A Mentri Besar For Perak

What a terrible insult to Perak. People are saying Perak, especially the Malays, do not have the ability to be led by a democratically elected leader except he be Muslim and Malay also.

They say that even though the DAP has taken 18 state seats, the party has no right to submit a candidate for the Mentri Besar post because none of the victorious candidates are Malay.

The Mentri Besar, they argue, must come from either Parti Keadilan Rakyat or PAS, which had won seven and six state seats respectively since among these two parties are found Malay-Muslim candidates.

What racist balderdash. And how utterly unconstitutional. Do these punters think the people of Perak still live in trees?

According to the state constitution, Perak’s Mentri Besar is to be Malay and Muslim as a first choice. However, the Ruler of the State can waive this condition so that a qualified non-Malay can also be MB.

The question is this. Among the DAP is there no person qualified?

Last year Raja Nazrin, delivering the keynote address at the Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects for Nation Building, made a very important statement.

He said: ‘Malaysians of all races, religions, and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun. Only when each citizen believes that he or she has a common home and is working towards a common destiny, will he or she make the sacrifices needed for the long haul.’

Today, Raja Nazrin, as Regent of Perak has to decide who the MB would be. How should the people of Perak want the monarch to decide? To look at a man’s skin or to base it on something deeper than that?

These are the three candidates before Raja Nazrin:
DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, Sitiawan assemblyman.
PKR’s Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.
PAS’ Pasir Panjang assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin.

Between these three men, who possesses the greatest number of qualities of a good leader? Which one has integrity and vision? Which one can make decisions, take risks, motivate others and build teams? Which one can communicate effectively and cares about helping others, more than himself, to succeed? Which one has the strength stand up for what is right and the humility to face up to correction?

Perak needs a man of passion, competence and accountability.

Since the DAP won the most state seats amongst the opposition alliance, it is only fair and just that we give its state chief a first shot. Eighteen seats, after all, is eighteen constituency mandates. So the question is: does Ngeh Koo Ham have the abilities of a good leader?

If he does, then give him the job. If he doesn’t, then only consider the next candidate. To sideline DAP’s Perak chief just because he isn’t Malay and Muslim would be a terrible act of racism. And the people of Perak might as well just hand the keys of Ipoh city back to Tajol Rosli and his men.