Discord in PKR over Zaid’s role

(The Malaysian Insider) – Matters which have been percolating for weeks boiled over at PKR’s emergency political bureau meeting on Tuesday night.

A decision was made that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim should not go to Sabah and Sarawak this weekend as a result of the open revolt by divisions there.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes that Sabah PKR needs new leadership but 17 of 23 divisions in the state do not want any leader sanctioned by Kuala Lumpur foisted on them.

Several PKR leaders here believe that by going to Sabah and Sarawak, Zaid would be sending the wrong signal and not showing solidarity with party headquarters.

But party insiders say that a schism between Zaid and others in PKR had been inevitable given their different styles in running the political party.

Several PKR officials are troubled by Zaid’s gung-ho approach to solving problems and pushing for a common platform with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.

Zaid had been brought into the party with great fanfare by Anwar earlier this year.

The former Umno man had been given the task of crafting a common platform for the PR coalition to take into the next general election, with an eye towards taking Putrajaya.

But The Malaysian Insider understands that he has faced obstacles not just from PAS and DAP but from within his own party.

Some PKR officials believe that he has ambitions to eventually lead the party — a possibility if Anwar is convicted for sodomy.

These leaders see Zaid as a threat to them. They are also suspicious about whether a more inclusive and multiracial approach will be enough to win over the majority of voters.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/