Selfless or Selfish?

When our 5th Prime Minister took office, he pledged for more transparency, no hanky-panky, accountability and responsibility. He called for the people to work with him, not for him. He declared war against corruption. The political opportunists straight away echoed whatever the PM said as if they have been waiting for the big change.

Was there any real changes among the politicians? The truth is NO. Politicians are selfish, greedy and self centred when they are offered with benefits. If the benefits is too small to be considered, they would decline in pride by quoting their great principles of no corruption and having the people's interests should come first. If the offer is too good to be missed, they accept it quietly, even in the expense of his people and his country.

Proof? Here is one.

When the initial list of seats allocation for BN Sabah was make known, MCA was given a parliamentary seat. LDP was given 3 state seats and one parliamentary seat. But there were arguements which seen BN Chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman met BN component party leaders separately instead of all together.

MCA was said to decline the parliment seat given because for fear that MCA Sabah might request for a Federal post in the Government, thus reducing the opportunities of their West Malaysian representatives. Their selfish reasons have prompted them requested for a state seat. The MCA was given a Malay majority seat of Merotai under the Parliamentary of Kalabakan.

Since only one seat was given to MCA, the State Liaison Chief, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai insisted on representating the party even though it was not in his home town of Sandakan. He refused to give the seat to local MCA leaders who have better relationships with the voters, at least as compared to Khoo.

However, after being protested by Tawau MCA leaders, MCA negotiated with LDP for a swap with Kepayan state seats. Kepayan was initially intended for either Datuk YC Lau or Datuk Lee Chuan Wan.

During the process of negotiation, the self-claim leader of Tawau, Datuk Liew Yun Fah made monetary offer to LDP President Datuk Chong Kah Kiat. It is now an open secret that a very huge amount, which runs into millions of ringgit, was offered to both LDP and Chong personally. Liew also claimed support from his brother-in-law, Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Hj Okin.

Chong, after taking accounts of the huge benefits he was to receive, accepted the swap and proposed Liew as a candidate. In doing so, he betrayed he long time buddy, Datuk YC Lau who was one of the LDP founding members. Chong also betrayed his party members and went against his own 'principle' of clean and just policy.

When news of Liew's candidacy broke out, there were protests from both inside and outside LDP. People were shocked on how Chong could betray his own party and buddy. They were also shocked on how seats could be easily traded.

Worst, when the candidate proposed was, and known by the people as a gangster, leader of various gambling rings, boss of entertainment outlets which offer girls for sex, drugs, illegal logging and other illegal activities. UMNO members have even gone out by saying if Liew was not dropped as the candidate for Merotai they would go all out to make sure Liew loses his deposit. They even dare to risk being sacked by UMNO or BN.

Sincerely, UMNO would not mind the Malay majority seat of Merotai being given to LDP in the spirit of Barisan Nasional, considering more than half of the state seats were given to them, but it would be a big humiliation for them when they were forced to accept a known devil as their representative.

Meanwhile, despite of all the complaints from various parties, Chong went ahead and confirmed Liew's seat. The arrogant Liew has also gone ahead and published his candidacy in the local dailies, prior to the confirmation of state and federal BN leaderships. He is already acting like an elected YB.

Has BN taken careful consideration in choosing a candidate? In this case, NO. By not putting up a suitable candidate, no matter how it threatens the members, the voters would have no choice but to vote for the oppositions, or not voting at all. After all it is their rights, their future, their pride and their choice, not the minority few.