William Faulkner wrote in Requiem For A Nun (1950),"The past is never dead, it isn't even started." Thus, If I can refresh their (PKR leadership) memory to a typical incidence that took place in Kelantan 40 years ago, perhaps it could serve as reference and set as precedence.
Among others ;-
- That, Kelantan PAS leaders then, including party president Datuk Asri Muda disliked the appointment of Datuk Muhamad Nasir by Prime Minister (PM) Tun Abdul Razak Hussein as the Kelantan MB in 1974.
- That, appointment of Nasir who Razak believes was a competent, trustworthy and responsible was said to be the main reason behind Asri and several PAS leaders' displeasure.
- That, Nasir's actions, among them - the termination of jungle land concessions and reclaimation of lands suitable for agricultural projects sold by previous government sent jitters and fears to Asri and other PAS leaders.
- That, Kelantan PAS top leadership had initiated a vote of no-confidence against Nasir.
- That, Razak was not supportive of the action as expected and wanted by Asri.
- That, Asri and several PAS leaders continued with their efforts to bring down Nasir despite the latter not challenging him for the post of party president in July 1975 Muktamar (conference) PAS.
- That, Kelantan PAS has set Nasir to step-down as MB on Sept.20.
- That, Kelantan PAS again, initiated a vote of no-confidence as they wanted Nasir to relinquish his position immediately.
- That, demonstration was staged by about 60, 000 of PAS leaders and supporters of Nasir.
- That, PAS leaders in Kelantan state assembly passed a no-confidence motion against Nasir on Oct.15.
- That, massive protest by Nasir's supporters broke out in Kelantan which paralyzed the Kelantan state government.
- That, a state of emergency was eventually declared in Kelantan.
Now, isn't some from the above episode is now seen taking place in Selangor?
Top leadership of a ruling party PKR including it's de facto leader, deputy president, vice president, women &youth chiefs and strategy director (correct me, if I'm wrong) wanted to bring down an MB from their own party, as if, implications of such action are not a concern to them.
Continuous infighting within the party, as if, the sky is going to fall - war of words, manipulation and sabotage were leveled against each other for months since the conclusion of 13th general election (GE13).
Like "adding salt to an injury", PKR's image was further perforated with it's problematic and dramatic party election.
Like many others, I followed closely the recently concluded general election of world's 4th most populous country, Indonesia. An election process involving hundreds of million voters completed with results to be announced on July 22.
It will be ludicrous if not absurd of PKR with only several hundreds of thousand party members needed longer time to announce theirs.
Even before results are announced, there are already police reports, suspension of branches, suspension and termination of party members, warning letters, physical fights (in some cases bloody fights) and court case taken effect.
In Nibong Tebal for instance, more votes than ballot papers was reported. In Kuala Selangor (writer's home-town), a black-out occur at time votes are being counted. In Perlis, only six percent of party members turned out to vote.
I chose to be realistic here - Are they not vocal (with hard criticism) if the same had happened to any component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition?
They would even call for independent body to investigate or perhaps calling for the party to be disbanded. No?
In this respect, how would PKR leaders preach about transparency, integrity, leadership and even justice? Forced to the wall, they may allow themselves to be "infected" with "virus" of all syndromes typical of that BN.
When I attended several of PR/PKR GE13 election campaigns, Khalid, the Selangor MB, was then praised sky-high. His successes while in corporate world and his astounding ability to build Selangor reserves to a figure that Umno/BN failed to achieve despite umpteen years of ruling the state was among the common speech texts.
Now, he is criticized front, back, left, right and center and all recognition granted to him before this is fast forgotten.
No, I'm not defending Khalid though I have said we share the same home-town. I can understand if Khalid has grey areas such as not being a good politician, but if that the real issue, as it involves the post of a MB in Selangor, the three parties in the Opposition Pact should have addressed it without delay towards finding an amicable solution.
Immediate solution in this issue is fundamental to prevent divisions and most importantly an erosion of people's support.
Unnecessary delay only fuel a bashing frenzy by quarters with interest leaving the party becoming a laughing stock to it's real opponent - the Umno/BN.
Allowing individual party leaders, members and even supporters to continue criticizing Selangor administration under Khalid not only undermine his image, but more seriously the party's image.
It is hard to digest or understand how PKR leaders fight among themselves for the only MB seat they have by bringing down it's incumbent in peculiar manner detrimental to party's image, let alone party unity.
Fine, in the event the post of Selangor MB falls to the hands of PAS, they could still say Selangor is safe under it's "brother-in-arm" PAS as PAS is a component of the Opposition Front. If that happens, PKR will make history in Malaysian politics as a party that has to give away the mandate to rule a state due to party's instability.
PKR would have the distinction of being a political party in Malaysia incapable of standing-up to govern a state, let alone a nation.
The worst may yet to come. It's when Selangor really falls to the hands of the BN in GE14. Supporters especially voters in Selangor may come to a stage, asking themselves whether it is necessary to give them their continued support as the party they gave mandate in GE13 cannot focus towards steering the state to greater heights due to bickering and power struggle.
Instead of staying focus and make efforts to increase income of the people, invest transformation program to develop the state into a high income state, it's MB has to deal with attacks from his party nemesis.
At this stage, Umno/BN doesn't need to do anything. What they need to do is to adopt a "wait and see" attitude.
In conclusion, I could choose to pretend ignorant or just shut-up, but in this era of "warp speed communication," where a Nokia 3110 model hand phone (the model that can make & receive calls and SMSes) has fast became obsolete, words reach the society in a speed of a "jet-plane."
Thus, widespread of negativity against opposition party via Whatsapp, WeChat and of-course, social media is feared would change perception and even mindset of the society, especially voters and supporters.
The worst is when they stop believing Pakatan Rakyat is a viable alternative to BN. It is now entirely up to the leadership of the three parties to do what is/are needful.
The way I look at it, PKR would still be lucky, if people's desire for a change as indicated in GE13 is sustained in the next GE14, but that consolation has it's own risk.
Perhaps, PKR party members should go back to the party's core values of fighting for justice. Several leaders could have forgotten the struggle when they start putting personal interest above all.
To readers (Malaysians), you have every right to agree or disagree with me as I believe in "everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion."
To me, it's no point to "Menang sorak, kampung tergadai," simply,"winning the argument, but lost the sale."
Letting the rakyat (people) down has it's price. By right, they should have worked as a team by helping the MB develop the state collectively rather than letting the MB doing it on his own. By doing so, very likely, people's mandate obtained in GE13 could be safeguarded.
I don't have the answer and I don't intend to speculate.
*Note - Some contents in this article are extraction and translation of an article by a distinguished writer published in one of mainstream newspaper.
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