Learn from S’wak: Keng Yaik

W. Malaysians are struggling with multiracial politics but S’wak has got it right since independence: Gerakan advisor

KUCHING: Political leaders in Peninsular Malaysia wrestling with the realities presented by the results of the March 8 general elections should learn from Sarawak on how to manage multi-racial politics.

“There is a lot that we (West Malaysians) can learn from Sarawak on how to manage politics and resources…how to bring about a fair and just perception to the rakyat who come from various backgrounds in a state,” said Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the advisor of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan).

Dr Lim, the former Energy, Water and Communications Minister, said this yesterday when asked about the relevance of the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat to Sarawak. He was interviewed by reporters in the lobby of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s office at Menara Pelita before he paid a courtesy call on the latter.

“Sarawak already has its multi-racial politics and that is why it is so stable. They (Pakatan Rakyat) have got nothing new. If they come, they only come and ‘kacau’ (disturb).
“Now everyone talks about multi-racial politics, the political tsunami, the new situation in Peninsular Malaysia but this has happened in Sarawak since independence,” he said.
In pointing out that he and Taib became friends after they were appointed to the federal cabinet in January 1972, he said he often visited Sarawak to meet the state’s Barisan Nasional leaders and he had learned a lot from them.

“I have learned a lot on how Sarawak manages its multi-racial politics and provides stability with the feeling…the perception of being fair and just to all races in the state.
“It does not need other parties like Pakatan Rakyat to promote multi-racialism. They (Peninsular Malaysian political leaders) need to learn from Sarawak. Don’t think that Sarawak is so far,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat is an alliance of peninsula-based opposition parties which took form after the March 8 polls that saw BN being denied the two-third majority in parliament.
Although the opposition parties won five states and one federal territory they did not make any headway in Sarawak.
The opposition only won one out of 31 seats, proving Sarawak BN is indeed the bastion of the coalition.

Dr Lim’s party Gerakan also suffered major blows, losing Penang to the opposition.
Dr Lim said he was confident that the party would overcome the setback, albeit gradually.
He said he had no regrets about retiring before the polls and he believed that Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was the right person to lead the party.

“But unfortunately the political situation put him (Dr Koh) into a bind and so he has to struggle and struggle very hard to put the party on the right footing again and he can bet his life I will be behind there helping him,” Dr Lim said.