Is Zaid Ibrahim being made a scapegoat by PKR in Hulu Selangor election?

I, for one, think that Zaid should not stand in the Hulu Selangor election. Let me reason out why before you start commenting that I am a BN supporter or what not.

By Mydin Baharuddin  

Look at the Bagan Pinang by-election. From a majority of 2,333 in GE 08, Isa managed to swing 5,435 votes to his favour in the by-election. With a wafer-thin margin of 198 votes, it is not so much of a cushion that PKR can maneuver. Further, let’s look at what progress the PKR state government has made in Hulu Selangor to influence the voters there. Zero!! If there was then show it to us.   

The deceased parliamentarian was not in a position to serve his best due to his illness but the loser, Palanivel, has constantly been in touch with the grassroots in Hulu Selangor and made further inroads even though he was not the serving MP under the current term. Palanivel is a politician, he knew and had the foresight. And that is why he kept going back to Hulu Selangor to serve them. What has PKR or Pakatan done? 

I am not being pessimistic on the the chances for PKR to retain the seat, but being practical on what has been done on the ground in Hulu Selangor to ensure the opposition wins rather than how we bloggers and commentors sit and comment without knowledge of the Hulu Selangor voters’ predicament or ulterior motives.

Let’s forget about the race demographic in Hulu Selangor, let’s look at the age demographic in Hulu Selangor. What you have here is simple, older folk in the agricultural field or are the contented older generation, not the vibrant and firebrand youths who seek change. Most of the youths have moved on to more urbanized locations for better pasture and it is their older folk that makes the call in Hulu Selangor.  

Zaid Ibrahim may have his flaws but he is a decent man and an ideal candidate. But being a decent man alone does not fetch too far if he is not as politically savvy as some of his compatriots in PKR or even Pakatan for that matter.

I would love to have a Zaid Ibrahim as my MP, but something is amiss here with the PKR hierarchy in opting for him rather than a local boy. I just feel that it is a burial ground for Zaid Ibrahim politically under the current circumstances for being one of the few good men in the opposition.

Seriously, even if Pakatan loses this by-election, it would not cause the kind of dent as losing with someone like Zaid Ibrahim. Look at Husam Musa of PAS, an excellent Malaysian yet conveniently sidelined by PAS for the political will.   

These are just my thoughts as we would not want to waste those few good men that we have for the long haul ie GE-13.       

Sure, take a jibe at me, a mamak muslim, talking cock. Another example of someone like Mahathir or KIMMA. Well, I can’t change what I am. But how does it matter, if I am a Malaysian as much as you are and desire what is best for my fellow Malaysians?