Pakatan still needs to prove it can rule, says Zaid

Zaid did not hold back his criticism of PR. - File pic

By Debra Chong- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the man charged with formalising the fledgling three-party Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance before the next general election, has laid bare the issues holding them back.

PR has been wracked with controversies, differences and disputes especially in Selangor, Penang and Kedah, which are led by chief ministers from each party, despite the pronounced rise in votes in last year's general election.

The former de facto law minister, who quit the Cabinet last year, noted the public's increasing scrutiny of the opposition bloc's ability to live up to its many promises made in its manifesto, in light of its first national convention due to be held at the end of the year.

“They seem to want to know realistically, the extent that PAS, DAP and KeADILan can find common ground in sensitive and divergent issues,” he wrote in Bahasa Malaysia on his website yesterday.

“The rakyat want to know how far Pakatan Rakyat is willing to implement their promises in their manifesto,” he added.

Zaid admitted that it would be an uphill climb.

A recent poll of likely voters also showed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) still holding a slight edge over PR.

In the poll, two of the top key concerns voters have about PR is its constant bickering and the fact that it is perceived as having no viable candidate to be prime minister.

The ex-Umno man did not hold back in his criticism.

While he ticked off his own party and the DAP for their hesitation in pushing forward key policies, Zaid seemed especially critical of PAS.

He noted several instances where the Islamist party had repeatedly thrown a wrench in PR's works.

“What is the point of PAS promising in its manifesto to become a transparent government, that wants to abolish the Official Secrets Act (OSA), that wants to draft new laws [like the] Freedom of Information Act, if the early genuine efforts of Selcat in Selangor have already been opposed and challenged by PAS,” Zaid demanded.

He noted that state party commissioner Datuk Hassan Ali had objected loudly when the body was first moved to be headed by the Selangor assembly speaker, who coincidentally happened to be an ethic Chinese from DAP.

On a roll, Zaid pointed out several other occasions when PAS's promises collided with real-life situations, such as the PAS Youth's vehement protests against public concerts and support for “moral policing”.

“It is as if for PAS Youth, the effort to fight corruption, oppression, abuse of power and inciting racism is less important compared to the efforts to make sure the young who are just learning to love and wish to be entertained freely are obstructed from enjoying a little freedom,” he wrote.

He noted that the biggest rock in PR's way in becoming a formidable force against the government bloc is its continued hesitation to set in stone its beliefs.

“That's the difference between promises and implementation,” Zaid wrote.

“Promises are easy to say but implementing it requires a strong political will and stand. This is the real challenge for parties in Pakatan,” he stressed.

And with the ninth by-election coming up in Bagan Pinang, an Umno stronghold, PR's prospects in surviving till the next elections will once again be subject to the microscope.