Second chance for Pak Lah to undertake reforms
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 3, 2008
Bangsa Malaysian

Pak Lah has been sworned in as PM for a second term despite numerous calls for him to take responsibility for the thrashing of BN. The support from the other BN leaders are at best lukewarm, not wholeheartedly, probably to preserve their ministerial posts. MCPX

Pak Lah should continue as PM as well as president of Umno. He should take this second chance to make drastic reforms like:

    * reforming the judiciary to return its past esteemed status

    * limiting to a maximum of two terms all ministerial and government posts as well as those for MPs and state assemblypersons

    * allowing BN reps the freedom to speak out on issues and using the Barisan Whip when crucial votes are needed to pass rakyat-required legislation. The Barisan Whip has been badly abused and BN MPs and ADUNs fear speak out for the rakyat

    * repeal the ISA and Official Secrets Acts to give the rakyat and the press the freedom of information and speech.

If Pak Lah can do these and a few other major reforms, then he will have done Malaysians a big, big service and be remembered as a PM who acted with his conscience without fear or favour.

The tsunami that swept through the heartlands of the Malays and Chinese in the north and central was actually the second wave. The first was in 2004 when the rakyat gave Pak Lah an overwhelming support.

The rakyat voted to support Pak Lah because Dr Mahathir Mohamad was no more the PM than the reforms he promised. They wanted a change, and Pak Lah provided a refreshing change after 22 years of Mahathir-ism - abuse of power, destruction of the basic tenets of the judiciary, condoning excesses among cabinet ministers and BN politicians, mega projects and over development.

When Pak Lah continued this trend instead of reversing it, it was Dr M all over again but with a significant difference - they became even bolder. So the winds of change in 2004 became a tsunami with its massive destruction of the BN.

The rakyat has spoken with one voice, not just the Indians, not just the Chinese, not just the Malays, not just the Ibans, Dayaks or Kandazans, but as Malaysians - Bangsa Malaysia. After 50 years of independence, let us unite as one.

Give the rakyat opportunities, not just to employment but more significantly, business opportunities. Encourage Malaysians, particularly the poor to be self-employed and who knows, just some may become SME or big business owners providing employment to other Malaysians.

Don't give a fish to the poor or any Malaysian. Teach them and give them entrepreneurial opportunities for them to be self-employed. 

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