COMMENT Zaid Ibrahim’s tragic flaw is a curious combination of condescension and a tendency to assume that ordinary PKR members have acquired enough political maturity to see that the party, to strengthen itself, must move beyond sentiment towards pragmatism. He has failed to appreciate that PKR still draws its strength – at least at the grassroots level – from the gamut of emotions that led to its founding.
This seems to be the consensus among several key leaders and ordinary members in different states whom FMT randomly chose to interview for their comments on Zaid’s withdrawal from the contest for the PKR deputy presidency and his resignation from party posts.
A key leader from Nibong Tebal said Zaid’s popularity slumped quickly as soon as he started attacking Anwar Ibrahim through the media.
"I too disagree with Anwar on certain issues,” said the young leader, who declared that he was a Zaid supporter. “But it’s totally wrong to attack our own boss and party, especially through one of the most controversial mainstream Malay dailies.” He was referring to Utusan Malaysia, the paper that opposition supporters love to hate.
"He may think that by talking to the media he could make grassroots members understand his reason for entering the contest for deputy president. But he has failed to understand that Malaysians generally have a long way to go before acquiring the political maturity associated with citizens of advanced democracies.”
He said the majority of veteran PKR members joined the party out of anger over the persecution of Anwar.
“Grassroots members can be Zaid supporters, can be Azmin supporters or even Mustaffa Kamil Ayub supporters.
"But they all have something in common. They will be with Anwar through thick or thin. When you attack Anwar, they hate you and you lose their support. It’s as simple as that."
Zaid apparently erred again when, in a recent Harakah interview, he said PKR was wasting its energy by focusing too much on the Anwar trial. According to some PKR insiders, the comment turned off many of his supporters and they decided to swing their votes to Mustaffa Kamil as a sign of protest.
Zaid told Harakah that the judge handling the current sodomy trial was not as unfair as the judge in Sodomy I, the late Augustine Paul.
PKR and even PAS members have commented that Zaid, as a lawyer himself, should know that many Pakatan Rakyat supporters felt the current trial has been unfair from the beginning, with the judge denying Anwar crucial documents held by the prosecution.
Insulting comments
Pakatan leaders have consistently expressed their lack of confidence in the judiciary, especially when it comes to Anwar's case. And Zaid's expression of confidence in the judiciary, said the PKR insiders, was an insult to their intelligence.
Another perceived insult was a comment he made after announcing his pullout from the election. Even his own supporters have taken offence at the sarcasm in his reference to “those adoring fans of Anwar Ibrahim” who, according to him, saw him as a “spoiler” standing in the way of their march to Putrajaya. They said their support of his candidacy did not mean that they should abandon Anwar.
Zaid, said the commentators, failed to take into account that most members of any political party in Malaysia are not at his level of political sophistication and will take a long time to get there because the flow of information is not as smooth as in mature democracies.
Many in PKR said Zaid appeared too ambitious when he announced his candidacy for the deputy presidency. According to them, the political culture in Malaysia is such that a newcomer to a party should not aim that high.
"He has been in the party for just two years; it is not ethical to go against someone like Azmin, who has been with us from the beginning,” said a key leader from Jempol, adding that he strongly supported Azmin for the deputy presidency.
"We would have had no problems supporting him if had gone for one of the vice-presidential posts.”
He said Zaid had only himself to blame for not getting enough support from the grassroots. Most of these members, he added, did not understand what reforms he planned to introduce and what damage he was going to repair.
“Zaid didn't have time for meet-the-people sessions or to carry out intensive campaigns to ensure that he reaches ordinary members,” he said.
In Negri Sembilan, for instance, Zaid had only one session with grassroots leaders and members.
By contrast, Azmin, who already has his hands full with his duties as state assemblyman, MP, and an official of a Selangor government-linked company, visited the Negri Sembilan divisional leaders and members at least three times in just one month.
Lone ranger
Zaid also handicapped himself by his failure to form a dream team. He was seen as a “lone ranger”, said one grassroots leader.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan and former PKR communication chief Johnson Chong were seen as aligned to him, but there was no official announcement to make this clear to voters.
If he had made such an announcement, he might have received votes from hardcore supporters of the three, said one grassroots leader.
Azmin too did not announce his dream team, but he had the advantage of having many PKR leaders who are either MPs or state assemblymen declaring their support for him at a press conference two months ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment