Penang CM Koh Is Lucky. He Has Only Two Enemies.

The Penang government should consider proposals made by the Malay community in the state so that their interest will be protected, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He said the efforts carried out by the Gerakan-led state government were still not sufficient to assist the community. This situation could have caused feelings of dissatisfaction among the Malays towards the state government and Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, he said.

Of course not one person who supports this line of action, believes that the Penang Umno is motivated by altruistic intentions. Altruism and politics are like chalk and cheese. These are bounty hunters out for the highest booty they can get while they are still influential. Let there be no doubts on that score.

Having said this, I still feel that compared to politicians in other states Koh is actually fortunate! He at least knows who his enemies are. He does not have to look over his shoulder, behind shadows or decipher riddles within riddles to ensure his survival.

There are two threats to Koh. First there are the pests, i.e. Umno. This is the iritating lot who consider it their birthright to lead, and then plunder. They feel left out, and that while their fellow pirates, sorry, politicians in other states are making merry they are stuck with a chinaman in Penang. So their basest reaction comes forward and that is to make noise; as most empty vessels do. Hopefully they may get a sympathetic ear. It is ironic that while former DPM Anwar Ibrahim and the PM come from Penang as do several other influential Malays, our Umno jutawan wannabes blame Koh instead of these Umno leaders for their predicament. Obviously even these powerful Malay politicians realise the wisdom of having Gerakan at the helm in Penang.

But the biggest enemy and threat to Koh does not come from Umno Pulau Pinang - (they have only nuisance-value). That dubious honour must surely go to the Penang MCA, the real and serious practitioners of deceit and dirty politicking. The party which considers itself as the rightful 'rulers' of the Chinese and looks down on Gerakan as a second echelon quasi-Chinese entity, is the biggest foe that Koh has been contending till now and will continue to do so.

While the Malays there who consider themselves as the 'lords of the land,' will on a regular basis keep passing resolutions, pausing now and then to pick up the sops thrown to them, the MCA is made of more devious stuff, and are willing to wait patiently for the day when they can fell Koh with one clean surgical strike and take over the Chief Ministership finally.

Of course Koh realises all this and perhaps considers it as a small price to pay for being the CM from a relatively smaller party than Umno or MCA. And after all as I keep saying, better the pest you know than the backstabber you don't.