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Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Zaid for Hulu Selangor: What do you think? - Anil Netto

So Zaid Ibrahim is the PKR candidate for Hulu Selangor.

Over the last few years, he has been articulating a more inclusive Malaysian vision for the nation – unlike those Perkasa folks. He has also taken commendable positions on oppressive laws such as the ISA.

In that respect, the man appears to have evolved. The Zaid version 2010 seems quite different from the Zaid version 1980s of the Muslim Lawyers Association during the height of the judicial crisis. But he redeemed himself when, soon after his appointment to the Cabinet, he said the government had to openly apologise for its handling of the 1988 Judicial Crisis, which culminated in the unceremonious dismissal of the then Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas.

I have one concern though: as a corporate figure from the largest legal firm in the country, does Zaid have what it takes to empathise with the aspirations of the lower-income and the marginalised groups and their difficulties and needs such as affordable and accessible housing, health care and education? That remains to be seen.

What do you think of the choice? How would you rate his chances in the by-election?

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