangor voters will once again make the wise decision in the next general election.

However, the Selangor voters will have another bigger political task in the next general election – to help install PR as the new federal government.

Despite its worst electoral debacle in the last general election, BN has not learned its lesson and has not carried out enough and necessary reforms.

Just take a look at the NFC scandal, till today nothing concrete has been taken when even the Police have proposed prosecution of the company directors with criminal breach of trust.

Despite the fact that the RCI has concluded that Teoh Beng Hock was driven to suicide, no one has been held responsible even though MACC and the Police have subsequently conducted further investigations.

Today, MIC still thinks that Indians will be satisfied with its bread crumb politics.

MCA tries to impress the Chinese that it can deliver when its role in BN is still “in office but not in power”. (当家不当权 dang jia bu dang quan). It therefore has to resort to politics of fear by manipulating the Islamic state and two race system issues.

Gerakan is still so lost 4 years after the last general election and its national president is so occupied with KRA , NKRA etc which even many BN supporters do not know what they are all about.

Umno the BN “taiko “of course thinks that it has the natural right to rule in this country.

So come the next general election, Malaysians who want bigger, real and meaningful political reforms that will bring about A Better Malaysia for All should rise to the occasion and vote PR for the state and federal power.