GEORGE TOWN: Zaid Ibrahim supporters in Penang, although respectful of his decision to quit the party, are of the view that the former law minister should stay and fight for reforms from within PKR. They simply don't want him to give up and walk away.
A local PKR leader, who declined to be named, said Zaid should not get frustrated with his unsuccessful bid to become the party deputy president due to alleged electoral irregularities.
"Zaid should understand that in politics you don't always get your way all the time. It's like a ship at sea which is always navigating its way.
"Politics is a long term struggle and one is bound to face many obstacles to fulfill one’s ambition and mission.
“And Zaid is not an exemption to the rule. Let not emotions cloud his judgment.
“He should give it more thought before deciding his next political step, which could well determine his own political fate,” cautioned the PKR politician.
Reconsider please
Describing Zaid's decision to quit as 'hasty', another party grassroots politician said Zaid should consider ground sentiments, especially the views of his own supporters.
He urged Zaid to reconsider his decision and not to let his critics portray him as “a general deserting his soldiers and leaving them stranded after losing only a battle.”
Yet another Zaid campaigner expressed disappointment that his predictions had become a reality.
Recalling the former minister’s decision to leave Barisan Nasional two years ago, he said Zaid cannot afford to quit each time the 'going gets tough.'
“Zaid should know that the tough must get going in the rumble and tumble of politics,” he said.
Another irate politician said Zaid would not have courted so much trouble and drawn such flak from party's top leaders if he had contested for the vice-presidency.
“Zaid would have won the vice-president post easily,” said the politician adding that things just blew-up because Zaid had decided to face-off with Azmin Ali for the party's No 2 post.
He said some party leaders thought Zaid was challenging PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim himself while others felt Zaid was vying the top post too soon.
“Zaid should have waited for another three years to have a shot at the No 2 position. By then more members would have understood Zaid’s struggle.
“Many others would also be disgruntled with performance of the incumbent deputy president,” he said.
Smear campaign common
Citing “personal attacks” as his (Zaid's) reason for quitting, the same politician said; “As much as one dislikes it, character assassination campaigns are very much part of politics.
"Zaid should accept and familiarise himself with the smearing campaign.
“Don’t tell me that Zaid is going to quit the very party that he may form (in the future) due to personnel attacks.”
Another local leader however offered sympathy to Zaid for his frustration at being ‘forced to drop out’ from the deputy presidential race due to alleged electoral irregularities.
He said he understood Zaid’s feeling at the leadership’s stubborn refusal to probe into complaints of electoral malpractises in the current party polls.
“How can a politician of his stature remain in PKR when he cannot agree with the party political style?
“Although many grassroots members would not welcome it, inevitably Zaid has to quit PKR . . . sooner the better,” said the politician.
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