Politics 101 Malaysia

As both Seputeh parliamentarian and Kinrara state assembly representative, Teresa Kok has had to deflect criticism that she has taken on too many political posts.

She explains the situation in an interview with Soon Li Tsin of malaysiakini and also talks about how she is managing the Selangor investment, industry and commerce portfolio. Tell us more about your state portfolio on investment, industry and commerce.

My job is to put investors in contact with the business community, to understand their problems, assist them and woo them to put their investments in Selangor. As you know Selangor is an industrialised state and our economic growth rate (about 6.4 percent) is slightly higher than the national rate (6 percent).

I have to learn about businesses, learn about economy and economic planning. It is not entirely new (to me) because I’ve learnt about investment and business from here and there. But this gives me the opportunity to know more about businesses in Malaysia and to be in touch with investors. So this is something new for me as I have been an activist for many years.

What kind of investors have you been speaking to?

At the moment I need to understand the whole state, the economic situation, all the projects carried out by the previous government. I have to understand what they have done in the past. Over the past few weeks I have been meeting business people, investors, and I appreciate those who voluntarily come to provide information and suggestions.

But those who have touched me are those who told me that they (originally) had been planning to migrate and shift their capital abroad, but because of the change of government, they are prepared to stay back to give us a chance. I know those who say it to me genuinely think in that way. They have already lost hope in this country but this new scenario gives them hope.

There is also a group of professionals who are ready to give the state government advice on how to revive abandoned housing projects. And they said they would do it free of charge. So I appreciate this kind of initiative from these group of professionals; this is what we need.

We need to prove to Malaysians that this new (state) government can do better than the previous one - that we can garner more support from the business community and create a pro-business environment in the state. We hope to achieve higher economic growth and make (the) application (process) more efficient and clean. Have you encountered problems with civil servants or government agencies so far?

So far, not really, because they see it as a change of bosses. Whatever we enquire, they give us full cooperation. So far so good, I should say. What about your relationship with the federal government?

I have asked the SSIC (Selangor State Investment Centre) to arrange a meeting with Mida (Malaysian Industrial Development Industry) for two weeks already, I haven’t heard anything. (Laughs) Anyway, that day we had a state exco meeting and we approved sending our SSIC officer to join Mida and the minister’s trip to the United States, where our country has planned to participate at a car expo.

We can still work together but I wish to hear from them personally. I wish to be able to speak to (International Trade and Industry Ministry) Muhyiddin (Yassinand wish to have a closer relationship with Mida. What kind of industries are most people investing in?

All sorts. Look at Selangor, we have so many industrial zones. To woo investors into Malaysia is very competitive. Since Malaysia has lost competitiveness to neighbouring countries, we have to work extra hard. Malaysians should understand that we need to woo hi-tech investors.

If we still go back to manufacturing industry, we have import more foreign workers and provide all the facilities for investors, but Malaysians are not being employed. We will not benefit from the whole exercise. So it is time to go hi-tech and it is good for the country also.

I’m most interested in environment or technology related to energy because I think this is the future. People are more concerned with the environment now especially with the rain, floods and haze. Also for investors from China, many of them are quite interested in the halal hub. They find the location is very good for them.

There are more Middle Eastern people entering Malaysia and they have a rather good impression of Malaysia. They have more faith in our halal stamp than the one in China. It is actually a good move but we have to develop that.
How much time would you need to prove that the Pakatan Rakyat government is doing a better job than the previous government?

I really have no idea. I can only say that in our closed-door dialogues with business people, they appear generally positive with the change of government. My business friend said the new government in Selangor can actually help the business sector cut costs - in the past they had to pay people at so many layers and after paying they still don’t get things done. What about red-tape? Is the state government cutting down on bureaucracy?

The idea behind setting up the SSIC - by the previous state government - was to help investors cut red-tape. When foreign investors come to Malaysia, they need officers to help them run around. It is like a one-stop centre for investors when the prepare their project papers, whatever they need from land applications to getting hold of licences - the SICC officers will assist them to make their lives easier so they can quickly set up their factories and cut the red-tape. What are your views on the US-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA) talks?

fta free trade agreement and usa and malaysiaWe have been questioning it…we MPs (have had to) learn (about it) from NGOs. The government has not bothered to give a briefing to the MPs or state representatives. So everything is (under) OSA (Official Secrets Act). How are we going to form an opinion whether we are doing the right thing or not?

Of course we know there some good things from the FTA (but) these are things that are making the government refuse to sign the agreement - that is, to have transparency and operations based on merit. But of course if I go on, it will touch on the NEP (New Economic Policy) and there will be another controversy so I better not go further than that. (Laughs) You have been criticised for contesting and winning both the Seputeh parliament and Kinrara state seat. You are also currently being seen as taking on too many posts and earning a substantial sum in allowances. What is your response?

You must understand why in the March elections I walked the extra mile to contest in a state seat. Nobody expected us to be in the government, to be honest. So when things happen in that way, then you have to look at the DAP line-up in the state assembly. You have to look at their background and you know there are so many new faces in politics.

The more qualified ones are in Parliament and I am one of the more senior politicians who is now a state rep. The choice (open to) the party to nominate exco members is in a way limited. You have to recognise this fact first. I read Malaysiakini and Dr Kua (Kia Soong)’s comments and felt it was very unfair to me and my colleagues.

Going back to why I contested in Kinrara - the seat was seen as difficult to win by DAP Selangor. There was no strong leader or candidate who wanted to contest in that seat.

So I was asked to use my reputation and my identity as a woman candidate to try to capture a state seat and strengthen the opposition force in the Selangor assembly. That was the intention. That made me walk the extra mile, spend extra money, hire extra people to help win that seat.

When we won, the party had to choose who would become state exco members. Look at the background of the four who were nominated - Teng Chang Khim, Ronnie Liu, Ean Yong Hian Wah and me - three of us are the more senior ones.

Now it came back to whether I should take the challenge or not. I’ve been in Parliament for two terms, I’m more senior in politics. I’m wearing two hats only - as state exco and MP. What I can do now is to work harder.

I need to work harder, spend more money and hire more assistants. Do you know how much is needed to maintain this office? I hire three staff-members. It costs me RM10,000 per month. My rental is RM1,000 plus, telephone bill RM1,000 plus, electricity comes up to RM600-700, and my three staff are paid RM2,000 plus.

The Kinrara side has three full-time staff now. With all these expenses you can imagine how much I spend in maintaining my service centres. When people say that I earn more it’s very unfair.

I remember when Dr Kua was a MP for Petaling Jaya, he didn’t hire any staff or assistants, how is he going to explain that when he accuses (us of) shortchanging the voters? I think he did not really do grassroots work or organise the people on the ground.

I have high respect for Dr Kua, he has been my sifu (mentor) but some statements especially about the DAP (sound) somehow like a grudge against the party. I think this is very unhealthy; he has forgotten to analyse things in a more objective manner.

Do you think Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim would have been more suitable as an exco member?

Personally I would prefer Teng to be a state exco but we were only given three seats. The best we can do now is nominate him as a Speaker. In terms of protocol, the position is very high. The Speaker can direct the MB and excos to sit down, get up in the assembly. (Laughs) In terms of experience in the state assembly, Teng has the most experience.

If you compare (it) to Western countries, the Speaker is a very powerful position. In the US Congress, Nancy Pelosi’s appointment is such an honour for the Democrats. It’s time for us to re-examine the power and position of the Speaker so see how we can make the Selangor assembly vibrant.

What are your views about PAS deputy spiritual leader Dr Haron Din’s statement that PAS will amend the constitution and turn Malaysia into an Islamic state if it has control of the federal government?

(Sighs) This is something that really makes us worried. Over the past 10 years that I have been working with PAS or PKR people, from reformasi until now, I have had no problem working with those leaders. We are very sincere, we can joke and work together. It is always statements like these that divide us and drive us apart.

barisan rakyat pas pkr dapIn Perak, Penang and Selangor, we are trying to make ourselves better governments compared to the past and yet every alternate day we face a bad press - whether it’s about the pig farm issue or Islamic state or NEP.

I’m sad that a lot of times, certain quarters have not been practical or understanding of a position that is so fragile. They are still talking about issues that can break us especially on Islamic state. So in the Malay press we have to deal with the pig farm issue and in the Chinese press, about the Islamic state. (Laughs)

Can the parties reconciled their differences over such problems?

It looks like individual party leaders need to sit down and find understanding of political realities. I believe that many Malays don’t want Malaysia to be an Islamic state, we have to recognise this fact first. Look at Sabah and Sarawak, they have so many non-Muslims there. We really hope we will not repeat the mistake of Barisan Alternatif (which preceded Pakatan Rakyat).