Sunday March 23, 2008
No authorisation for fines-waiver policy
THE announcements by the new Penang Chief Minister and Mentris Besar of Kedah, Perak and probably Selangor to waive parking fines and other summons for residents of these states as a reward for giving them victory in the elections is surely inappropriate and questionable.
Firstly, it was done before the state assemblies were convened and therefore no authorisation was given by the legally constituted body. It therefore smacks of authoritarianism and decadent feudalistic culture. Feudal lords of the past were in the habit of doing this as a show of their power.
Secondly, the special gift or ang pau is not coming from the givers’ pockets. It is the taxpayers' and rate payers' money. What right has the newly elected Mentri Besar or Chief Minister have to dispense such generosity at the expense of the tax/rate payers?
If this was a promise made in the election manifestos of the victorious party, then it can be said that they are merely implementing an election policy for which they obtained a mandate. If not, it is very arbitrary and not justified.
Thirdly, it is clearly a cheap form of publicity and popularity-seeking behaviour and does not lend credibility to political parties that profess to be standing for high principles of integrity.
If the new leaders really want to reward the voters, they should do it with their own money. They should all sacrifice a month's salary and have it paid to the various local authorities to compensate them for the loss of revenue as a result of their ang pau decision.
If these new leaders can indulge in such childish and popularity seeking behaviour, so can the MBs of all the states where the BN has won. They may even go one step further and give larger ang pau, such as higher quit rent reductions.
Then we will have an ang pow race and make a mockery of the whole system of law and order. Future elections may be influenced by ang pau expectation, a subtle form of corruption!
ANTI-FEUDALIST,
Petaling Jaya.
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