Zahrain – “agama, bangsa, & negara” & the RM2 company
Posted on February 12th, 2010 by Nathaniel Tan

If he had become a BN friendly independent, I think we really would have shown no mercy.

That said, one cannot help but notice a few facts about this resignation.

I think the one that jumped out at me the most:

He said, “Pakatan will not last long. It is people like Lim Guan Eng that shall destroy Pakatan. I will not be a part of this group of people which are destroying my country, my race and my religion”.

What?… Agama, bangsa dan negara? Umno’s own motto? Tsk tsk tsk. Exactly what signal is he giving out here?

Here’s my other ‘favourite’ –

While acknowledging that he is elected by the people, he said that he also has to consider his own interests: “There must be a balance between the people’s interests and my interests”.

… The ‘political commentator’ in me wants to rip into him for even mentioning ‘my interests’ in the same breath as ‘the people’s interest’. What kind of aspiring servant of the people talks that way??

But you know what? Let’s give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. not-BN-friendly-independent. I admit that the cross of an ideal YB is not easy to bear. The service and dedication it requires is immense. Indeed, we cannot expect them to be saints – not unless we ourselves are willing to step up to the plate.

All that said however, I think we can expect them not to be so thick skinned as to talk about personal interests as if they weighed the same as the interest’s of the rakyat who elected him and his party.

Political parties are a tiring and frustrating thing – take my word for it. But on their best of days, they stand for real ideals and principles – ideals and principles that are expected to outlast and go beyond the individuals that lead thoes parties.

Should individuals feel that their own personal interests are more important than those ideals and principles, I agree that it is a necessary and welcome parting of the ways. Whether the people follow individual or party I think time will very soon show (I know what I have my money on, should Zahrain decide to run as an independent).

Just very briefly, I too have heard the many various comments about Guan Eng’s style, but certainly have no locus to make any independent comment. I have to agree though, if the press statement (which deserves an award for number of times “RM 2 company” is mentioned, haha) below rings true, then I think that a bigger issue is at hand. Zahrain’s failure to address these concerns publicly has very much not gone unnoticed.

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 11.2.2010

PDC Board Has Awarded The Open Tender Of Managing The Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Resort(BJCC) That Is Worth More Than RM 40 Million

The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Board decided on 9 February 2010 to award the open tender of managing the BJCC to a company that is worth more than RM 40 million over 10 years. Full details of the tender award will be published after the Chinese New Year in accordance with CAT principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency.

BJCC is run by Island Golf Properties Bhd(IGP), a PDC owned subsidiary company. At the present moment Bayan Baru MP Dato Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim is still the Chairman of IGP. Zahrain has been the Chairman and Director of Island Golf Properties Bhd since 9th July 2008. PDC has informed me that no letter has been sent by either PDC or IGP to any director of IGP of any changes.

Certain actions and claims by Zahrain on the IGP has compelled PDC to monitor IGP closely to ensure that IGP is run in the public interest and in compliance with CAT principles. PDC has been concerned at how Zahrain was leading the IGP, when he and the IGP recommended on 12 January 2009 that the operations of the BJCC be outsourced and awarded to a RM 2 company.

PDC Board meeting on 10 February 2009 rejected Zahrain and IGP’s recommendation that the RM 2 company be selected. Instead the PDC Board agreed with the Chief Minister’s recommendation that a fresh open tender be called.

The Chief Minister had based his recommendation for a fresh open tender for the management of BJCC on two important reasons. One, to allow a RM 2 private company to win the tender for running BJCC, that involves expenditure of tens of millions of ringgit, would make a mockery of the meaning of open tender system. Two, the RM 2 company had no track record of running a golf club and was established on 29 Sept 2008. The RM 2 company was established a mere two months before the tender, clearly with the sole intended purpose of bidding for the tender in December 2008.

I had refused to heed requests to follow the recommendation by Zahrain and IGP to select the RM 2 company. Instead I had insisted on full compliance with the PDC Board’s directive that a fresh open tender must be held in line with the CAT principles. The fresh open tender exercise was carried out last year with 7 interested applicants.

The PDC Board decided on 9 February 2010 meeting to select a company that offered a combined value of more than RM 40 million to BJCC over 10 years. The company selected has a track record and most importantly its paid up capital is not RM 2.

The time has come to look at open tenders and government contracts based solely on performance and public interest.

LIM GUAN ENG