Regarding Perak...

So the latest is that Raja Nazrin has ordered the PDP (I just like this acronym! PKR-DAP-PAS) alliance to get their act together and pledge support to the PAS MB-to-be. This is the royalty exerting its rightful power!

Anyway, I've been thinking about this whole Perak fiasco, how it started with Kit openly asking for a boycott of the swearing in ceremony for the PAS MB, followed by his dramatic reversal and apology, followed by PKR's statement that they do not agree to the composition of the state exco and threatening to pull out from the government.

Then I read this blog, and realized that we, the Rakyat, have not been living in a real democracy under the previous administration. We were never privy to all these internal problems. Difficulties were overcome by a powerful top figure who dictated everything and disallowed other dissenting views. No open discussion ever made it to the media, as it was muzzled and never informed the public. Politicians of yesteryear thought that the populace was stupid and ignorant and uninterested in their affairs.

Now I realize that we are stepping into a real democracy. One that welcomes participation from the people. One that listens to the people. One that believes in the people.

By the way, Lim Kit Siang was merely communicating his views to the Rakyat. It worked. His blog entry at last count attracted >800 comments! And I believe he got instant feedback to this, and used it to counter the attacks coming from the federal establishment.

Meanwhile, the story that PKR is threatening to pull out from the state government really means just that. It does not mean that they are defecting to BN or not willing to stay in the alliance to support the government. It just means that they don't want to be part of the administration. Can you imagine if this were a problem with the other side? We probably wouldn't even hear of it. Possibly the largest party would have bulldozed through their agenda and the remaining parties would just play along, having no choice but to oblige.

The fact that we get to know about all these developments means that we, the Rakyat, really have a say in how our states are governed. It is a positive development in democracy, but I guess voter education has not ended. In fact, it is only just beginning. Makkal Sakti!