This is the country’s first transparent “one-person one-vote” direct election but one that has attracted allegations of fraud and money politics and a mere nine per cent of members and 12 per cent of “voter turnout” in the earlier rounds.
New Straits Times
Of particular interest is Anwar’s treatment of dissent as the relatively new party has been unforgiving in its indictment of the conduct of Malaysian politics, pledging to effect a brand of democracy that is refreshing and liberating.
DAP’s affairs are primarily opaque. Hints of trouble within its ranks will have supremo Lim Kit Siang and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng rushing to enforce discipline and a gag order on tormented souls.
Criticisms of Pas leadership are similarly unheard-of.
PKR, as it turns out, is not faring any better on the democratic front.
At the very least, this has been the assessment of Zaid who was building a reputation as an independent-minded politician within the ranks of Umno.
Alas, he was suspended in 2001 on grounds of money politics and was sacked by the party seven years later.
To the critics of Umno, Zaid was a bright new star, one to be gar-landed and fast-tracked to prominence.
What has gone so fatally wrong? Who is the greater democrat now, Zaid or Anwar? Has PKR been attracting the wrong sorts, including irascible personalities?
For starters, the party’s national elections seem to have stirred more media interest than among those who matter — grassroots members.
Sensing that Umno had reformed its franchise empowering the grassroots members in party elections, PKR decided to quickly take the plunge.
This is the country’s first transparent “one-person one-vote” direct election but one that has attracted allegations of fraud and money politics and a mere nine per cent of members and 12 per cent of “voter turnout” in the earlier rounds.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail would not go beyond acknowledging that the elections had failed to capture the imagination of members.
A party youth leader from Sarawak was bolder. He said members now were having doubts on the direction of the party.
More importantly, however, one that will exercise the minds of Pas and DAP members, is the leadership of Anwar and that of PKR in Pakatan Rakyat.
Political analyst Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said the current power struggle in PKR would certainly weaken the party ahead of the 13th general election.
Already, Pas Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib had asked PKR to do some serious soul-searching and not simply blame Umno for its troubles.
What would Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang of Pas and Guan Eng tell Anwar when the three parties sit down next to discuss seat allocation ahead of the next general election?
