Despite shadow Cabinet fumble, Pakatan reps say Kak Wan still best to lead pact
Boo Su-Lyn, Malay Mail Online
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have spoken out in defence of their newly-appointed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, saying the unenthusiastic response to her shadow Cabinet idea should not be used to measure her ability to unite the pact.
Although Dr Wan Azizah’s proposal saw DAP and PAS at each other’s throats again over hudud, lawmakers who spoke to Malay Mail Online suggested that the entire episode was merely a storm in a teacup.
They pointed out that the shadow Cabinet idea had even failed to materialise during Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s time.
“The shadow Cabinet is not a yardstick to be used to measure [Dr Wan Azizah]. Even Anwar was not able to do it,” PAS’s Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad told Malay Mail Online.
He said the current informal practice of having various opposition lawmakers from PKR, PAS and the DAP oversee ministries is “good enough”, pointing out that there is no contradiction between the MPs.
“As far as Kak Wan’s capability [goes], I don’t think anyone wants to undermine that role,” the PAS central working committee member added, referring to Dr Wan Azizah with her popular nickname.
Dr Wan Azizah proposed setting up a shadow Cabinet Monday when she was sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP and parliamentary opposition leader, replacing her husband Anwar who is also the PKR de facto chief after he was sentenced to five years’ jail for sodomy.
The DAP, however, shot down Dr Wan Azizah’s proposal, saying it was not feasible at the moment because PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang would likely never agree to those chosen as its members.
The animosity between DAP and Abdul Hadi stems from the ongoing squabble between both parties over hudud, the Islamic penal code that PAS wants introduced in Kelantan, with or without PR’s approval.
After putting a damper on Dr Wan Azizah’s idea, the DAP announced yesterday its own shadow Cabinet line-up comprising only leaders from within its ranks.
Shortly after, Hadi said he does not care if his name was not listed in the PR shadow Cabinet.
DAP’s Serdang MP Dr Ong Kian Ming said his party was merely taking a slightly different approach to the issue and expressed hopes that PKR and PAS will similarly name their own representatives to oversee government ministries.
“The idea behind the shadow Cabinet is one that we’re trying to pursue in a different way and we respect Wan Azizah’s initiative.
“She has our unanimous support. All the leaders of PAS and DAP have given unanimous support to her as opposition leader,” Ong told Malay Mail Online.
PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, who is also Batu MP, expressed confidence that Dr Wan Azizah can pull together PR that has been shaken with public disputes over hudud.
“The issue of the shadow Cabinet was a reaction to the press. We will strengthen cooperation with time and especially, it will consolidate after the PAS election,” Chua told Malay Mail Online.
The PAS party elections next month will see a straight fight for the presidency between incumbent Abdul Hadi, whom the DAP has officially cut off ties with, and former vice-president Ahmad Awang.
