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Thursday, 2 December 2010

Zaid: Life after PKR

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: It's been a little over two weeks since Zaid Ibrahim slammed the door on PKR in a dramatic declaration of good riddance to a party that failed to live up to his expectations.

The verbal hammering that ensued hasn't yet abated and when met at his house recently, he looked tired. But he swatted off the observation with a flippant explanation.

“I always look like this,” he said. “But I'm not tired. I'm excited.”

And with good reason. The dawn of the new year will also herald the birth of a new political party, helmed by Zaid and fuelled by “people who share my views on politics”.

Scant is known about the party to date and its future leader is intent on maintaining this shroud of secrecy.

“No, no I can't disclose all that,” he laughed when pressed to reveal the party's name, the exact launch date, expected membership base and identities of his supporters. Then he changed his mind and generously dropped a few hints.

“But I can tell you that I won't have 400,000 members, that my supporters are friends who aren't well-known personalities and that we will launch in January. But there is still much to do so we will see how things go.”

Starting this new party is like deja vu for Zaid as its premise is a mirror image of his law firm. He confessed that he felt exactly the same way back then as he does today in embarking on the pursuit of “something different”.

“I've been around in politics for a while now,” he said. “And it's a good time for me to start a party that's not obsessed with taking power or unseating anyone and that challenges people to address and understand issues.”

Clinging to power

The last remark was no doubt a thinly-veiled dig at PKR and its leadership, whom Zaid has accused

of being obsessed with clinging to power at all costs.

He is therefore adamant that none from his previous party would be crossing over into his new one due to their vastly differing ideals. And reports of him extending an invitation to Mustaffa Kamil Ayub (who lost the race for PKR deputy president) has tickled him to no end.

“I laughed when I read it,” he chuckled. “I wouldn't take in a leader who threatens to take drastic action within 48 hours if the party doesn't respond to his complaints and then ends up embracing (new deputy president) Azmin Ali. PKR leaders are good at manufacturing stories.”

“I will only accept people who will add value to my party. People who are not easily swayed by offers and positions. It will be difficult but this is what I've set out to do.”

Insisting that quality overrides quantity, Zaid explained that the challenge isn't just about finding good people but those with the courage to join a “start-up”.

“There are people who want instant success. But I'm looking for people who want to labour with me and who value integrity and honesty.”

“I cannot recite poetry and I don't read philosophy but I believe in good old-fashioned values as a basis for a political party. Without it politics becomes whatever is permitted in the context of a particular situation. And I am not that sort of person.”

'I will be a friend to all'



Despite demurring to answer the earlier probing queries about his new party, Zaid willingly articulated the four core issues he would champion upon its launch next year.

The first involves leadership credibility and integrity, a concept that he seemed to be returning to repeatedly. Here he stressed the importance of possessing the “grain of upholding core values” which he believed is the country's salvation from the “endemic of corruption”.

“I grew up in an era where leaders were simpler and more honourable,” he said. “It was because there was a sense of accountability and a belief that serving the public was a noble pursuit. We need to revert to that. You cannot have transformation unless the underlying process is guided by core values.”

The second issue is the empowerment of democracy. Stamping the country as “tyrannical” and “almost like a police state”, Zaid highlighted the various restrictions that he predicted would inhibit the country's growth. However, he noted that it would take years for people to even understand what democracy meant and its benefits.

“Some people don't even think democracy is good so you first have to address that,” he stated. “Democracy frees the individual and unleashes talent which inspires the flourishing of ideas. This is why democratic countries are more developed.”

“But democracy brings with it a risk to the people in power who don't want to lose what they wield. I hope that my party will influence the people to accept the notion of a truly democratic state and fight for this.”

Zaid also touched on the economy which he felt was still not being enjoyed by all levels of society. While he acknowledged that Malaysians are better off today, he questioned whether the government was doing enough to protect the vulnerable segments of society.

“Free competition and free market is fine, but among equals,” he asserted. “The government must provide more safety nets for the unfortunate and marginalised. This is why I have always pushed for minimum wage.”

The fourth issue on his plate is unity, an ingredient that he claimed the country sorely lacked. In pledging to canvas for a Race Relations Act, Zaid hastened to clarify that his fight against discrimination would not come into conflict with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

“We can still maintain that but we mustn't discriminate indiscriminately,” he pointed out. “Our society cannot grow if we have policies that aren't in sync with the times. We have to pull together as a nation and rebuild bridges based on policies and trust.”

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