RPK's attack on Anwar has cost MCLM two of its candidates.
PETALING JAYA: Raja Petra Kamarudin appears to have shot himself in the foot with his weekend of verbal salvos against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Two independent candidates backed by the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) of which he is the chairman today announced their withdrawal from the candidacy and their disassociation with the movement.
The two are prominent lawyer and National Human Rights Society president, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, and human rights lawyer, Sreekant Pillai.
The duo’s resignation comes barely a day after MCLM’s president, Haris Ibrahim, stepped down. All three attributed their decision to the recent interviews given by Raja Petra, better known as RPK, to selected media.
In the interviews, the popular blogger declared Anwar “unfit” to be the next prime minister, alluded that the latter was guilty of the sodomy charge and expressed certainty that Anwar was the man featured in the sex video.
He also said that MCLM would not be fielding any candidates for the 13th general election, a statement that Haris said had never been discussed within the movement.
In a blog posting this afternoon Malik clarified that while he had never been a MCLM member he had nevertheless committed to working for the the movement to further the reform agenda.
He explained that his agreement to stand as an independent candidate hinged on his satisfaction that there was a cause for it.
Malik also emphasised that he continued to believe that Pakatan Rakyat was pivotal in any campaign reform and had resolved to stand only where there wouldn’t be a three-corner fight.
“Much has occurred since the announcement of the initiative,” he said. “For one, Pakatan appeared to commit to a sustained effort to identify and field quality candidates.”
“For another, Raja Petra felt it necessary to state his personal views as he did, in an interview with TV3 last year and recently in interviews published in the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia.”
Undermined MCLM’s credibility
While Malik refrained from delving into RPK’s recent statements, he stated that they had cast a less than positive light on MCLM in so far as its commitment to principle was concerned.
He also added that he did not share RPK’s views which were entirely personal to the latter and not belonging to MCLM.
“Raja Petra had however allowed the impression that he spoke on behalf of MCLM and in his capacity as chairman of the movement,” Malik pointed out. “That is regrettable as it is an impression that has undermined the credibility of the MCLM and its efforts.”
“It has also undermined the tremendous efforts of a number of highly committed and selfless individuals in their untiring efforts to develop various civil society initiatives under the banner of MCLM.”
Malik reiterated that it was for this reason that he and Sreekant had decided to disassociate themselves from the movement and withdraw from the independent candidate initiative.
“I wish to state that my decision to remain independent of any political parties and to stand as a candidate was mine and mine alone,” he said. “It has been some years since Raja Petra and I have spoken and he has not in any way influenced any of my decisions.”
This had left MCLM with only one endorsed candidate, Dr Nedunchelian Vengu, who earlier announced that he would still be contesting the Kapar seat as a Barisan Rakyat Independent Candidate.
PETALING JAYA: Raja Petra Kamarudin appears to have shot himself in the foot with his weekend of verbal salvos against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.Two independent candidates backed by the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) of which he is the chairman today announced their withdrawal from the candidacy and their disassociation with the movement.
The two are prominent lawyer and National Human Rights Society president, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, and human rights lawyer, Sreekant Pillai.
The duo’s resignation comes barely a day after MCLM’s president, Haris Ibrahim, stepped down. All three attributed their decision to the recent interviews given by Raja Petra, better known as RPK, to selected media.
In the interviews, the popular blogger declared Anwar “unfit” to be the next prime minister, alluded that the latter was guilty of the sodomy charge and expressed certainty that Anwar was the man featured in the sex video.
He also said that MCLM would not be fielding any candidates for the 13th general election, a statement that Haris said had never been discussed within the movement.
In a blog posting this afternoon Malik clarified that while he had never been a MCLM member he had nevertheless committed to working for the the movement to further the reform agenda.
He explained that his agreement to stand as an independent candidate hinged on his satisfaction that there was a cause for it.
Malik also emphasised that he continued to believe that Pakatan Rakyat was pivotal in any campaign reform and had resolved to stand only where there wouldn’t be a three-corner fight.
“Much has occurred since the announcement of the initiative,” he said. “For one, Pakatan appeared to commit to a sustained effort to identify and field quality candidates.”
“For another, Raja Petra felt it necessary to state his personal views as he did, in an interview with TV3 last year and recently in interviews published in the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia.”
Undermined MCLM’s credibility
While Malik refrained from delving into RPK’s recent statements, he stated that they had cast a less than positive light on MCLM in so far as its commitment to principle was concerned.
He also added that he did not share RPK’s views which were entirely personal to the latter and not belonging to MCLM.
“Raja Petra had however allowed the impression that he spoke on behalf of MCLM and in his capacity as chairman of the movement,” Malik pointed out. “That is regrettable as it is an impression that has undermined the credibility of the MCLM and its efforts.”
“It has also undermined the tremendous efforts of a number of highly committed and selfless individuals in their untiring efforts to develop various civil society initiatives under the banner of MCLM.”
Malik reiterated that it was for this reason that he and Sreekant had decided to disassociate themselves from the movement and withdraw from the independent candidate initiative.
“I wish to state that my decision to remain independent of any political parties and to stand as a candidate was mine and mine alone,” he said. “It has been some years since Raja Petra and I have spoken and he has not in any way influenced any of my decisions.”
This had left MCLM with only one endorsed candidate, Dr Nedunchelian Vengu, who earlier announced that he would still be contesting the Kapar seat as a Barisan Rakyat Independent Candidate.
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