a highly respected nominated MP (and an intellectual) yesterday and he expressed wistfully that “democracy is a romantic concept that India didn’t deserve till now” and “we should have had a benevolent dictatorship until now”. He also went on to add that “China is now 50 years ahead of us, while 20 years back, it was 5 years behind us” or some such thing. Most people will agree that China has succeeded like no other country and many opponents of the present UPA government chide it by comparing the country’s progress with China’s. If ever this argument – that India didn’t deserve a democracy – was true, it is these days and in the context of the pointless activism we are seeing.
A few months back the entire Koodankulam nuclear power plant controversy was a case of copybook pointless activism. “Thousands” of protestors sat on a strike – in fact if I remember right, they too were on a hunger strike – demanding that the Rs 14000 crores already invested over the last 20 years or so at the plant be “junked”. They had decided that nuclear power was wrong for the country and so they wanted the plant to be shifted out of TN. The protestors were organized under some or the other banner and were able to hold up the commissioning of the plant for several months. The start of the plant got delayed endlessly…..till a point was reached when it would have cost lots more to re-start an idling plant. The rest of the country probably felt really angry to this crisis, but then Koodankulam was far away, and they were not organized the same way as the protestors were. Their anger was a silent anger. The voice of a few organized men was being heard all over the country, thanks to the thankless media in the country. It mattered little to these protestors that experts, including the world-renowned former President, APJ Abdul Kalam, gave reassurances that the plant was safe. For the wayward protestors, who could see no other point of view, there were always examples of Germany and Japan to give (these countries had stopped using nuclear power), forgetting that these countries had achieved all they had to economically and had secured alternate power sources before taking their decisions. Industry in Germany did not come to a halt, as it would in India if we did the same thing.
Take also the madness called the Anna movement. This movement has zero support amongst the intelligentsia (and now the media) and yet it is allowed to blaze on on the basis of some romantic democratic concept that the right to protest is a fundamental right. Everyone in the country has heard what Anna had to say; the Parliament is already seized of the matter; but the team still wants to hold the country to ransom by holding a fast-unto-death. In a time when there are serious problems facing the world (and India), where is the time to handle the egoistic personal agendas of a few such activists. Again, these activists cannot see beyond their own noses…..refusing to learn from the experiences of other activists who adopted a different style to pass the equally difficult RTI act a few years back. Or of those who have been advising against the setting up of another mammoth bureaucratic institution in the name of the Lokpal. For the Anna brigade of activists (terrorists almost), it is their way or the highway. And the democratic republic of India has no option but to look on. The country’s progress has stopped; millions across the country are being denied their rightful quest for growth. But the government has to pay attention to a bunch of failed louts. Is this democracy? I’m still not sure if these people have decided to form a party or not, but whatever it is that they have decided, they should not be allowed to hold a country to ransom.
The problem with activists is that they are invariably political in nature. The concept of an apolitical activist is fundamentally unachievable. The Koodankulam activists had the silent backing of the AIADMK, which wanted to finger the Center. It was only after Madame’s ego was adequately pandered to by the PM and the former President that she relented and cleared the path. And once she whispered in their ears, all the protestors simply vanished. What happened to their commitment all of a sudden? In the case of Anna, it’s always been an out and out political movement. Till date, Anna has spared the BJP politicians as if they were pious saints. Till date, all protests have been against the Congress. Till now, silly arguments like “the Congress is in power, hence it has to pass the Lokpal” has been dished out to gawking followers, conveniently forgetting that the Rajya Sabha needs more than just the Congress. It’s all politics…..
In a situation like this, the government of the day owes it to the rest of the country to provide a strong response. The rest of the country is not organized the way these activists are. But the government has to hear the voice of these “rest”. These rest want the government to focus on the country’s economic woes, its social problems, and its myriad other threats and challenges, not get bogged down in meaningless demonstrations of democracy.
The real truth is that there are times when a country may have to behave like an autocratic China and not like a democratic India. That time has come for India. The government must evict the Anna activists and dump them into hospitals. The people must be urged to go back to their business with the assurance that Parliament will pass an appropriate act. The government’s failing is that it does not communicate. It has to communicate. Without communication, there is no way that the people know what the government is intending to do. The government must appoint a spokesperson who will communicate on a daily basis the goings-on in the select committee on Lokpal. That alone will satisfy the people that the government means business.
When we think that the Selangor water controversy has peaked and died down, and all the red-faced perpetrators are hiding behind the wall, MCA suddenly shows up to issue us a dire warning!
“The water situation in Selangor will reach critical mass in two months time,” MCA President Chua Soi Lek was reported as saying after being briefed by water experts, professionals and non-government organizations, who asked to remain anonymous.
Critical Mass
Yes, you got it right. Critical Mass. It is nothing short of a doomsday prediction and a possible Armageddon. In two months, it will be the end of the rainy season. For the first time in history, the dams may run dry all at the same time. All the 34 water processing plants may also fail at the same time. Even those that can still process water won't have enough water to process.
It will be the end of Selangor with everyone dying of thirst, and everyone forced to take baths in the Klang and Gombak rivers. It’s like another Dec 21 2012 prediction albeit on a smaller scale. Neighboring states will however be spared and continue to enjoy ample water supply. Only Selangor would face this critical crisis. This is the logic of the MCA and his BN coalition.
The findings are so highly sensitive that the water experts Soi Lek consulted have chosen to remain anonymous. If true, have these experts themselves prepared for this eventuality? If so, some of them would have warned their closest relatives and friends and get ready to evacuate the critical zone and leave the state. Some of them may even be bringing their livestock, cows, goats and chickens to shift to other states.
After all, they are the ones who found it so dire. Critical Mass. It is beyond redemption. There is simply no way out for Selangorians. In less than 60days this critical mass may hit Selangor like a bomb. Shell shocked Selangorians would not know where to turn to.
A 'quick' remedy that takes 2 years
However, there is still hope, promises Soi Lek and BN. If the Selangor government approves the Langat 2 project, the Gods will smile on us and this disaster can be averted. Within 2 years and the wave of a wand, the Selangor water crisis will be solved for the next 20 generations.
Not only that, Soi Lek and BN warn that to secure themselves from this impending 'critical mass', Selangorians had better get their asses moving and vote in the BN. Yes, it is the BN that can be counted on to take swift action to prevent the matter from getting critical as the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor State Government lacks hands-on experience, and has sat on this water crisis for 4 years, oblivious of the danger!
And it seems only the MCA can predict such a tragedy before it befalls the people while the Selangor Government has been partying for the last 4 years, spending money like water. The MCA’s dedicated ‘research and intelligence’ department has been busy exposing crisis after crisis affecting Selangor, but these have fallen on deaf ears. Even the RM1billion Talam expose’ has failed to stir Selangorians from their deep slumber.
Selangor Government's lax attitude or Federal Government's self-interest
MCA also revealed that in 2008, these same specialists had predicted that within five years, there would be a water shortage in Selangor based on the population growth, increased consumption and the processing ability of the state’s 34 water treatment facilities. But the state government did nothing about it.
“In the last four years, there has been no significant capital expenditure by the state government to repair and upgrade the existing 34 plants,” Chua added.
Soi Lek and MCA may make themselves seem like heroes and taking on a big risk to publicize this critical warning even though their water experts have chosen to remain anonymous. Actually, the anonymity and secrecy surrounding their prediction may be the bigger cause for concern rather than the prediction itself.
The federal government has also made a big fuss of refusing to allow the Selangor government to take over Syabas and handle this crisis on its own. Syabas is the water distributor controlled by Umno crony Rozali Ismail, whom the Selangor state council has threatened to sack for incompetence!
But the Umno-BN federal government believes in Syabas and fears that it is the Selangor state government that will make a mess of things. BN has also warned Selangorians that its hands are tied, and it can only take action to solve the 'water crisis' if they voted BN back to head the Selangor state government.
But what if this critical mass that Soi Lek threatens does not materialize? Who would be accountable to those Selamgorians who acted in good faith on this warning and shifted out into 'safer' areas? Is this why the water experts have chosen to stay anonymous?
Malaysians and not just Selangorians must also take note of the fact that UMNO-BN has not done anything in the last decade to rectify this situation, preferring to keep quiet and only making a sound when the state is barely 60 days to a 'Critical Mass'.
Irresponsible lies
Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Selangor Umno chief, too is quiet on the State Government’s suggestion to spend RM250million to upgrade the water treatment facilities as well as to replace leaking pipes.
BN seems to feel that this will not solve the water crisis and only the Langat 2 project worth RM8.6billion will provide a long term solution. That is despite the fact that Selangor would have to pay RM600million to purchase water every year for life from Pahang state so that it has enough water to process.
So far, the water is overflowing its brim in most of the catchment areas in Selangor. There is no sign of the 'critical mass in two months time' as threatened by Soi Lek at all. Should he not be scolded for making irresponsible statements that could cause mass panic?
After all, the Langat 2 miracle solution that his BN has promised can be operational only in 2 to 3 years' time. Selangor - even if it agreed on Langat 2 - would not be able to meet Soi Lek's 60-day deadline. The state would be decimated and turned into a brown parched waterless desert, uninhabitable for generations to come.
Rock solid credibility
So to those alert Selangorians, continue with your usual schedule, ignore Soi Lek and BN. When the election comes along, just go to the balloting station and show your disgust.
But to those who are gullible, well! As Soi Lek and BN warn, there are already water disruptions in certain areas in Selangor which they insist may be a dire warning of more sinister things to come. So gather together those chickens and ducks, goats and cows, the whole family, furniture et al and prepare to shift out of the state.
After all, Chua Soi Lek is not known to be wrong in his predictions. His credibility is rock solid. That’s why he heads the 2nd biggest political party in the country. Is that right?
The scale of B S Yeddyurappa's exasperation was evident last week in his remark, "Whether a dog is born in a hut or a palace, it's always loyal to its master. A dog is more loyal and faithful than these dissidents." Faced with the sudden betrayal of 17 MLAs just when he thought he was finally done with repairs in ministry-making, he was justifiably maddened. But how was he expressing his vexation?
The conduct and language of realpolitik has turned coarse in these days of crass opportunism where there's brazen disregard for probity. In barely weeks, ministerial berths were sought as if they are rightful property. Legislators were whisked away by groups to faraway places and resorts. Greedy ones among them were enticed with obscene amounts of cash. Elected leaders were hopping in and out of camps like frogs -- one even plumbing the depths with his backward somersault into the BJP. Some resorted to sorcery and mumbo-jumbo, sprinkling the roads leading to Vidhana Soudha and Raj Bhavan with lemon, turmeric and vermilion. And those who mounted a revolt last October were suddenly playing troubleshooters. The James Bond of the emissaries, Janardhan Reddy, wouldn't give up. "I've never lost even a game of marbles... I'll save the government," he said.
Yet, in all the desecration of democratic norms, every camp was seeking the definition of loyalty, shepherding its members to distant destinations. At stake wasn't an issue of public concern but merely a ministerial gaddi. Unlike Brutus, the "noblest Roman of them all", none -- rebel or loyal -- was torn between loyalty to Caesar and public duty. Loyalty to many meant a one-way street, leading to those who bought their allegiance and, in turn, could get them a cabinet berth. Those who snatched away legislators were asking, "But didn't this game start when the CM's party launched Operation Lotus to wean away members from other groups? He's getting a taste of his own medicine."
It's a story that began six years ago after the exit of the S M Krishna government. A fractured verdict had Karnataka plunge into coalition politics and soon, parties publicly swearing at each other were caught in an unholy embrace. Not too later, the tail was wagging the dog. The prolonged parody of government-making continued till the coalition experiment ran aground with the betrayal of the BJP by the JD(S).
Matters came to the brink again when the BJP won in 2008, but fell a whisker short of majority. Independents and men from other parties were lured into its fold in a show of outrageous politics. When the new men won in by-elections to five of the eight assembly constituencies in December 2008, Yeddyurappa called a halt to Operation Lotus. But he could barely expect fairplay later with the JD(S) lurking in the background. Our elected representatives were already neck-deep in the game of abusing the vote. We just saw its climax.Despite a slew of negative pointers, Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to call for snap general elections in September. According to Umno watchers, Najib has not been able to convince his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin nor former premier Mahathir Mohamad that another delay was justified.
"No matter how the provocation, GE-13 is set for after Raya as the mood is right then," an Umno watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.
A host of Umno pundits including its newspapers and media have in the past week predicted that the 13th general election would be deferred to November at the earliest - after the October pilgrimage season and with enough time elapsed for the 'goodies' Najib is widely expected to announce in Budget 2013 slated for September 28.
Among reasons given were the recent shock defections by two Sabah BN MPs and this morning's sudden arrest of PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli for blowing the whistle on Umno leaders in the RM250mil NFC corruption debacle.
Warlords will wait no longer
But it looks like the demand fror speedy polls within Umno outweighed other considerations.Division heads and chieftains - often referred to as warlords - are running short of funds to run party operations and need fresh injections that Najib has set aside for GE-13.
Hence, the clamoring for polls - the earliest date of which can only be in September after Najib wasted more opportune moments to dissolve Parliament in November 2011, March/April 2012 and June/July 2012.
When the 58-year-old Najib took over from his predecessor Abdullah Badawi in April 2009, he had four years left of the five-year mandate given by voters in the 2008 general election. Although Najib blew in on promises for reform and a 'corruption-free' government, he has failed to meet his set targets.
Instead things have worsened, including the economy, widening racial polarisation, rising crime, corruption and a visible return to an authoritarian government.
For example, his order to arrest Rafizi has hurt him more than the opposition leader, who has now gained 'hero' status for his courage in laying bare the misdeeds of the Umno leaders. The arrest also deepens public perception that Umno is corrupt beyond redemption and its leaders had all joined hands with Najib to stop Rafizi from exposing their secret deals.
The Sabah factor
Najib's popularity too has dipped again despite strong efforts to bolster his popularity with a host of nationwde 'get-to-meet-the-people' programs. In June it fell to 64% from 65% in May and 69% in April. The BN fared even worse, plummeting to a historic low of 42%, with Malay voters chalking the greatest erosion in support.Last weekend, Najib took another direct hit when two senior BN MPs resigned to become Independent lawmakers aligned to the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Lajim Ukin and Wilfrid Bumburing, BN stalwarts in Sabah state, are expected to be joined by other senior colleagues by as early as next week.
"There's nothing that Najib can do anymore. It is too late, the people don't believe in what he says. Whatever threats that Najib and BN make in the coming elections won't deter the plan by other Sabah leaders to leave BN. Otherwise, their constituents will vote them out," Chua Jui Meng, the PKR vice president, told Malaysia Chronicle.
Stressed out over 'ultimate disaster'
Pundits point to the embattled Najib's quavering voice at the recent launch of his 1M4U, or 1Malaysia for You, program targeting young voters. The event had taken place as Anwar announced new political pacts in Sabah that are bound to destroy the BN's political stranglehold there."He must have sensed the ultimate disaster for BN," said Jui Meng.
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