Harnessing the talent in Pakatan

A statement of concern for the "Dearth of talent in PKR--" by Muaz Omar has appeared 0n the Malaysian Insider blog today. PKR may count itself lucky to be singled out among Pakatan parties, or for that matter all other parties for criticism; it challenges PKR national leadership to conduct its own assessment of the truth or otherwise of the writer's assertion.

While one can fairly easily dispute Omar's contention, one may more critically question Keadilan if it has adequately and optimally harnessed available talent in the party. I think there are qualified people in numerous professional fields, business people and experienced NGOs among its membership nationwide, many of them, thuough second to Khalid Ibrahim's profile, have not emerged to the front at this stage of the struggle. Nor should all of them be in the frontline in future; it is however of critical importance for them to begin playing co-ordinated supportive roles to Pakatan/Keadilan legislators, even in the backrooms.

Even in the late- on- board East Malaysia, among its indigenous leadership there are a couple of PhDs., MBAs, lawyers and medical doctors, and numerous other graduates. A few newly retired civil servants of profile may also be in the pipeline. These would be readily overwhelmed by highly qualified professionals among the membership in Peninsular Malaysia, though some more would be undoubtedly welcome.

It has to be appreciated that many young professionals with high "market worth" would hardly think it a wise choice career-wise to join a movement which in its heydays was lambasted by some for its determined presence on the streets. To most of the middle and upper middle class,an association with the "Reformasi " mould was just not "in". Even if they did come in, professionals may not generally be the ones most effective in mobilising the masses in the all important electoral battles past, present and to come.

Going forward it may be time for the party to start co-ordinating its intellectual base and harnessing their full potential for the better governance of future federal and state governments.

And here it is for management consultants, such as Muaz, to contribute. Correct me, if with my meagre experience in human resource management, if I were to recommend the following basic measures to the party for a start:

1. Start a HR electronic databank for the party, separate registers for Diploma, degree, masters and PhD; electronic sorting by public-sector or business and industry experience or both should be possible, among other characteristics ;

2. An HRM national team of the party to identify key people for designated public policy areas;

3. Assigning public policy teams to State Excos, related shadow cabinet, and other state and federal YBs;

4. Public policy ad-hoc briefings, seminars, work camps for shadow cabinet and Pakatan legislators (could BN legislators be invited too?);

5. Public forums on public policy for confidence building by Pakatan parties

A voluntary contribution from Muaz and others would be undoubtedly welcome by the party.

Francis Ngu,
MBBS (Mal.), MHP(UNSW)