Pakatan Rakyat is on a high after Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal but can the coalition harness this energy to topple Barisan Nasional?
ALOR SETAR: Pakatan Rakyat delegates for their national convention are on a high. Their leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted of a sodomy charge, feuding leaders are ready to bury the hatchet and niggling differences within the coalition have been ironed out.
There is a sense of great expectations when some 2,000 delegates attend the convention at the Sultan Abdul Halim hall here tomorrow.
Although there is a possibility that the prosecution may appeal the High Court’s decision, there will be a sense of euphoria at the convention.
The coalition is ready to go back to brass tacks. Some delegates are all for the party returning to its original cry of “reformasi”.
They readily admit the party’s original intention was derailed by internal squabbles after the 2008 general election.
Penang PAS deputy commissioner II Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa was among the first to say that the party has gone through growing-up pains as they were new to governance.
Gone are the days of blindly condemning or opposing all policies. Pakatan must be now seen to have an edge over Barisan Nasional (BN).
Pakatan has had some trying times: the acrimonious relationship among PAS, PKR and DAP and finally the expulsion of Selangor PAS leader Hasan Ali .
Hasan ironically is the first PAS leader to be expelled since 1998. The former Selangor PAS commissioner was found guilty of going against the party’s policies and some of its leaders.
Also to be taken into account is that the four states under Pakatan rule have not been a shining example of leadership.
In Kedah, which is playing host to the convention, Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is dogged with allegations of poor health, and his ability to administer the state has been questioned.
Pakatan in a bind
In Penang, the state DAP Indian faction is unhappy that its grouses are not effectively addressed by the state, triggering off the spat between chairman Karpal Singh and Prof Dr P Ramasamy, who is Deputy Chief Minister II and party’s deputy secretary-general.
In Selangor, the state government is dealing with below-par performances of its local authorities, an overly aggressive Islamic religious enforcement division and a perceived rift between state executive councillors and technocrat Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
While in the country’s oldest opposition held state – Kelantan – there is uncertainty whether its iconic Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would continue leading as he is now 80.
At tomorrow’s convention, how much of these would the delegates selected to speak bring up?
Singapore-based political observer Jason Wong says Pakatan is in a bind as there is a feeling that it is a semi-government and semi-opposition party.
He pointed out that the people’s verdict on Anwar is not known yet. “The verdict would only be known in the general election. Many things can happen before the votes are cast.”
Pakatan must prove beyond doubt that the alliance is ready, so the momentum captured by the court’s decision, can become a decisive force in its march to Putrajaya.
ALOR SETAR: Pakatan Rakyat delegates for their national convention are on a high. Their leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted of a sodomy charge, feuding leaders are ready to bury the hatchet and niggling differences within the coalition have been ironed out.
There is a sense of great expectations when some 2,000 delegates attend the convention at the Sultan Abdul Halim hall here tomorrow.
Although there is a possibility that the prosecution may appeal the High Court’s decision, there will be a sense of euphoria at the convention.
The coalition is ready to go back to brass tacks. Some delegates are all for the party returning to its original cry of “reformasi”.
They readily admit the party’s original intention was derailed by internal squabbles after the 2008 general election.
Penang PAS deputy commissioner II Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa was among the first to say that the party has gone through growing-up pains as they were new to governance.
Gone are the days of blindly condemning or opposing all policies. Pakatan must be now seen to have an edge over Barisan Nasional (BN).
Pakatan has had some trying times: the acrimonious relationship among PAS, PKR and DAP and finally the expulsion of Selangor PAS leader Hasan Ali .
Hasan ironically is the first PAS leader to be expelled since 1998. The former Selangor PAS commissioner was found guilty of going against the party’s policies and some of its leaders.
Also to be taken into account is that the four states under Pakatan rule have not been a shining example of leadership.
In Kedah, which is playing host to the convention, Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is dogged with allegations of poor health, and his ability to administer the state has been questioned.
Pakatan in a bind
In Penang, the state DAP Indian faction is unhappy that its grouses are not effectively addressed by the state, triggering off the spat between chairman Karpal Singh and Prof Dr P Ramasamy, who is Deputy Chief Minister II and party’s deputy secretary-general.
In Selangor, the state government is dealing with below-par performances of its local authorities, an overly aggressive Islamic religious enforcement division and a perceived rift between state executive councillors and technocrat Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
While in the country’s oldest opposition held state – Kelantan – there is uncertainty whether its iconic Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would continue leading as he is now 80.
At tomorrow’s convention, how much of these would the delegates selected to speak bring up?
Singapore-based political observer Jason Wong says Pakatan is in a bind as there is a feeling that it is a semi-government and semi-opposition party.
He pointed out that the people’s verdict on Anwar is not known yet. “The verdict would only be known in the general election. Many things can happen before the votes are cast.”
Pakatan must prove beyond doubt that the alliance is ready, so the momentum captured by the court’s decision, can become a decisive force in its march to Putrajaya.
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