Loss of direction
The success of Pakatan Rakyat has not been built upon the promotion of democratic politics, economic development and social harmony. Instead, it is engrossed with the hudud law, tackling the mass media, and playing tricks that are geared towards public favor.
Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily
ONE MORE WEEK to go before August 10. On that day, not only will the fate of Selangor’s MB be ascertained, the destiny of Pakatan Rakyat will also be hooked on it.
So far we have still yet to see any side trying to back down/ Although the three parties making up the opposition pact has issued a joint statement refuting their discord, the war smoke is still detectable behind that statement.
PKR has wanted its grassroots to declare their stands, and branch leaders have applied pressure on Khalid Ibrahim to step down from office.
At the same time, DAP suddenly voiced its support for a female MB while also asking other Pakatan component parties to explicitly state their positions, in an obvious move to pave way for Wan Azizah to helm the state administration.
Meanwhile, PAS has issued a gag order for party leaders to voice dissident ideas, but that does not stop the party leaders from uncompromisingly supporting the decision of the party’s central leadership.
All relevant quarters remain insistent as they fight to achieve their own goals. Personal and party agendas have overridden the Pakatan Rakyat agenda, and many people begin to doubt whether the Pakatan agenda is still relevant, if there is any.
Pakatan Rakyat supporters as well as die-hard defenders of two-party system are completely dejected. They have no clue which way will the three-party pact be headed to in the future. Will the country’s two-party system suffer a fatal blow because of the current impasse?
For the sake of securing state and even federal administrations during the past elections, these three parties came together as they targeted specifically their common foes. However, now that the elections are over, the begin to move on their own ways.
IT’S NOT A BAD thing discovering the problem of three-horse chariot early.
I am not trying to say anything negative about Pakatan Rakyat. As a matter of fact, I absolutely approve the development of democratic politics. We must have different parties that can be pitched against others, and I insist that there must be different political roadmaps that the electorate can assess and compare.
The emergence of Pakatan Rakyat marked a big step forward in the country’s political development. But this journey should be one that is constantly steered forward, never going back to the old way.
The problem is, having come this far, Pakatan is now losing its sense of direction, and momentum as well. As it couldn’t even be certain which way it is headed to, how do we expect it to lead the country towards the future?
The chaotic situation within the opposition pact should rightly sound an alarm bell. Pakatan will need to learn how to grow itself and how to tackle the many trials and setbacks. The current gridlock should serve as a unique opportunity for the three parties to reflect on themselves and identify the root of their problem. They must rectify their own fallacies and deficiencies before they can move on from here.
