As Pakatan wobbles, some start questioning Anwar

Even some of Anwar’s and PR’s biggest supporters among the network of Internet bloggers who helped galvanise support for the opposition during Election 2008 appear to be growing disillusioned.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

October is shaping up to be make or break month for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

PKR is fraying at the seams with Jeffrey Kitingan and his allies in Sabah parting ways with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s party.

The constant speculation over the future of PKR secretary-general Datuk Sallehuddin Hashim also adds to the impression that the party is not on a firm footing.

And the troubles surrounding PAS were the last thing the coalition needed.

Last night, PAS leaders averted the possibility of a potentially damaging EGM called by its spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to remove what he described as “problematic leaders” who were not entirely committed to PR.

The party’s central committee promised to set up a disciplinary investigation into the problems the party is facing in Selangor.

And party leaders declared, yet again, that PAS was committed to the PR coalition.

But the public will still need some convincing on PAS’s direction.

And realistically the PR coalition cannot survive without PAS.

This is because without the structure and support base of PAS it will be hard for the coalition to move ahead with its ambitions of snaring Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN).

While DAP remains relatively stable, PKR remains the weak link in the PR coalition despite the fact that it has the most elected representatives of the three partners.

Instead of addressing its problems PKR leaders appear to be still in denial mode and this was epitomised by remarks made yesterday by its political bureau member Tian Chua.

Chua blamed the media for various “confusing reports” over speculation about Sallehuddin’s apparent resignation.

But it has already become an open secret that Sallehuddin is unhappy with the party. And his resignation could well be a matter of when and not if.

In PKR there appears to be less fear and respect now for Anwar.

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