Raja Petra sick of being used
Raja Petra with Matthias Chang in London in January 2011
From the tone of his email and recent interviews, it looks like Raja Petra has lost faith in the opposition movement. Contrary to his statement to Malaysian Digest, it looks like he is finally joining politics via MCLM. If that is true then BN is not the only rival Pakatan Rakyat has to worry about. MCLM could be a third force to be reckoned with.
Raja Petra being interviewed by TV3 in Perth in February 2011
In an email exchange between blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and writer Kee Thuan Chye in April 20th to 27th, the former had made it crystal clear that he will not be used by the opposition anymore. Apparently, in his last email to Kee (better known as Chye) dated 27th April Raja Petra wrote: “The opposition does not need and does not desire ‘my voice’, as you have put it. They just need me to help them win the elections, by hook or by crook.”
Initially, on the 20 April, Chye wrote an email to him asking for a clarification on his controversial interview with TV3. Chye wrote:
“I was hoping you would be responding to it through this email. A lot of people have been asking me if you have done a U-turn and I cannot answer them. Not even after the reports of your “clearing the air”.
“The people who used to support you are confused. And they don’t seem convinced by your explanations. Some of them are really saddened by it all.”
In his reply on April 26, Raja Petra said:
“I’m not going to bother to ‘win anyone back’. I am not trying to win a popularity contest. I am not running for office or contesting the elections. If they are unhappy with me that’s their problem, not mine.”
“What, these people are paying for my food or what? I’m employed by them that I must take orders from them or what? No one owns me. I do what I want. They don’t like it, tough.”
“Do I sound arrogant? I hope so. Arrogance is my middle name. Kamunting can tell you that. Sungai Buloh Prison can tell you that. Bukit Aman can tell you that. They hate my guts and that makes my day.”
Raja Petra’s response insinuates that all this while the opposition had been using his influence to gain voters’ sympathy especially during the last General Election in 2008. Since then Raja Petra has been super-critical of the opposition coalition especially PKR and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Previously, in his interview with Malaysian Digest he (Raja Petra) stated that:
“I’ve always been disappointed (with PKR) since way back in 1999 when PKR was first formed when it was called PKN, Parti Keadilan Nasional. Even way back then I‘ve always criticized PAS, I’ve criticized DAP, I’ve criticized PKR and I’ve always criticized all the parties in Barisan Nasional. So my criticism is not something of late. It’s something that’s always been there. I’ve criticized the opposition way back even before there was an opposition coalition and back in the mid 90’s while Anwar was still in Umno. So it’s not something new.”
Maybe the TV3 interview is a sign that Raja Petra has given up on the opposition especially with the formation of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) with him as the its chairman. The only confusing part with the formation of the MCLM is, during the Malaysian Digest interview, when asked on whether he has any intention to join politics, his answer was:
“If I wanted to be part of a political system, I would’ve done so a long time ago. I’ve been involved with politics for like more than 30 years. 30 years I’ve been outside of the party political party system. But I have been a critic of a political system. I mean, 30 years… why do I need to join now?
But a few weeks after the interview, after the MCLM meeting in London, they officially announced that they will be fielding candidates from MCLM who will be contesting as independent candidates for the next General Election. The question is will they be contesting as the third force contesting against both BN and Pakatan Rakyat or will there be negotiations for parliamentary and state assembly seats between MCLM and Pakatan Rakyat?
From the tone of his email and recent interviews, it looks like Raja Petra has lost faith in the opposition movement. Contrary to his statement to Malaysian Digest, it looks like he is finally joining politics via MCLM. If that is true then BN is not the only rival Pakatan Rakyat has to worry about. MCLM could be a third force to be reckoned with.
