Neither DAP nor PAS respects Azmin
PKR must find within its ranks a leader they can trust implicitly.
And so I tell Anwar this: “If I know that PAS and DAP will not accept Azmin as leader of PKR, is it not time that you take cognizance of their stand and fall into line with this consensus too?”
CT Ali, Free Malaysia Today
Last week, I wrote that PKR must ready itself to lead the opposition Pakatan Rakyat with or without Anwar Ibrahim. The operative word I said was “ready itself”.
There are now within PKR three people who can do this (lead PKR): Azmin Ali, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Three candidates without any common ground between them that would enable them to work together as one for the good of PKR and Pakatan Rakyat.
So PKR must choose one.
First we talk about Azmin. Azmin is Anwar’s choice.
I am not going to go into Anwar’s reason for doing so because my business is not to second-guess him.
My business is to tell Anwar and you all why we should or should not agree with what Anwar wants to do.
Remember what I have said before: “Where does our responsibility to Anwar end and our responsibility to PKR and Pakatan start?”
It starts when I believe that Anwar has made a decision that will harm PKR and Pakatan.
Anwar must defer to views
When Anwar chose to endorse Azmin overtly or covertly, then PKR and we will have to decide if what he did was right.
My stand is very simple. PAS will not accept Azmin as leader of PKR. DAP will not accept Azmin as leader of PKR.
You and I should defer to the wisdom and experience of Tok Guru (Nik Aziz Nik Mat), Abdul Hadi Awang, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh.
And so I tell Anwar this: “If I know that PAS and DAP will not accept Azmin as leader of PKR, is it not time that you take cognizance of their stand and fall into line with this consensus too?”
“To do otherwise would only harm what you want for PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. It is enough that PAS said in no uncertain terms that Zaid Ibrahim is back within Pakatan Rakyat’s fold. Now will they have to tell you that they want Azmin out?”
Second comes Saifuddin
Saifuddin is a good man loyal to Anwar. What we can hope for is that his loyalty to Anwar will see him do what is best for PKR no matter what his personal preferences are.
I doubt that he will have the stomach to immerse himself totally in the cut and thrust of PKR’s politics but if push comes to shove, Saifuddin will do what is best for Anwar.
And what is best for Anwar is a strong and cohesive PKR!
We are now left with Nurul Izzah. And what a choice she is for us! Nurul Izzah is a riot of possibilities.
Let’s look at her pluses.
She carries the goodwill of many of our young people and that of many women in Malaysia with her decision to go into politics.
The others will give her room to develop politically and are not overly critical of her too tentative foray into Malaysian politics – but the clock is ticking.
Her greatest strength is the potential and promise she exudes to do good in politics.
But has she got what it takes to do what her father has done in the face of adversity?
Does she have the ability to stand and fight when all is lost and what is left is only belief in yourself to do what you know is right?
Will she stand up to Azmin and Saifuddin if they stand in her way?
Nurul Izzah is still to be tried and tested in the cut and thrust of politics as it is done in Malaysia.
