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For the common good PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 29 January 2010 09:38
the sun

By Terence Fernandez

First published in theSun

Today,I’d like to bring you a feel good story of how two people despite their political differences can work together for the common good.

During the election campaign, they worked tirelessly for their respective parties but when the results came through and she won, Gan Pei Nei and Mohd Saufi Shafie set aside their differences to work together for the benefit of the constituents.

When I met them a week ago in Rawang, they were marshalling efforts to save one school site from encroachment by housing developers, and land meant for a mosque from being taken over by a hypermarket.


(These two issues will be reported in the next few days).

"Whether I like it or not, she is now my boss. So as a community leader it is my job to assist her in resolving the people’s problems," said Mohd Saufi, who is the chairman of the Zone 19 Joint Action Committee.


Due to her petite size and youth, Mohd Saufi said he had his doubts that Gan would be up to the job, as her only claim to fame before the elections was campaigning against high-tension cables.

"But I have a lot of respect for her as she is a hard worker and as I have a responsibility to the people in my area, I must work with her," he told me over lunch courtesy of Gan at their favourite nasi campur shop.

Mohd Saufi is a rare breed indeed as instead of playing petty party politics and sabotaging Gan’s efforts he gives her credit where it is due:

"For four years we had no street lights. I met with previous representatives to fix the problem but to no avail.

"When I complained to YB, she got it done in two weeks. Did I hide that fact? No! I brought her to meet the people and tell them that she is the reason why we got the street lights."

Gan, meanwhile, said there is no such thing as Umno or PKR when it comes to serving her constituents and regards Mohd Saufi as among her most trusted allies but adds: "Make no mistake! He is still a strong Umno man but he is first and foremost a community leader who puts the people first."

People like Gan and Mohd Saufi are part of a huge network of local folk in Rawang who are trying to make their neighbourhood a better place to call home. Idle land, stalled projects, indiscriminate development, poor roads and infrastructure were among reasons cited for folks here giving their vote to a greenhorn like Gan.

Those who have been around longer like Mohd Saufi have taken her under their wing in helping her to get things done – be it quarrelling with the local authorities, drafting letters, convincing his party superiors that he is not a "traitor" but merely looking into the best interest of the people and introducing Gan to those sceptical or suspicious of her motives.

I suppose stories such as these though rare are not unique. Nationwide – even in the Parliament canteen and MPs’ lounge – it is common to see those from both sides of the political divide breaking bread together or catching up over teh tarik to discuss issues of common interest; and at the ground level working together to get things done.

Of course in Gan and Mohd Saufi’s case there may be no such thing as being bound by the whip. They are perhaps only motivated by their conscience. But is it not this trait that is sorely lacking among many of our leaders these days – when doing what is right is bound by the rigidity of partisan politics.

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 February 2010 04:43
 

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