It is most disturbing to read that more than half of our local councillors in the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government are of political affiliation and not at all community leaders who have a proven track record in serving the people.

If those who hold political positions are also community leaders, then well and good. But having so many chosen from political parties reveal a system of patronage and of ‘old politics’.

After all local councillors are community appointments and not political appointments.

The old BN style of politics - which the people of Selangor overwhelmingly rejected - promoted the following:

1. Building of personal political empires

This involves using government machinery and positions to promote and further the political agenda of the party.

This is wrong and lacks integrity for there must be a clear division of what resources belong to the rakyat and what can be used by a political party.

The aim of government is to ensure a level playing field for all irrespective of race, religion or political affiliation.

It is not there to promote the existence or the continuation of any one political party. As Thomas Jefferson said:

‘With all (our) blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people? Still one thing more, fellow citizens - a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labour the bread it has earned.

This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.’

Local councils should not even be the stepping stone for one to move ahead politically. The natural progression should not be local councilor, then state assembly person then member of parliament.

I certainly hope these newly-minted Pakatan Rakyat councillors do not have such aspirations.

What we saw many a times in the BN-led state governments was a wanton abuse of the law especially when it came to approvals of BN projects around the city and approvals of projects by ‘BN supporters’.

I this always for the good of the rakyat ? Certainly not.

2. System of patronage

This typically refers to the informal relationship between business and government. Wherein government ‘rewards’ the businessman for his ‘support’ of the political party.

Unfortunately, this term can be stretched to local supporters who feel they need to be rewarded for their party work. There is no end to this and in the end there is only compromise and abuse of government resources.

Were our local councillors who are from DAP, PAS and PKR selected because of their ‘faithfulness’ to their respective political party?

What track record do any of these councillors have as far service to the community is concerned?

3. Not a government for the people

Ultimately, when you have individuals with personal political agendas, the local town council will be affected.

The people’s pursuit of happiness must not be compromised and whatever the government and local town councils do, it must be for the good and happiness of the rakyat and not any one political party.

I hope that the people’s needs will be met and that these new councillors will work hard for the people without any personal political agendas.

We wait for the day.