In pursuit of delusions

(NST) – A POVERTY of talent is the affliction that PKR must be suffering from. If this is not the case then why is someone who, by her own admission, is lacking in administrative experience and talent, being pushed as the next menteri besar (MB) of Selangor, not just by the husband and the party but also by Pakatan.

It is stranger than fiction that an accomplished chief executive, with a proven track record, is set to be replaced by a self-proclaimed novice at managing not just any state, but Malaysia’s most developed one at that. And, more is the misfortune for the people of Selangor when the only other name being mentioned is that of the former private secretary to Malaysia’s then finance minister before he was imprisoned for abuse of power and now PKR’s de facto head, there by courtesy of his wife, the party’s president. The circle of nepotism may be small, but vicious nonetheless.

Surely somewhere in the rank and file there is someone with the potential to lead or, is the party truly bereft of competence as perceived by those within the first family. If this scenario is true then the question is how did this happen? After all, there are enough professionals in the party.

Unfortunately, the unresolved party election after many months testifies to a debilitating inability that invites derision. Under these circumstances, to disparage the achievements of the incumbent MB as a prelude to unseating him is beyond comprehension. And, the MB’s refusal to vacate the position — believing himself to have proven his ability — resulted in the party stripping him of his membership.

There is though no irony in this move if the party is to be homogenous, that is, those with any ability are not PKR material. After all, politics is one industry where entry point qualifications are minimal. In fact, rumour would have it that in some parties even a graduate may be deemed over qualified when seen as having the ability to challenge the status quo.

Politics while noble is, at worst, merely the pursuit of power. It can get rowdy when this rationale is taken to extremes, as the controversy in Selangor demonstrates. Apparently driven by his personal ambition, PKR’s de facto head and his band of men engineered the so-called “Kajang Move”. Though foiled by the courts, his obsession got out of hand and finally led to the current regrettable situation.

The state is being held to ransom in this pure power grab, with the incumbent MB left to defend his good name. The most perplexing questions: Why was the PKR leadership insistent that there can be no other than the party president? If her competence was never a problem why was she not fielded as a state assembly candidate and appointed the MB when first Pakatan won the state in 2008? After all, she is the most senior in the party hierarchy. Or, did they think Pakatan would capture Putrajaya and PKR would reign supreme.