Scrambling for posts in PKR about to begin

PKR incumbents bowing out, mad scramble possible

Regina Lee
Sep 16, 10

Now that the PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and the party deputy president Syed Husin Ali have stepped aside in the upcoming party elections, a bloodbath may be in the offing.

While party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has yet to announce her stand in defending her position, it appears that she will be left unchallenged.

In a party where Anwar and his wife have achieved almost cult-like status, to go after either one of them could be a sure-fire way to end your political career with a bang.

Ask Abdul Rahman Othman (better known as ARO), PKR's deputy president who challenged Wan Azizah for the top post in the last party elections in 2007, only to pull out at the eleventh hour.

He then left the party for PAS shortly afterwards, maintaining a relatively low profile ever since.

And now, questions have risen if the sudden turn of events will throw a spanner into a supposed "succession plan" for the party.

Facing a possible jail term in the current sodomy trial, the party grapevine has been working overtime speculating who would be the next in line, especially when Anwar has been keeping his cards close to his chest.

Sources close to him also said that with his recent neutral stand, coupled with a stern warning to potential candidates not to exploit his name, the issue of succession will only arise after the 400,000 members have chosen their leaders.

Contest hotting up

But even before the announcements by Syed Husin and Anwar on Tuesday, contenders, or the supposed contenders for the deputy presidency are not exactly shying away from making the rounds shoring up subtle support.

Maverick lawyer Zaid Ibrahim, (right) and vice-presidents Azmin Ali and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub's supporters are already engaged in a flood of press conferences and in running blogs.

Although one can already expect a three-horse race with the nominations just looming tomorrow, what is eagerly anticipated is the battle between Zaid and Azmin, whose rivalry dates back to as early as last October, just three months after the former had joined the party.

From their well-documented feud over control in Sabah, to the Hulu Selangor by-election in April when Zaid's camp had accused Azmin of sabotaging campaign efforts, their disdain for each other has been very apparent.

Mechanisms ranging from poison pen letters to nasty text messages are part of the realpolitik goings on in the PKR.

"But I don't think it is ugly. It is as it is. It is the process of democracy," said PKR communications chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He also refuted the notion that the very nature of PKR's own direct elections, the first of its kind in the country, is the cause of it.

"Even without direct elections, there will still be tension during any party elections," he said.

But while pro-Zaid and pro-Azmin(left) supporters are busy bickering with each other on the blogs, it is easy to overlook underdog Mustaffa Kamil, the current vice-president who by no means, is dwarfed by the giant presence of the other two in the race for the deputy presidency.

He has not thrown in his hat as yet, but the grassroots man famed for his ceramah and motivational talks appears to have the solid backing of PKR Perak of which he is chairperson.

In the 2007 party polls, he also managed to garner the third highest number of votes in the race for the vice-presidency, beating three others.

Party members may also be impressed by his gritty style of soapbox campaigning and the hard work he has put in as the party's international bureau head.

However, many have dismissed him as one who is unlikely to become a serious contender.

Zaid 'not a team player'

Meanwhile, while Zaid's entry into the party has grabbed national attention and awed party observers at his meteoric rise, a year later, many party insiders have been left unimpressed.

Zaid rose from the ranks into becoming one of the most successful of members of his community in his time, setting up the biggest law firm in the country, and strolling into the top echelon of the federal government.

He raised hopes and set a high benchmark of personal integrity when then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right) handpicked him to become the de facto Law Minister to oversee judicial reforms in 2008, only to resign almost six months later when an MP, a blogger and a journalist were detained under the Internal Security Act.

But after joining the PKR July last year, he had already stepped on a lot of the other PKR leaders' toes with his 'my way or the highway' stand on numerous issues.

A top party leader told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity that Zaid is "at best, a loose cannon".

"One of Zaid's strengths is that he has attracted a lot of outsiders with his ideals and his liberal, vocal appeal.

"But those who have seen him work up close and personal will know that he is highly egotistical. He doesn't even come to most of the political bureau meetings but he will get upset if we try to advise him," said the source.

Though Azmin, his rival, has an unblemished record as a party loyalist, his shrewd calculative personality has turned off many.

In fact, quite a number have dubbed him Anwar's "gatekeeper", often cold shouldering those not in agreement with him.

Several party leaders also said that while Azmin is almost a shoo-in by the fact that he has been with the party through thick and thin, he still lacks the leadership qualities that could carry the party in the event that Anwar is imprisoned for the second time.

"He is still seen as someone who is too attached to Anwar. He needs to wean himself off Anwar and to become a leader in his own right," said a party source.

And while the battle between Zaid and Azmin appear to be one that can be described as of a do-or-die nature, party elections are never a zero-sum game.

As one party leader put it, "once someone wins and the other loses, they will still have to work together".

Zaid-Azmin fight begins

Zaid unfazed by Azmin's 'shock and awe'

Aidila Razak
Sep 16, 10

PKR deputy president's post contender Zaid Ibrahim today took a swipe at Azmin Ali for the apparent “outlandish” manner in which his opponent announced his candidacy.

"He did it in style," he quipped on the sidelines of the UCSI University National Congress on Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today.

Azmin (left) announced his candidacy at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu this morning, flanked by a sizeable number of top PKR leaders.

Asked for his reaction, Zaid sarcastically said, "It's an awesome display. Very frightening."

Commenting on this, Zaid, who is PKR Supreme Council member, said the tactic of flexing muscle would cause strains within the party.


"If we keep showing that we are strong, show off our gang, it would be difficult (to close ranks later).


"That's why I didn't bring 20 people to accompany me when I made my announcement (to contest)...I too have parliamentarians behind me but I don't show it


"The nominations have not even been announced. There is a lot of time, we should campaign slowly," he said.


Smear campaign


Although no name was mentioned, all eyes were on Azmin when Zaid claimed that a smear campaign against him was under way.


Asked about this today, the seasoned politician said that he would not lodge a formal complaint on this with the PKR election committee.


"If we lodge complaints, it'll create tension," he conceded.


He added that he would not do so, unless matters became worse.


Last week, Zaid confirmed with Malaysiakini that he had lodged a police report about claims that a blogger was offered money to write disparaging posts about him.


He said he had taken this drastic step to avoid being framed by his detractors, particularly on allegations of money politics.

Disappointed with Anwar

Zaid also felt let down over de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's decision to not contest, saying that it is "not healthy" as political parties "must have certain office bearers".


"I am disappointed. I thought he should contest the president post because de facto leader is not a recognised position in a political party constitution" he said.


Zaid's opinion favouring Anwar for president echoes the stand of the Majlis Muafakat Kepimpinan Keadilan Selangor (Selangor Keadilan Leadership Consensus Council) who backs Anwar for the post and wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as number two.


But the Pakatan Rakyat coordinator said that one should not be too swayed over what certain groups say as there are divergent opinions in the party.


"There are even people who want me to be president, it depends on who you talk to," he said jokingly.

PKR's 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings - the first to elect divisional leaders beginning this weekend, and a second meeting to vote for 26 supreme council members as well as president, deputy president and four vice-presidents.

The divisions will vote for top national leaders over four weekends from Oct 29 to Nov 21.

Malaysiakini

Ex FCJ Sri Ram Speaks

Judiciary fails to protect minority rights: Sri Ram

Hazlan Zakaria
Sep 16, 10
1:59pm

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram said today that the judiciary has failed in its duty to defend minority rights.

Since the executive branch is elected by the majority, and as such it represents the rights of the majority, Sri Ram argued that the judicial branch has the duty to protect the rights of the minority.

"It is the judiciary which must fulfill this task,” said the former judge in his speech at the National Conference on Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sri Ram told the 350-strong audience that if the question was asked on whether the judiciary has performed its duty, the answer he said would be an “emphatic no!".

According to him, this was because the judiciary has become so "executive-minded" that the judges have become creatures of the government.

"The judiciary is so anxious to help the executive... And when you bend the law to help the executive, this results in ridiculous decisions," contended Sri Ram.

He cited examples of the courts reversing decisions through the Federal Court to accommodate the wishes of the federal government.

Sri Ram believed that such interference by the executive was clearly a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers.

The powers to convict and sentence are exclusive to the judiciary and Sri Ram said this role should not be usurped by the executive.

1988 judicial crisis
But more worryingly, Sri Ram contends, is that this failure to protect the rights of the minorities bodes more future ill for Malaysia for the judiciary also holds another higher duty.

"It is up to the judiciary to preserve our constitution," he said.

"And when and if it fails in that function, then the state has failed," warned Sri Ram, who retired from the judiciary in February this year.

He indicated that the failure of Malaysia as a state may indeed be imminent given the deteriorating condition of the judiciary since the 1988 crisis, which saw the sacking of a number of Malaysia's top judges.

Sri Ram had the distinction of being plucked from private law practice and appointed straight into the Court of Appeals.

He however was stuck in the appellate court for 15 years, with a number of judges who are more junior than him being promoted to Federal Court.

It wasn't until 2009, months before he was due to retired, that he was named a Federal Court judge.

Ex-judge: High Court can rule on Islam-related cases

Nurul Izzah's choice

Nurul Izzah: We need a true fighter, not a wolf

By Joseph Tawie

KUCHING: PKR's Puteri Reformasi Nurul Izzah Anwar today gave her clearest indication yet that she is backing Zaid Ibrahim in his quest for the deputy president's post in the forthcoming party polls.
While lambasting “narrow-minded politicians” in PKR, Nurul Izzah said that Zaid, on the other hand, was a leader with vision for the party.

Earlier in her speech to party members in Sarawak last night, she called on them to choose leaders who are committed to the ideals and the principle of the party.

“I don’t mind who you choose as the president and deputy president or as vice president. What is the most important thing is that he or she must be someone who is sincere, and who is committed to the ideals and principle of the party.

“He must be a true fighter,” she added, reminding them that in their efforts to choose leaders, they should be aware of leaders who were just like a wolf wearing a sheepskin.

While she had not named Zaid, or any other leaders, in her speech, she nevertheless told reporters this morning that she would back Zaid as a leader of the party.

She pointed out that Zaid had the necessary leadership qualities to steer PKR forward.
Zaid will be facing off vice-president Azmin Ali for the deputy's post in the party polls. While Nurul Izzah has now openly backed Zaid, Azmin is said to have the backing of Nurul's father and party's supreme leader Anwar Ibrahim.

From Nov 13, all members in Sarawak as well as in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia would also vote for national leaders for the posts of deputy president, five vice-presidents and members of the supreme council.

“PKR is the party of the future,” Nurul said, pointing out that the party did not want “wolves in sheepskins”.
“It is not the party for people from Semenanjung Malaysia, but for all Malaysians including those from Sarawak and Sabah.

'We need Zaid'
At a press conference before returning to Kuala Lumpur this morning, Nurul, the Lembah Pantai MP, indicated her support for party leader Zaid.

“In my speech I was referring to some narrow-minded politicians at national level, who talked about the interests of certain racial groups only,” she said.

“We need Zaid and under his leadership, KL has progressed so much and he has vision for the party,” she added.

“How can I refer to Zaid as a wolf as I am supposed to be ‘extremely anti Azmin’? she asked.

Meanwhile Azmin arrived today in Kuching to woo Sarawak PKR members to vote for him. Besides Kuching, he would also visit other towns and villages. Sarawak has 29 PKR divisions, while Sabah has 26 divisions.
FMT

Tunku Speech on 16 September 1963

Malaysia Day — Tunku Abdul Rahman

September 16, 2010

SEPT 16, 1963 — The great day we have long awaited has come at last – the birth of Malaysia. In a warm spirit or joy and hope, 10 million people of many races in all the States of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah now join hands in freedom and unity.
We do so because we know that we have come together through our own free will and desire in the true spirit of brotherhood and love of freedom.
We have made our decision after much care and thought, finally arriving at mutual consent by debate and discussion, inquiries and elections held over two-and-a-half years.
We can feel proud indeed of the way we have created Malaysia through friendly argument and compromise. The spirit of co-operation and concord is living proof of the desire we share for a common destiny.
What better basis for Malaysia can there be, what finer augury for the future?
The road to nationhood has not been an easy journey. Surprises and disappointments, tension and crisis, have marred the way.
The peoples of Malaysia, however, have endured all trials and tribulations with confidence and patience, calmness and forbearance, with faith in our final goal — Malaysia.
In the first eighteen months of political and constitutional discussions, beginning from May 1961, things went ahead favourably, because the ideal of Malaysia caught the imagination of all the peoples concerned.
We can all recall the remarkable enthusiasm and interest aroused then in the evolution of Malaysia.
Step by step the concept came to life. The activities of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee, the merger talks between the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, the broad agreement reached in London to establish Malaysia, the appointment of the Cobbold Commission and its exhaustive inquiries in the Borneo Territories, and the subsequent establishment of the Inter-Governmental Committee — all these steps were taken in internal harmony and in full public view.
Suddenly towards the end of 1962 the situation changed. Communist China committed unjustifiable aggression against India. I stood up for democracy and condemned China’s attack.
One immediate reaction was that Communists throughout South-east Asia retaliated by an indirect assault upon me by opposing my idea of Malaysia, and they set about creating every possible difficulty to baulk Malaysia.
Other external complications occurred – the Philippines’ claim to North Borneo, the sudden and abortive revolt in Brunei, and the startling adoption by Indonesia of a policy of confrontation against Malaya.
All these events projected an international crisis in South-east Asia this year, the climax coming in June. The successful meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines, followed by my own conference with President Soekarno in Tokyo eased tension considerably and brought new hopes for harmony and peace.
Prospects for a Summit Conference were good, confrontation from Indonesia subsided, so we went ahead with arrangements for the final talks in London on Malaysia.
The Malaysia Agreement was duly signed in early July. Unexpectedly Indonesia reacted most strongly, renewing its policy of confrontation with the result that the Summit conference of leaders of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines at the end of July began in an atmosphere of doubt.
The Summit conference ended in an agreement by the three countries to form an Association of States of Malay origin to be known as Maphilindo.
It was agreed that in order that the partners in Maphilindo could welcome Malaysia the United Nations Secretary-General should be asked to ascertain anew the wishes of the peoples of Sarawak and Sabah. That request has not been implemented.
Now finally the peoples of Malaysia are celebrating the establishment of Malaysia. This is the time to think earnestly and hopefully on the future of Malaysia as the whole country resounds with joy.
So I pray that God may bless the nation of Malaysia with eternal peace and happiness for our people.
The Federation of Malaya now passes into history. Let us always remember that the Malayan Nation was formed after many difficulties during a long period of national Emergency, yet its multi-racial society emerged, endured and survived as a successful and progressive nation, a true democracy and an example to the world of harmony and tolerance.
As it was with Malaya, so it can be with Malaysia. With trust in Almighty God, unity of purpose and faith in ourselves, we can make Malaysia a land of prosperity and peace.
In doing so let every Malaysian in all the States of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah ensure that our Malaysia is truly worthy of the aims and hopes we have shared, the trials and stress, we have endured, in working together to achieve our common destiny.
“MERDEKA! MALAYSIA!”
* Speech by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman on the occasion of Malaysia Day on September 16, 1963 to commemorate Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore forming Malaysia.