Tussle for MB post a test of Pakatan survival

--> Time for Anwar to call it a day

With PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s support for Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim, he has indicated openly his refusal to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace Khalid with his wife and PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah.This stand by the PAS leader may and backed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz virtually puts a stop to Anwar’s “Kajang Move” that is aimed at strengthening the Selangor government and using the state capture Putrajaya in the 14GE.Hadi’s support for a ‘Umno MB’ over his Pakatan allies may indicate the reviwal of old interests of the Islamist party with Umno that could lead to the breakup of the opposition coalition. 

Moreover Khalid’s refusal to step down despite not getting the support of his party and his likelihood of resorting to royal support may help him hold on to power at least till the next GE.The significant result of such a scenario will be a great setback for Anwar from which he, at age of 66, may never be able to recover and that may put an end to his political ambitions. There are already many close to him abandoning him and if he loses in this bid to oust Khalid he may once again become a resident of Sg.Buloh,this time a lonely one.

The battle to replace Khalid,initially seen as a simple party process has become a crucial test for Pakatan's unity and probably even survival.The collapse of Pakatan will have serious consequences as it would not only mean the return of Umno-BN which the people rejected in two general elections but also the loss of a strong opposition.

Most fair minded Malaysians will agree that Khalid should have the integrity to step down from the post having lost the confidence of his party as it was the party that put him up there in the first place.How can a  BN-aligned administer a Pakatan-ruled state? 

 
Despite Pakatan having ruled five states since 2008,it is unfortunate that is no proper system of selecting the MB is in place. Selection by consensus may be ideal but it is not possible all the time. This lack of say from component parties led to the fall of Kedah in the last elections. As to the replacement of Khalid Ibrahim this time in Selangor, there must be a vote among Pakatan leaders on the choice of candidate from those nominated by their parties. PKR may have nominated Wan Azizah and she may be a good choice but that must be decided by a democratic process among Pakatan leaders and not by any individual including Anwar. 

Looking at the developments in Pakatan on a more positive view will reassure many that with PAS out of the coalition,new forces may may realign to make Pakatan Rakyat stronger as PAS,in particular the Ulama faction, has always been looked on with suspicion by other two partners.As the new forces realign the old ones led by Anwar and Kit Siang too must exit to make way for younger leaders to adapt to changes and new realities on the ground today.

As for Anwar, while we appreciate what he has done so far in creating a formidable opposition, but time has come for him to leave the centre-stage to the younger leaders. I am sure he has the wisdom to realise that he, like all leaders, is not indispensable and failing to leave at the right time may end him losing all he has gained over these years. All his sacrifices will come to naught if the bickering over the MB post leads to the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat.

Anwar must see the ongoing ‘Khalid experience’ as a clear sign that soon everyone close to him will desert him. In fact the choice of his wife for the MB’s post itself speaks volumes of the mistrust he has for anyone else in the party. This is indeed a very sorry state for a leader who managed to accomplish the unprecedented feat to garner the people’s support and almost became the PM after the13GE.

The signs are showing that Anwar must leave and he must do so gracefully. It will be for his own good that that of his wife and family. At 66, there are much more beautiful things in life for him than politics where he is increasingly seen as becoming irrelevant. Those who admired his courage, supported his ideals and stayed with him loyally during thick and thin do not like to see him leave beaten, disgraced, disappointed and a broken man. 

They will miss him but will never forget him as he will go down in history as the man who dared to stand up to an abusive, unjust and corrupt regime and one who created a formidable opposition called Pakatan Rakyat which many others before him failed.

Tomorrow a second chance in life

 

 

Something useful to think about.

If you make a mistake today, there always tomorrow to correct yourself. If you let that tomorrow slip by, you will feel sorry one day. You may never get another tomorrow if you are so stupid to let go of this tomorrow. So be wise to take advantage of this tomorrow before it is too late for another.

City vagrants and image problem

The warning by the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor to penalise soup kitchens and round-up the homeless in KL city only goes to show that the minister is totally out of touch with the plight of the poor, especially the urban poor, who are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet with the high cost of living in the City.

 Most of poor and homeless in the city are old, sickly, ex-drug addicts or are abandoned by their families for their unacceptable behaviour earlier in life. Most of them have changed and want to lead normal lives but are not able to do so as they are penniless and jobless for various reasons. There may be some foreigners among them but most are our own locals who seem to have been marginalised from the mainstream of development.

 The warning by Tengku Adnan that soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur have to move out of the city centre or face getting punished is very shocking. What crime have these kind-hearted Samaritans committed? What type of punishment is he referring to and under what laws will they be charged? It is ironical that those who are willing to go out of the way to help the poor are being warned not to do so.It is extremely ridiculous that those who want to do good are punished but real criminals go scot-free. What type of culture are our leaders promoting? What message are they sending to the young?

Distributing food to the urban poor is not the real problem but not doing anything to address the increasing urban poverty is. Homelessness is not the real problem but ignoring the need for basic housing for the poor is. Vagrants living on the streets of the city is not the real image problem but having citizens, in particular leaders, living is great luxury but with no heart for the pain and suffering of the poor is the real image problem.

 It is shocking that many of the poor have been homeless for years, living on the pavements and fed by concerned fellow Malaysians of all ethnicity. It is encouraging to know that just as the vagrants come from all races so are those who are managing the soup kitchens that feed them. The love of ordinary citizens to help their fellow men in need transcends race and creed unlike those in power, who are more concerned with who they help

Ku Nan seems to be worried about the image problem created by poor vagrants roaming the streets of the city. But in actual fact that is not the real image problem but having citizens, in particular leaders living in luxury, but with no heart for the suffering of the poor is the real image problem. Apathy to the pain of others is the biggest image problem we face today in our country.

We were once proud of the image we had in the world, united and harmonious despite our diversity, peaceful, courteous and extremely helpful even to strangers. But today can we claim to have that same image that we can all be proud of as Malaysians?