Tony Pua's baptism of fire via DAP cauldron

Anyone interested in politics would have read about 35-year-old enterpreneur TONY PUA's entry into Opposition politics fulltime, selling off all his shares in a successful Net business he built up which was eventually listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. It was not a rainbow ride all the way as IT companies from 1-2 decades ago bumped into several rocky patches along the way, with many also fallin victim to winds of constant change.

At least he starts off on a strong footing -- an Asean scholar, with an Oxford true-blue education, now a millionaire after cashing out his stocks, Pua says his participation in politics is a way of "giving back to society", something he spells out very forthrigtly in his own blog, tonypua.blogspot.com.

I'm writing this piece based on an Opposition supporter's standpoint mainly, also via a writer-journalist's lenses, so this Post is clearly biaised though I try my best to remain as objective as possible. I assure whatever is written is writ without malice, maybe with some prejudice. I believe no writer on earth can remain perfectly neutral, so also Desi's no saint either.


Extracting from the Star, political writer Jocelyn Tan has this to say:

From cyber world to arena of politics

Self-made millionaire Tony Pua is cute, likeable and was only 28 when he hit the headlines as a trailblazer and success story in the new economy. Now, seven years later, he is putting it all aside for politics – more specifically, opposition politics.

TONY Pua literally sprinted out of the lift with his notebook computer and a newspaper tucked under his arm. The self-made Internet millionaire looked incredibly boyish for a 35-year-old and has all the exuberance reminiscent of those advertisements for energy drinks.

“Not so young anymore, actually,” he said, dipping his head to show the shock of greying hair around his crown.

The road to success has apparently not been without sleepless nights and tonnes of worrying.

Pua is a well-known name in the e-commerce business where he has earned a dizzying string of inscriptions –- dotcom success story, pioneer in e-business consulting and, perhaps the most satisfying of all, youngest founder-CEO to have listed a company in the Singapore Stock Exchange.

The Oxford University graduate is the founder of Cyber Village Sdn Bhd and until recently its CEO. Pua has sold his stake in the company and, after settling debts and commitments, is still left with a tidy sum of a couple of million ringgit.

But it is the reason for his divestment that has drawn the limelight onto Pua again.

The Netpreneur is leaving the business world for the arena of politics – opposition politics to be exact, and with the DAP.

I'm going in with my eyes wide open,” he said.

_______________________________


DESIDERATA:

To read the article in full, there is one copy hidden in Raja Petra's cyberhome. I don't need to take ty hand to guide thee there, do I?I'd respond if thou art a li'l true-blue riding hood, to keep the matrempit at bay. Or big, bad wolves of Kuala Lumpur. Come to Furong for R&R&R as NS capital which has no MR, only Haridas' piping hot tehtarik to welcome thee. And mayhaps Desi as Pipe Piper to lead thee ashtray! No Hamerlin, only Sungai Ujong.

From the onset, I must welcome Pua's decision to try to make changes to the system from outside, "not from within" --- the latter could have been his choice had Pak Lah delivered on his core promises from Nov 1, 2003. He had two landmark turning points to make a difference, but he blew them -- firstly, on assumping premiership after Dr Mahathir Mohamad reluctantly handed over UMNO's chieftaincy to him; secondly, in a Cabinet reshuffle, he worsened the situation by not making any "real" changes like droppping deadwood or members way-past their shelf-life. Under Pak Lah for three years, it was a lot of sound and fury, hardly "any change" for the better he trumpeted at in leading his BN cahoots into the biggest landslide electoral victory March 2004.

Well, Pua enters politics with a firm platform, being appointed Economic Adviser to DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang, and headhunted by his son,Sec-Gen Lim Guan Eng (Errata: Desi was informed by Pua that "A quick errata is that I'll be advisor to LGE, and not LKS", which to me might prove to be Pua's Achilles' heels. He starts off "beholden" to the two top men in the Rocket party, which many detracters have alleged form a dynastic trend, and whose leaders are deemed to remain forever happy to remain Opposition leaders.

Many past leaders of an independent mind like Goh Hock Guan, Fan Yew Teng, Sim Kwang Yang , (do you want Desi to continue? Better not, in case I be accused of stirring S*** even before Pua starts his battles) had spoken out, and the option finally was to exit. These are the principled lot -- others like Lee Lam Thye, Chin Nyok Soo, Tiger Lee and Khoo Seng Hock, Ooi Ean Kwong bargained themselves to comfortland either in MCA or Gerakan or the Establishment where perks and positions are plenty. Those who choose to remain to fight the battle (once DAP Youth leader Teng Chang Khim and Selangor ex-Chairman ONG something? and several Malacca DAP chiefs aligned with former DAP Sec-Gen Kerk Kim Hock would tell you it's difficult to wrestle with a dynastic team surounded with yes, ball-carriers quite akin to MCA's and Gerakan's). Go ask Saudara Lim Fui Ming, DAP State Assemblyman of Bahau under DAP who recently resigned from the party the reasons why he quit. He must have bumped into many "bodyguards" standing sentinel at the dynastic palace gates, my guess. Don't mind me, what do I know? Just a writer.

I'm summarising all this for the benefit of Pua's baptiism of fire because based on Pua's expressed statements of idealism and honest commitment to democratic struggle as an Oppositionist, I think he need to be aware of some of the "mines" in the battle field.

I have thought the youngish Part Keadilan Rakyat with fromer DPM Saudara Anwar Ibrahim soon assuming the leadership mantle from his beloved wife Wan Azizah would have been a better vehicle. But I am not elaborating here as I had propounded on this recommendation as the most viable vehicle for change -- if that's what Malaysians are aspiring for -- because Pua has made his decision. I respect him and wish Pua well.

Maybe five years down the bumpy road or realpolitik, PKR could be organising a Welcome Party for the by-then well initiated opposition party leader which many say is DAP's golden goose to celebrate the Year of the Foire Ball. Some say it's the Year of the Golden Pig. I am not arguing with the experts -- I am just one mousey writer.

UPDATEd @7.49PM:

Hi Desi,

Thanks for your support as well as advice rendered ;) Please know that they are appreciated.

A quick errata is that I'll be advisor to LGE, and not LKS.

Like my message left with Freelunch, without sounding like attempting to curry favour my new boss, I believe that LGE should be judged for what he is, and not what the media paints him to be.

Let's just say that I won't take up this position if not for the fact that I'm confident with his philosophy and leadership, and this decision wasn't made overnight. ;)

I'm not joining politics as a fresh grad, as many has done, and I certainly wouldn't see the need to be beholden to anybody to protect my position.

As for why not PKR, there's certainly a fair few reasons. There certainly score good points in certain aspects, but even insiders will agree that they have their internal set of problems as well. If we do meet up some day, I'll be more than happy to share over a drink ;)

Let's work towards a better Malaysia ;)

Tony P

By Tony P, at 5:28 PM

DESI: Thanks for responding, Pua; here's Wishing Your Political Journey as SUCCESSFUL as your Corporate's.