Presidential praise — and a tinge of rebellion
By The Star
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail defended her husband as god’s gift but also showed some hint of a rebellion regarding some of his political wishes.
THERE was no red carpet welcome or soaring music to herald the arrival of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the party’s national congress.
It was apparently quite deliberate because the big man did not want it too grand or to draw too much attention to himself or his wife.
In fact, Anwar was dressed as though he was about to help out at some village kenduri, his blue baju Melayu hanging out over his samping and trousers, and wearing leather slippers.
But make no mistake, they are the power couple of PKR – he, the ketua umum or supreme leader, and she, the president. And now with their daughter Nurul Izzah as incoming vice-president, they are the power family of the party.
The arrangement would have been unacceptable in a truly democratic party but members have no strong objections and have even given Nurul Izzah the most votes among the four incoming VPs.
As Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the brightest young face in Selangor PKR, put it: “In 2007, we wanted Anwar as president but the Registrar of Societies did not allow it. Now, the second trial is standing in the way.”
The congress is taking place after a highly contentious election. The repercussions from Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s ill-fated bid for the deputy president’s post have not subsided and allegations of electoral fraud are still rippling through the party.
The Youth wing is split down the middle with incumbent Shamsul Iskander winning 55% of the votes against 45% for the popular challenger Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegu Bard, who was absent from the opening of the two-day congress yesterday.
Anwar has been under fire from his own party members for his role in the elections.
At the supreme council meeting prior to the congress, a number of leaders voiced their unhappiness over the way he took sides, especially in campaigning for his blue-eyed boy Azmin Ali. It was quite unprecedented for him to be criticised that way.
But he is good at masking his feelings and was all charm and smiles. Few would have suspected he is under so much pressure or facing a court trial that may end his political career.
Dr Wan Azizah’s presidential address this year seemed as much about setting a focus and direction for the party as it was to defend the party against allegations of electoral abuses.
She explained the party was doing its best to investigate complaints about the polls, appealed to members not to take their grouses to the media and, basically, asked the party to move on.
It did not sit well with everyone but it was her defence of Anwar as god’s gift to the country that raised eyebrows. She praised his resilience and said that any lesser man would have crumbled in the face of insults, slander and torture.
It was probably the political way of saying that Anwar enjoys the grace of god, he is destined to be the leader of Malaysians, don’t oppose him, support him all the way.
Some thought it was a bit too much and that Anwar should be supported for what he can do as a leader rather than because of some divine decree. It was pretty astonishing, to say the least.
But this is the lady who has stood by Anwar through thick and thin. She contested and won Permatang Pauh in his absence and she relinquished the seat for him to make a comeback.
But she also demonstrated her own streak of rebellion.
She praised Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for a job well done. Khalid is her ally, her former political secretary Faekah Husin is now working for him and Dr Wan Azizah would have supported him if he had run against Azmin for the No. 2 post.
And unlike the other leaders, she did not say anything that could be read as condemning Zaid. It was revealing how she differed from her husband on the question of who should be the party’s No. 2.
Power changes the profile of a party and this could not be truer for PKR. At its last party elections in Seremban, some of the delegates looked like they had been ferried to an event that they did not really care or know much about.
But those attending yesterday’s congress were different. They looked like they had made an effort to be there, listened and reacted to the speeches and were definitely not the run-of-the-mill type of political crowd. They had the middle-class look about them and real opinions on issues.
Luxury cars were parked outside and there were colourful banners everywhere, many of them declaring Anwar as Pengemudi Alaf 21 (21st Century Leader).
And the party does have a real multi-racial make-up, making it the only party in the country to boast that, because the DAP, for all its multi-racial hype, is basically a Chinese party.
PKR has been stirred and shaken over the last few months but it cannot be dismissed as a party aspiring to power.
