PKR the soft underbelly in Pakatan
By Zainal Epi
The BN is well aware of the weaknesses of the PKR in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance and feels confident that the Pakatan-led government can be ousted in the looming general election battle.
Pakatan's hold on Selangor is shaky and the party may beat a hasty retreat when the BN starts advancing on its post.
Given the troubles in PKR, the state may just fall to the invading forces.
PKR is beset by internal bickerings that originate from the rivalry between Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and PKR supreme council member Azmi Ali.
Political observers opine that the feuding will not stop unless and until Khalid steps down to make way for Azmi.
PKR is seen as the weakest link in the unregistered alliance with DAP and PAS and the party has, since winning the state in the March 2008 general election, never enjoyed “peace”.
Apart from BN’s bid to destabilise and retake the state, the alliance is not working well as its “so-called marriage of convenience” is not built on solid foundation.
Factionalism in PKR
Trouble first started when a sex scandal involving one of PKR state assembly representatives Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanchang) hit the headlines, then came the controversial temple issue in Shah Alam, followed shortly by the defection of its Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham, who became an Independent. And now the internal politicking between the two factions.
Khalid is trying hard to control the situation but this seems impossible, especially with the onslaught from Azmin, who is known to be the favourite of party adviser Anwar Ibrahim.
Azmin was supposed to be the menteri besar immediately after the state fell to Pakatan in the 2008 general election. But a last-minute change of mind by the leaders “catapulted” Khalid to the seat.
Factionalism has reared its ugly head in PKR and it has all to do with power and economic returns.
At present, Khalid has no powerbase to speak of, given that he is never a politician.
He was a corporate man who went into politics with the aim of righting the wrongs perpetrated by the previous administration. But suddenly he found himself in the middle of a “power struggle”, which is something he never wanted.
The internal politicking in Selangor PKR is fuelled by two factions – one group wants to promote good governance (separating politics from government business) and the other is keen on political involvement in state policies that would see its supporters benefiting economically.
Mounting pressure
Khalid is facing mounting pressure from Azmin’s supporters to step down as his policies do not seem to benefit party members. In Azmin's political calculation, it is important to give party supporters some economic benefits just so to keep their loyalty intact.
In any political party, the economic factor figures prominently as money is needed for elections – party as well as general elections. The money is needed not to buy votes but to fund campaign activities. Without money, the moral of the campaigners will be low.
Unlike PAS whose members do things to get Allah’s blessings, PKR members are interested in enhancing their economic standing. Just like Umno.
Thus, Khalid is caught between good governance and political patronage. At the same time, he may be wondering whether Azmin’s appointment as Selangor party chief is Anwar's subtle way of saying “his (Khalid's) days as menteri besar are numbered.”
Without a real powerbase or grassroots support, Khalid sees himself fighting the internal battle alone except for some support from non-Malay members and leaders in the state.
Non-Malay PKR leaders and members seem to back Khalid probably because they see an economic fallout if the party is split.
Selangor PKR is indeed in “deep trouble”, given the intense internal politicking. At this stage, Anwar’s involvement may not do any good in view of his sodomy trial.
PKR - born from the “reformasi” movement that wanted to see Anwar given justice after his expulsion from the government as deputy prime minister in 1997 -- is made up of Umno members and young graduates who were disappointed at the government in one way or another.
The scenario is bad for PKR, which is considered the weakest ally among the three parties. It may turn out to be an easy target for BN to move in and take control of Selangor the next time around.
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