Penang has got a New Mercedes

Talk about emulating Umar Abd Aziz. Talk about walking the talk. Talk about excessive public spending. Talk about hard times.

Its darn expensive living in Penang Island these days. A Penang couple complains in the news that they cannot make it even with a combined income of RM 12,000.

But the Penang government has bought a brand new Mercedes  Benz S300L  for its  Chief Minister just two months after the state decided to buy Toyota Camrys as their official cars. Whatever excuses they put forth, its pretty clear when it comes to flaunting state sponsored wealth its just political business as usual.

The CM’s backers may say that it was a bargain but still he already had that Camry only to be replaced so soon and the cost of the Mercedes after tax exemption and discounts is still almost 3 times that of a Camry. They also alluded to the fact the previous CM also had a similar state provided Mercedes.

But that is particularly why this is an issue. It cannot be extravagance as usual. There has to be political change. Not merely changing politics as if we were changing lanes. There should not be a disconnect between the ideals of reform and good governance with the actual practices of leadership and the image that they bring as leaders. There has to be a consciousness of putting the public first especially in these tough times.

Why such hue and outcry over such a mundane purchase? Of course it has to be under public criticism and scrutiny because the rakyat has the right to express their concern and disdain for unnecessary spending and conspicuous consumption using the state's coffers.

Political leaders have to change and be clearly connected to the people’s plight. They apparently seem eager to reward privileges for themselves unwilling to listen to public resentment as in the case of Selangor. Without political will and real change, they are seen as expressed in a 70’s song which refrains. “a parting to the right, is just a parting to the left”. Only colours and rhetoric are new but the politics are the same. This is unfortunate for a political party on a reform agenda promising much to the common people.

If they do not heed our voices and do not do something about it, people might just say another refrain from the same song, “ we won’t be fooled again!”