Storm in a teacup
Written by John Lim, THE EDGE
Few things are straightforward in Malaysian politics. With Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin's resignation as Deputy Chief Minister 1 (DCM1) as well as Penanti state assemblyman, one would expect a relatively easy transition, especially given that Barisan Nasional (BN) could possibly be giving a walkover for that seat.
The last thing any expected was a public spat between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies DAP and PKR. It all started last this past Monday, when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng voiced his dissatisfaction over Fairus's sudden and unexpected resignation (which Lim found out about through the media).
Lim’s outburst, aimed primarily at PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, provoked a response from Penang PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim who criticised Lim for using the media to air out his grievances, adding that there were “internal mechanisms” to discuss such matters. Ironically, Zahrain too used the media to hit back at Lim.
PKR Deputy President Dr. Syed Hussein Ali also advised Lim to not raise such matters through the media. His comments were issued through a media release.
The following day, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, who is also an MP for PJ Utara, berated Zahrain for attacking Lim. “DAP regrets that Datuk Zahrain is behaving like a little Umno leader with comments that do not reflect the multi-racial nature of PKR and its Malaysian spirit,” he said in a press statement.
With such salvos fired back and forth – all played up through the media – a natural question would be to wonder if the fledgling coalition is showing signs of cracking up.
Growing Pains
“A number of people will interpret this as a sign that the Pakatan is in danger of fracturing,” says political analyst Ong Kian Ming. “But Pakatan is in no danger of splitting up because the party hasn't sought to discipline or expel anyone, and no one has threatened to leave. It’s just growing pains.”
Pua, who had made it clear that DAP would not stand for Zahrain as the candidate in Penanti, says that the coalition is in no danger of splitting up and that the public spat shows that no one party is subservient to another.
“The three parties are of equal standing, and each needs to speak up on certain issues,” he says. “It is healthier that it is brought up in the public sphere, rather than letting it be an unresolved that is even more dangerous.”
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, former special assistant to Anwar and currently the political secretary to the Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, echoes that sentiment. “I agree that there are better ways to handle the situation, but it shows that the PR is an open coalition that voices out their concerns,” he said.
Lim’s strategic outburst
Those close to Lim say that he was genuinely upset but being the media-savvy politician that he is, why did he raise such a fuss in public? Could it have been a strategic move on his part to show who’s boss in Penang – which also happens to be Anwar’s home state.
Political analyst Ong certainly thinks so. “Guan Eng needed to assert himself as a chief minister who is not to be pushed over,” he says. “This is a signal that he is ready and willing to confront Anwar on major issues of policy and leadership in Penang.”
Then there is the issue of defending party pride. “There will be times when it's important to speak up, and other times to let it go,” says DAP’s Pua. “This was a time to speak up.”
Zahrain out, Othman in
Nothing is said in the public sphere without consequences, and Zahrain's heated response to Lim has effective ruled him out for the Penanti state seat and DCM1. Until Monday, Zahrain was in the running to take over Mohammad Fairus's role, but party sources said that in the light of recent developments, the Bayan Baru MP would do better to concentrate on his tasks as the state PKR chief.
Ong believes that Dr Mansor Othman, a former USM lecturer and Anwar's political secretary, is tipped to be the candidate. The 59-year-old has been an Anwar loyalist since his Umno days, and in 1998 was appointed as the Penang PKR chairman. He has contested thrice on a PKR ticket during the 1999 (Balik Pulau parliamentary seat), 2004 (Seberang Jaya state seat) and 2008 (Pulau Betong state seat) general elections but failed to secure any seats.
Blown over
As heated as the war of words were, the issue looks to be dying down at the time of writing. DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said that Anwar has apologised to Guan Eng over the matter.
Furthermore, history indicates that PR has come out of these arguments not only unscathed, but all the better for it. DAP and Pas have clashed heads in the appointment of Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Menteri Besar, and in the Islamic state issue in Terengganu, with PR winning by-elections in those states with increased majorities.
Would the pattern continue if a Penanti by-election was to happen? There are no indications that results would be any different.
