PR unclear with its direction and future?

The recent Selangor Menteri Besar crisis shows that the Opposition coalition is in a state of confusion with its notion of equality, said former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

In his blog post today, Zaid also penned that the crisis today was a clear indication that the component parties did not know the direction and future of the Opposition.

“First, neither PAS nor the DAP knew about the ‘Kajang Move’ and there were public statements to this effect from the respective party leaders.

“The reason they are now united is only to avoid a break-up. It was not because they had found the answers to the “direction” and “future” of the Opposition,” he wrote.

He said the confusion also extended to the nominees for the replacement of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as Menteri Besar (MB).

“The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council submitted the name of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and yet PAS separately submitted the name of Mohamed Azmin Ali as an alternative.

“This was confirmed by the PAS Youth wing and it is not the conduct of equals but a disjointed coalition in complete disarray.

“The truth is that the Pakatan Coalition of Equals knows not what it wants to do with itself.”

Putting the spotlight on DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, he said “the maestro of the Pakatan Rakyat orchestra” was compelled to dispute allegations that DAP and PAS were Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s puppet.

He said that Lim also took the high ground by saying that the MB crisis highlighted the great and fundamental difference between PR and Barisan Nasional.

But according to Zaid, these were brave yet hollow words by Lim.
“Its public policy disagreements with itself are daily occurrences and we are entitled to ask: how long can Kit Siang attribute this to their “special position” as equals and expect to be believed?”

Zaid said the people wanted a functioning government and leaders that could move the country forward.

“If there is a better choice than the Barisan Nasional, they will go for it. Unfortunately, there is none.

“There may be more corruption under Barisan rule than many would like, but the Barisan has shown its ability to govern without breaking one another’s necks and changing Menteri Besar for no reason at all.”

In the case of PR’s control over Selangor, Zaid said it turned out to have given the people false hope, evident in its inability to prove itself better than Barisan Nasional and its removal of an MB who ran the state with “integrity and professionalism” for the past six years.

“Pakatan wants to replace him with someone whose greatest strength is complete adulation for and subservience towards her husband.

“In the fresh Selangor state election, which I hope will be called soon, let the Barisan and Pakatan slug it out once again. The interests of the people can only be better served by a fresh election.”

Zaid said Abdul Khalid should also take advantage of the election to explain what transpired in the state government.

“His credibility requires him to stand firm, clear his name and let the voters judge him.

“Only the voters’ decisions count, so let Abdul Khalid, Anwar and the Barisan use the election campaign to explain why each is better suited to govern than the others.”

-therakyatpost