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A conspiracy to stop certain people from moving up PKR's hierarchy?
MALAYSIAN politics is rife with conspiracy theories, especially when it involves Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar’s latest move to withdraw from contesting Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s president post against his wife, although expected, still demands answers on his real motive to register as a contestant earlier.
He did not provide any reason in his one-paragraph letter to the party’s election committee informing it of his withdrawal from the presidential race contest.
The party’s rank and file are expected to accept the unofficial line that his decision not to proceed with the contest was linked to his sodomy conviction.
Party members have to accept that Anwar was saving PKR from being de-registered by the Registrar of Societies.
The irony is that Anwar was aware of this risk when he submitted his nomination papers to contest the No. 1 party post.
So the claims that his withdrawal was to safeguard PKR are a little difficult to accept.
Why did Anwar, on purpose, allow tongues to wag that he wanted to put up a challenge to Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife who has always been his pillar of support?
All the PKR de facto leader was willing to disclose when pressured for answers during a press conference was that his decision was part of a larger plan, which also means, like the Kajang Move, it is only privy to certain party elites.
The Kajang by-election is over and done with. Wan Azizah has already been sworn in as Kajang’s new representative in the Selangor State Assembly.
Until now, many people in and outside Pakatan Rakyat are still waiting to see what the Kajang Move set out to achieve since nothing else has changed.
As for the PKR elections, friends and foes have long suspected there was a conspiracy of sorts to stop certain personalities from moving up PKR’s hierarchy.
There are theories circulating, the most popular being that Anwar was out to prevent the incumbent party No. 2, Mohamed Azmin Ali, from moving up the ranks.
If this is the case, Anwar has won.
PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali commands the Selangor ground, where most of the votes come from.[/caption]
Azmin was said to have been preparing the ground to contest for the party’s presidency since last year.
As Anwar’s true blue loyalist, all know too well Azmin would only halt this intention if it is Anwar that he has to challenge.
True enough, he settled to defend his deputy president post and was left to face not only his long-time political foe Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, but also party secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and another lesser known branch leader from Selangor.
A Facebook status posted by Azmin’s chief critic, Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, in an apparent reference to Azmin, had claimed that a certain individual had filled the nomination form to contest for the party presidency, but could not proceed with the plan since Anwar was also contesting the post.
His post: “Dia dah isi siap borang pun untuk tanding lawan Presiden tetapi semua hasrat terbatal sebab Anwar Ibrahim tanding … dia yakin untuk lawan Kak Wan tapi belum berani lawan Anwar Ibrahim“ attracted comments, with one naming the person he was referring to as Azmin.
But things on the ground have not been working as well as Anwar had expected.
Anecdotal evidence so far has shown Azmin remains in a strong position to retain the post he has held since 2001.
Contrary to the earlier belief, his strong challengers — Saifuddin and Khalid — are said to still lag in support in comparison despite both of themselves being towering personalities in the party.
As Selangor PKR chief, Azmin has the edge over Khalid, whom delegates observe has made political blunders as Selangor Menteri Besar.
The Gombak Member of Parliament and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman commands the Selangor ground, where most of the votes come from.
As for Saifuddin, party insiders said his direct attacks on Azmin, in particular, while campaigning, had not gone down well at the grassroots — the reason said to be behind the poor turnouts at campaign gatherings.
Being a trusted aide of Anwar alone and forming an alliance with two other party rising stars — incumbent vice-president and Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah and PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli — are not guaranteed tickets to victory, they said.
It is PKR’s 496,923 grassroots members, who begin voting from Friday, starting from Lawas, Sarawak, and ending in Selangor on May 11, who will ultimately decide.
Zubaidah Abu Bakar[/caption]
*Seasoned journalist Zubaidah Abu Bakar takes a keen interest in Malaysia’s vibrant, and sometimes, dramatic political landscape.
