PKR is preparing for its party elections which, for the first time, will see ordinary members directly voting for top leadership posts in the party.
But what has been Anwar’s role be in all this, given that he is torn between his court case, party matters and never-ending campaigning? Is the party prepared for the outcome of the trial? I wrote this piece for Asia Times:
As Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case meanders its way through the courts, the spotlight has shifted to how his party is preparing for the possible outcome.
A guilty verdict in the high-stakes case would be a significant blow his opposition People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat), which hopes to capitalize on significant gains it made against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition at the last general election in 2008.
Although Anwar was legally barred from contesting that poll, he was instrumental in bringing together the disparate parties during the campaign and then in forging a cohesive opposition alliance. Now in power in four of the federation’s 13 states, Pakatan Rakyat has trained its sights on capturing federal power at the next polls, which must be held by 2013. Full article on Asia Times Online.
| Please help to support this blog if you can. Read the commenting guidlelines for this blog. |
Case 1: Anwar is Jailed- It will cause a major uproar in Malaysia. Street protests … all over malaysia. It will be pandemonium. Alas, it may prove to be a benefit to PR in the 13th GE…people will vote for PR as a show of protest for the outright abrogation of democracy, shown in the anwar sodomy 2 case.
Case 2-Anwar is Jailed-PR loses terribly in 13th GE because pakatan has lost its unifying factor , that is Anwar. People will lose faith in PR, and thus less votes..
Either way if DSAI goes to jail or not this is an opportunity for rakyat to shape the way we want Malaysia to go. PR especially PKR has no other choice but to go away from UMNO’s way of handling things. So, this is the time to shape two choices we want from our political parties with different principles.
Hi everyone,
With every ordinary member allowed to vote for their leaders, it’s really true democratic practice in PKR, though the logistics involved may be a problem!!
Anyway, all organisations, political or otherwise, should emulate this democratic practice of PKR!! Money politics for ‘buying’ positions in political parties would be minimised!!
Congrats. to PKR for taking this bold lead!
2 possibilities:
Anwar is imprisoned – People will vote as they did in 1999 – only this time the Chinese and perhaps will Indians will also vote against BN in the 13th GE.
Anwar is not imprisoned – He can continue telling the world and voters that he was framed all this while. People will vote against the BN because of his testimony.
Either way, Pakatan does not lose.
Besides Anwar, there are many potential PMs – Nizar Jamaludin, Khalid Samad, Zaid Ibrahim, Tunku Aziz, Wan Azizah, but then again, who says Pakatan can ever win Putrajaya anyway?
Expect endless chaos … especially when the supremo being jailed. That number 1 aunty cannot tame the … within the party.
A new era for PKR, a new era for DAP and a new era for PAS = A NEW ERA FOR PAKATAN RAKYAT TO FINISH OFF UMNO, MCA, GERAKAN & MIC = BN ONCE AND FOR ALL
Anything new, without any trace of UMNO dirty culture is a good sign for PR. Anwar maybe, a good leader to bring PR into contention as an alternative govt but, PR should not totally be dependent on him. New blood, new leaders must be given a chance to tap their potential in PR new system…. in selecting their future players in the nation political arena….if no young blood and promising players are trained to take over, the aging team will be completely drained of its usefulness!