PKR can explore better options
Going against the Sultan will further divide the nation into monarchists and non-monarchists
Ishmael Lim, Free Malaysia Today
While most lay people are wondering who the palace will anoint as the next Menteri Besar of Selangor, the seasoned political watchers and sceptics among us are beginning to recognise that the whole risky venture to oust Khalid Ibrahim is not what it was cut out to be.
Contemptuous backroom plotting and false posturing have led the public to believe that it was necessary because of Khalid’s stinginess and less than transparent financial dealings. But now that Khalid is willing to step aside, surely the objective of the whole exercise must have been met. Why then is Pakatan Rakyat heading into yet another crisis, this time with the palace?
PKR’s insistence on maintaining Wan Azizah as its sole nominee for the MB’s post despite reminders from the palace to furnish the Sultan with at least three names suggests a motive ulterior to the stated aim of the removal of a purportedly tainted MB.
For reasons best known only to the PKR inner circle, it appears that Wan Azizah’s appointment is pivotal to the success of the plan that started in Kajang. Except for the one consistent fact that Wan Azizah was thrust into the limelight as a candidate because an eleventh hour substitute was required for Anwar Ibrahim, this move has been fraught with too many incongruities.
Although it is fair to argue that Wan Azizah already has 30 sworn supporters in her bag, a confrontation with the palace at this juncture would be unwise as any candidate passing muster will still have to work with the Sultan to administer the affairs of the state after being inaugurated.
A compromise may be necessary if a legal constitutional test of the Sultan’s executive discretion is to be avoided. There is no affront to Wan Azizah if she were to make way for a compromise candidate from PKR to preserve the integrity and viability of PR, just as Khalid has mitigated against a larger blowout by offering his own resignation. Unless she is not independent to do so, as suspected by sceptics.
For all intents and purposes PKR under the guidance of its Ketua Umum is a couple of steps away from having itself outlawed like the CPM of yore with devastating consequences not only for the party and members, but also for the unwitting rakyat who have pinned their hopes and dreams on this party and its coalition partners to bring the much needed reform to the nation.
In the interim of the new MB being sworn in, numerous people have been shouting in shrill tones without displaying the qualities of true leaders. It is hard to conceive that PKR is so short of people fitting that description. Why they have been reluctant to make themselves noticed is either for fear of outshining the party president or because they have been ordered to keep a low profile. Or are we supposed to believe that a party which aspires to Putrajaya can only put up one candidate with stature enough to head a state?
