Will Pakatan Rakyat Collapse Without Anwar?

The formation of Pakatan Rakyat as a three-party coalition opposition pact has unmistakably made a huge impact on Malaysian political climate. The presence of a strong rival would always have a positive bearing in politics as it would compel the ruling government to be on their toes and perform better for the people. Since their takeover of five (now four) states, the new coalition has somewhat proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with but it would not have been possible without PKR and its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.




CONFLICTS IN PAKATAN

It goes without saying that PKR is the glue between Pas and DAP – two parties with long history yet both are poles apart when it comes to political ideology and cause. It is no secret that there are divided interests among the Pakatan parties. Conflicts will always be there between these two parties and many, especially Umno, deem Pakatan would easily collapse without Anwar (pic) and PKR in the picture. Anwar, however, as he has being saying in his speeches, believes that Umno is under the wrong impression as he is confident Pakatan will continue to grow in strength even if he is re-imprisoned for his second sodomy charge.


PAS vs DAP

It is clear that DAP plays a huge role in contributing to the Pakatan’s stability. This is proven by the 2004 General Election results where we saw the then prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi celebrating Barisan Nasional’s (BN) biggest win. During that time, DAP was did not agree with Pas’ agenda of forming an Islamic state and decided to remove itself from the coalition only to rejoin after Pas decided to change their struggle from ‘Negara Islam’ to ‘Negara Kebajikan’. As a result of DAP’s return to the pact, Pak Lah went from hero to zero when in the historic March 2008 General Election when BN suffered their most severe loss up to date. The sizable gains accomplished by Pakatan surprised not only the people and BN but also the opposition themselves.

However, the ‘tsunami’ general election outcome will not see the end to the conflict between Pas and DAP. Following the last election, there was a delay in forming the Selangor state government due to the disagreements and the infighting over who should be the Deputy Mentri Besar. Amid the commotion, PAS’ Hassan Ali secretly engaged in negotiations with the former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo to explore the possibility of PAS forming an alliance with Umno to jointly rule the state. Unfortunately they could not come to an agreement because both Hassan and Khir wanted to be Mentri Besar and none would back down in favour of the other.

Besides that, Selangor PAS also urged the state government to sack DAP’s Ronnie Liu and ban the sale of beer in Muslim majority areas. Hassan claimed that Liu has interfered in the local authorities operation. According to Hassan, Liu has ordered the Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) to return the beers they had seized from a retail store in Section 8 Shah Alam and apologise to the retailer involved. The fact that PAS is a minor player in the Selangor state government with only eight seats has forced Hassan Ali to apologise for his action.





Conflict within PAS: Traditionalists vs Modern Moderates

PAS has rebranded themselves with a more progressive and moderate Islamic political party thanks to the emergence of a new collection of leaders that carries these positive image. With the new-fangled scenario comes a split within the party where in one camp there is the traditionalist ulama types by the likes of party president Datuk Seri Haji Hadi Awang and another camp made up of the moderate-professionals in the forms of Husam Musa, Dr. Dzulkifli and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

The presence of the new moderate types in PAS has created a positive new dimension in the party’s struggle and made certain it remained relevant in current mainstream politics. Though these non-traditionalist figures proved to be an asset to PAS, especially in its quest to attract more non-Muslim supporters, unfortunately, they too are dependent on Anwar, a concern that doesn’t sit that well their traditionalist counterpart.

Regardless of which camp each PAS members belong to what’s of utmost importance than ever is their sincerity in their struggle for the party. So far, the traditional lot appear to be more sincere and polished in championing the party’s cause. What’s the most apparent difference though is that they are also not easily influenced by Anwar’s rhetoric. But the traditionalists also have their own shortcomings. Most see them as too conservative and this can have negative effects when it comes to countering modern-day issues. The new-age bunch tends to be more tolerant and in tune with modern situations and have a better knack at facilitating contemporary problems.

To them, the traditionalists have trouble relating to current challenges while the old schools would think that their new counterparts are too caught up with the poison of modern thinking. PAS is a sound party and would be a formidable force capable of overshadowing PKR and DAP once the two factions within it find a common ground and a way to work together effectively as one. They can’t afford to be messing around while the next the general election is approaching.


PKR vs PKR

PKR has established itself as a people-friendly party since its inception in 2003 but it has its own share of dilemmas. More recently, a group of 15 PKR MPs close to party vice president Azmin Ali teamed-up to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrah`im as Selangor Mentri Besar. Azmin who is Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman started the “attack” when he tendered his resignation as director of the Selangor State Development Corporation, supposedly over the appointment of Khalid’s new political secretary Faekah Husin.

Previously, Anwar also had a hand in causing a conflict with PKR. He has already missed several deadlines he himself set for the transfer of power in Putrajaya. The most remembered one was in September 16, 2008 where he claimed that 30 BNMPs will join the Pakatan coalition which never happened. His failure to meet his own deadline for the transition of power has tarnished his credibility among the public and perhaps party members as well. The new promise of forming the government has not generated the same sort of anticipation or excitement as before. As a result, Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim has decided to quit from PKR and became an Independent because he felt cheated by Anwar.

The conflict within PKR has caused four of its MP, Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim, Mohsin Fadzli, Tan Tee Beng and Wee Choo Keong to quit the party. They claimed that many decisions made by PKR leadership were influenced by ‘Little Napoleons’. These four plus one sacked MP Zulkifli Noordin then formed the ‘Konsensus Bebas’ declaring ‘war’ on Anwar.


CANDIDATES TO REPLACE ANWAR

A replacement would soon be in order if Anwar was to end up in jail again. There are three strong candidates to be the leader and unifying factor between PAS and DAP: Azmin Ali, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Khalid Ibrahim.


Azmin Ali

Singapore-born Azmin Ali started his career in politics at age 23 as a special officer to Anwar who was then Minister of Education. He was promoted as Anwar’s private secretary and remained under the latter the latter ever since (until Anwar became Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister).

The 46-year old is now a vice president of the party since its inception in 2001 and also Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman. The one who fancies himself as Anwar’s golden boy happens to be one of the founding members of Parti Keadilan Nasional (PKN) in 1998 which entered the 1999 General Elections amid the public outrage over Anwar’s earliest big scandal.

Azmin makes one of the most eligible candidates to replace Anwar simply because he is the latter’s most reliable and loyal follower. He has been with Anwar for more than 20 years. The close relationship between the two and Anwar’s enemies had used it against them. One-time close friend of Anwar, Datuk K.S. Nalla-Karupan had claimed that is a ‘secret’ as to why Azmin is so special to Anwar. He gave Anwar or his wife the chance to spill the beans or otherwise he will.

“One day I will come out and explain why Azmin receives special treatment from Anwar. What Azmin has sacrificed for Anwar, nobody will in that way. Ask Anwar. I will not comment further.” Said Nalla a few months back.

If Anwar wants to ensure that his agenda in PKR still continues while he is out of action, Azmin would be the most suitable person to make sure it happens. Azmin’s high posts, loyalty, and the support he receives from other leaders in PKR over these years makes him more than a valid candidate but his readiness to be Anwar’s puppet steps up his chances by far. With Azmin at the helm, Anwar don’t have to worry too much about PKR changing against the latter’s will.


Khalid Ibrahim

The current Mentri Besar of Selangor and Treasurer-General of Parti Keadilan Rakyat is a former CEO of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) so he knows more than a thing or two about finance and economics. His other posts include MP for Bandar Tun Razak and assemblyman for Ijok. The 14th Selangor MB happens to be the first MB who is not from Umno.

Many has said that Khalid is not a natural politician but, at the same time, admit that he is a good economist. His trouble with getting the Selangor sand-theft problem would also be an issue of concern but there are still decent reasons to why he is one of the most suitable politicians to take over PKR as well as Pakatan’s leadership.

We all he is know his capacity as an economist so we can’t deny his role in managing PKR’s finance matters. When PKR only had one seat in Parliament (Permatang Pauh), Khalid under his capacity as the treasurer was the one who supported PKR’s operation. He had relinquished his treasurer’s post when he became MB.

Khalid also has the ‘Little Napoleons’ behind him. Elizabeth Wong, Tian Chua, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Nurul Izzah were all said to be backing him despite an attempt to bring his down by Azmin and his supporters. However, there is a risk of PKR being hijacked by these young and eager leaders for their own agenda once they have the power. It’s just a possibility.


Zaid Ibrahim

Zaid is a highly respected lawyer who was appointed by former premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department to attempt to clean out Malaysia’s scandal-wrecked judiciary. As an Umno cabinet official, Zaid outraged former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad by saying the government should apologise for firing the Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abbas in 1988.

He also criticised the arrests of Teresa Kok, Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2008. He was forced to resign for that and left the party soon after. Not long after that he joined PKR he was elected to be the candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election which was won by P Kamalanathan from MIC by a 1,725 margin.


BEST OF THE BEST

Many may disagree but it should be fair to have a PKR leader to be the head of Pakatan. This is simply because PKR is the unifying factor of Pakatan that would ensure the coalition is stable. To be honest I could not see any potential candidates from PAS or DAP. Lim Guan Eng may have certain capabilities but I don’t think he has enough calibre to lead the opposition pact.

Of the three listed, Zaid is perhaps the opposition’s best hope to lead if Anwar is convicted. Zaid is also, in many ways, different from any other leader in PR including Anwar himself. His proactive actions of forfeiting his ministerial post to say what he believes in is commendable, even noble by today’s standard to say the very least.

Many people, especially fence-sitters, tend to have concerns over the likelihood of a new PKR-led government, if it ever was to see the light of day, would only replay how Umno-BN has been running the show for the last 50-something years with its rampant corruption, empty promises as such. The Selangor state government’s promise of an election to select officers in city council that has not taken place to this day would be an example. The public can’t be blamed entirely for having a leaning towards this notion as quite a number of big league PKR leaders came from BN and Umno. Zaid would be one though there’s still reason to believe that he is of different breed, the one whose actions speak louder than words.

Azmin has the capacity, perhaps, to lead PKR as he would be considered more powerful and has more influence within PKR but the one to replace Anwar as the Pakatan leader would still be Zaid. Azmin still don’t have what it takes to lead Pakatan and make sure it’s all good between PAS and DAP. As for Khalid, he still has a lot to prove as a politician and his credibility will all depend on how he overcomes the sand-theft issue in the state he is governing. As it stands, Zaid is the only PKR leader besides Anwar who has held a cabinet post so he would be the one to be chosen to inherit Anwar’s legacy and, perhaps, make it his own.

Malaysians But Can’t Speak Malay – Shame on You!

by Syed Zahar
taken from www.malaysiandigest.com

Reading the news recently on certain residents of this country that’s been giving the enumerators a hard time as they were not able to converse in the national language reminded me of my own frustrating encounters with those from this small section of society. There were a few occasions, during those times I spent at the outskirts, where I tried to converse with these people only to be snubbed just because the persons I were inquiring from didn’t know how to speak Malay and English. It just baffles me that these persons have been living in this country for all their lives yet they don’t know (or refuse to know) how to use their national language.

In all those three or four occasions, the peoples I was trying to talk to were over 50 or 60-years of age so they have no excuse for not knowing Bahasa Melayu especially after living in a multi-racial Asian country for more than half a century. Let me point out that this is nothing like the situation in the US where the immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean speaks mostly Spanish as these are first generation immigrants. In our case, these people are more than third or fourth generation immigrants – I mean, what’s up? My 90-year old grandma can speak Hokkien, Cantonese as well as the standard Malay and English and she didn’t even finish school let alone hold a degree. On top of that, she’s a second generation Indonesian immigrant.

To me, it’s not so much a matter of learning deficiency that I’m so wound up about but rather the can’t-be-bothered attitude of this so-called non-Malay speaking faction. It’s funny because all this time everyone was made to think that it was the Malays that are complacent and the ones widely practices the ‘tidak apa’,’ ‘rilek la’ attitude. It’s also funny this exact attitude that’s been stereotyped on the Malays actually caught on to the very people who are racist against the Malays – just like how some British observers stereotype of Malays as lazy caught on.

I actually talked about this issue with my Chinese-Malaysian friend who is currently working in a law firm in Singapore (where Malay is the national language that’s not spoken widely) and he agree that it’s more of an attitude problem than anything else. He said that it may be that such crude behaviour has more of a political than a racial motivation behind it as in them having the mentality of: ‘You’re Malay so you’re Umno – the (so-called) oppressor of the minority’. And like me and the rest of Malaysia, he finds it hard to believe that there are actually some Malaysians who don’t know at least a bit of Malay in this country. We also concurred that, whether politically motivated or otherwise, this sort of attitude is plain unpleasant and unwelcomed both ways.

We are at the 53rd year anniversary of our independence and if there are still people who think they are too good for the rest of us who are of different skin colours and ethnic backgrounds so as to snub us and our respective languages and cultures maybe they should go back to the 19th century where they belong. After all, why should we welcome those who are unwelcoming?