Kita wants to be a ‘loyal’ opposition

The party aims to distance itself from the confrontational culture employed by Pakatan Rakyat towards the government, says its chief Zaid Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno law minister Zaid Ibrahim said his party Kita wants to be a “loyal” opposition, supporting the government where necessary and highly critical if it steps out of line.

In a bid to change Malaysia’s “warlike” political culture, Zaid said: “Unless we see clear flaws and shortcomings in the administration’s policies and actions, our first instinct is to support the government. Kita is a small set-up with few resources, but we hope to be a loyal opposition.”

“This also means we will not attack the government just to gain political mileage. We will give credit where credit is due, and will rely on reasonable tests to determine our responses,” he said in his blog posting today.

Zaid, who is very critical of his former party PKR and its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim whom he accused of crony politics similar to that of their hated rivals Umno, said Kita aims to distance itself from the confrontational culture often employed by Pakatan Rakyat.

He believes the approach would further the opposition’s agenda for a better Malaysia more effectively as confrontations will only embolden the administration to inflict more repressive measures against the opposition.

A sell-out?

Zaid drew flak from Pakatan faithfuls when he criticised the plan to hold a mass rally by polls watchdog Bersih, saying it would be better for them to try and engage the government through dialogue.

At the same time he also drew attention to the hard-handed tactics of the Barisan Nasional government on its handling of the issue, saying the group’s demand for poll reforms was valid and that it was politically more positive for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to engage Bersih.

His centrist statement was seen as a “sell-out” and that his middle-ground approach was merely a result of his frustration from his defeat in the race for PKR’s deputy president post.

He denied the allegation and reiterated his call for moderation in politics.

But Zaid believes Malaysians are likely to rebuff his views and said he is unperturbed and will continue to promote Kita’s politics of diplomacy.

“Will we succeed? Maybe not. Maybe the public wants to see more of the same and will continue believing that nothing about Najib is right, and nothing about Anwar is wrong.

“They may regard our approach as a sell-out and find it more comforting to continue with George W Bush’s mantra: You are either with me or against me.

“But we are equally resolute about the need to change Malaysia’s warlike political culture,” said Zaid.