PKR’s young leaders optimistic despite defections

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani (Malaysian Insider)

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/55196-pkrs-young-leaders-optimistic-despite-defections

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Nurul Izzah Anwar stepped into the forefront last night, stressing that the future of a PKR wracked with resignations lies in the younger generation.

The Lembah Pantai MP said the voice of the young is being lost in the aftermath of three resignations that have rocked the party which is led by her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I believe it is important that the public at large realize or know the voices or aspirations of the younger leadership in the party which sometimes can be left behind and forgotten in the calamity that has ensued,” the first-term MP told a forum here.

Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri yesterday became the third MP to quit PKR and turn independent after the resignations of Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

“I think of all us here has differences of opinion and that the fact we are here and still committed to the struggle is basically testament that there are sufficient avenues to air opinions especially from the younger generation. If you are truly a reformist then you will do the best to address the differences and work together to come out with a workable solution.

“People who decide to leave the party should just be labelled opportunists because you are leaving the struggle,” she said.

Dubbed “Puteri Reformasi” when leading the movement to free her father years ago, she said the party needed the young to succeed.

“When you talk about the future direction of the party, you cannot succeed without the support and the younger generation coming together,” she told her audience.

Nurul Izzah said the country’s political landscape had been shaped by Barisan Nasional with many of the institutions getting young people to be involved in money politics.

“You have to understand the realities of being involved in opposition politics. You are facing real trials and tribulations even a harsh future without financial renumeration so how do you educate the younger generation to be part of the political process. You should be incorruptible when you are young and should not be together with those people who are willing to sell their souls to do anything so that you can the rich or to be very successful.

“So this is very important struggle for me which is beyond the struggle of Pakatan Rakyat,” she added.

Seri Setia assemblyman, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, added that the party defectors were not used the party’s new politics.

“We want to show that we are defection proof unlike the mentality of the old guards that have tried to play with the media.

“PKR as a new party is bringing a new culture of politics which maybe stranger for those used to old politics. It is difficult for certain people so we have to go through this process,” said the political secretary to the Selangor Mentri Besar.

He noted that Anwar had apologised for the quality of candidates following other spate of resignations in the past.

“Of course, we have to improve certain things but I think we just have to bite the bullet and face it,” said Nik Nazmi.

Since the 12th General Election, PKR has lost six assemblymen beginning with the Perak “frogs” Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, and followed by Lunas assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh, Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah and former Penanti assemblyman and former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

Another PKR assemblyman, V. Arumugam (Bukit Selambau) had also quit the party in April last year due to personal marital issues. He had contested as an independent in March 2008 but subsequently joined PKR.

By Hannah Yeoh, February 6 2009.

 To those who argue that the political crisis in Perak now is a taste of Pakatan’s own medicine (referring to the Sept 16 takeover plan), they have failed to see the key differences between the two. If you remember what happened when Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed to have the numbers to form the new federal government, he wrote to PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi requesting him to convene an emergency sitting of Parliament. This was rejected by the PM. The next constitutional option is to press for the dissolution of Parliament to make way for fresh new elections. That was also not entertained. Anwar Ibrahim exhausted the constitutional means that were available to him. If Pakatan were to act unconstitutionally and lure defections, then we will be having a new government today. But we didn’t and we will not act unconstitutionally. So you can’t say that Najib’s coup and Pakatan’s plan were one and the same.

Some may also say, well what about the earlier defection of Bota assemblyman, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim? Why did Pakatan Rakyat accept him? Why not force his seat to be vacated for a by-election? Let’s keep things in perspective here. His defection was that of an opposition lawmaker to a governing lawmaker. His defection did not alter the balance of power in the State Assembly. Pakatan Rakyat remained as government, and BN as opposition. Status quo. Logically and intelligently, anyone can safely assume that Pakatan Rakyat didn’t need a defection from BN. Thus, he defected on his own accord and on his own will. There was no need for Pakatan Rakyat to force him to vacate his seat as he did not win the seat on a Pakatan ticket. The Pakatan government really has no standing in forcing him to vacate a seat which wasn’t earned by Pakatan in the first place!

I must say that I had great respect for Sultan Azlan Shah. Until yesterday. I wonder how he could possibly consent to the formation of a new BN state government when constitutionally, a government is still in place. And to even approve to a new Menteri Besar when the existing one is still in office? How can any state have 2 heads of government at any one time? There can only be one Menteri Besar of Perak. This is a mockery. The Menteri Besar can only be removed by the State Assembly via a vote of no-confidence or via the dissolution of the assembly. And none of these two constitutional means has been requested by BN. How can anyone claim that Najib and Anwar are one and the same?

Next, the Sultan called for a “unity” government to be formed by BN and the Independents. Let’s be clear about this. The Independents are in no way legally bound to represent BN. Well, at least not yet, not till they officially become members of a BN component party. All that the Sultan and Najib has from them is a verbal assurance that “we will be friendly to BN”. And just by appearing in a press conference with Najib, it justifies the change of government? What if next week these Independents were to be seen in a press conference with Pakatan? A real “unity” government envisioned by the Sultan should have been an all-inclusive government of Pakatan, BN, and the Independents. Pakatan and BN each have 28 seats, and the Independents 3. Thus, no single party or coalition has a commanding majority. If there is to be a “unity” government, it calls for a new coalition of PR-BN-Ind which is impossible. Thus, what the Sultan has called for is simply a name without substance. What “unity” if it’s going to consist of only single-minded representatives – all “friendly to BN”? That’s not a “unity” government, it’s a BN government. This is a mockery of the intelligence of Malaysians. A beginning of what is to come with this PM-to-be.