DILEMMA MARRIAGE OF CONVINENCE

The opposition now faces the dilemma of marriage of convenience. They are in a quandary as to whether to take in their rival in the government or otherwise to avoid fragile government.

Should the parties sacrificed political principal in finding themselves in a quandary forming government. The three new coalition governments in Kedah, Perak and Selangor are facing serious problems over their state line-ups. But political necessity dictates they get along. Ironically, they’re none other than married for convenience political partners.

The relationship that was molded by marriage is just a political convenience and political solidarity is so near and yet so far. This would be a political marriage for political expediency or political collaboration. Such a marriage is orchestrated for personal gain or some other sort of strategic purposes but not long lasting.

The coalition government form by PAS and his PKR in Kedah amid tensions over whether PAS should take in DAP candidate as partner in forming government.

Surprisingly, Mentri Besar and state PAS commissioner Azizan Abdul Razak did not include a DAP representative in the state EXCO list despite party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa saying otherwise. The new Kedah coalition government comprised seven PAS and three PKR representatives, with the DAP excluded.

Husam had said in Kota Baru on Monday that the Islamist party would offer a state EXCO post to the DAP in Kedah.

Kedah DAP secretary Lee Guan Aik, who won the Kota Darul Aman seat, was supposed to be invited to represent the Chinese community in the state executive council. However, his nomination was dropped after the state PKR objected.

The Opposition swept 22 of the 36 state seats in Kedah, with PAS winning 16, PKR four, and DAP and an independent candidate one each.

PAS won 16 of the 36 state seats in Kedah and PKR four. The sole DAP assemblyman is Lee Guan Aik, who won in Kota Darulaman.

In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has announced the appointment of two Deputy Chief Ministers for the state. They are the Prai assemblyman from DAP, Prof. P. Ramasamy, and Penanti assemblyman from PKR, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin. No member from PAS was included.

Lim has not yet named the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the state assembly, but said the two posts would be filled by representatives from PKR.

For Perak, the new coalition government has submitted the names of three candidates to become Mentri Besar – state DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, state PKR treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and state PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

The state Constitution, however, requires the Mentri Besar to be a Malay and a Muslim and Husam reiterated this yesterday, saying the fact that the DAP had won the most state seats was not a consideration.

In Selangor, while the new coalition government has endorsed PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Mentri Besar-designate, there seems to be a tussle for the post of Deputy Mentri Besar.

Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim is said to be left out of the DAP list for the post. The frontrunners are Ean Yong Hian Wah, Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok, who had an audience with the Sultan of Selangor yesterday.