On Anwar, PR and their critics.

When I wrote the article about Anwar storming the Bastille, I didn't have the opportunity to read RPK's post on the Perak drama. Having done so, I feel gratified to know, that we come to the same conclusion. Had the PKR government went to see HRH the Sultan and requested dissolution when they still had the majority, they would have succeeded. That was why I said, Nizar in the political sense, was incompetent and naïve. We now know that RPK and a few others went to see the PR leadership in Perak and suggested that step, but their suggestion was dismissed.

I had used the term his heroic defiance was exceeded by his stupidity. After knowing that RPK actually gave that idea to PR, my remark it now seems, was a gross understatement.

That remark and the general criticism against the incompetence of the PR leadership and Anwar Ibrahim drew the ire of many commentators. I suspect many of them read my articles regularly and were expecting, a one way traffic of criticisms. I am sorry to have disappointed them. Doing that, would immediately qualify me as a mere myrmidon or a dedicated but mindless follower of PKR.

I have written a few articles on the political situation in Perak. I have criticised politicians where I think I should. When a government is changed through means other than that allowed by the principles of democracy, it is inherently wrong. It is morally irreprehensible to think, in a democracy, such a thing could happen. I wrote a criticism on that.

But I also suspect my motives. Maybe, I feel that way, because that idea of using Anwar Ibrahim's own knife to stab him wasn't thought of by any one else but Dato Seri Najib. Who knows what lurks in our hearts.

But as far as realpolitik is concerned, I think Anwar has been outsmarted. Hence I wrote an article entitled Najib's Rule of Three. That was essentially a salutation to Najib's expanding realpolitik repertoire.

I will say this. I am not above criticising Dato Najib when I feel it merits doing so. Indeed I am mindful of the fact that what I say of Dato Najib may carry additional weight compared to others. Dato Najib who is Ketua Bahagian of my bahagian hasn't be spared from my criticisms. I get particularly irked when criticising him, I am accused of being disloyal. This is a big problem in Pekan especially among the Division committee members, who prefer to be muted zombies who don't seem to have ideas to assist Najib. But don't let me start on another round of Najib- bashing. You wouldn't want me to.

The point is, I will criticise him where it merits so and wont pull any punches. I have written many thoughts on this on many occasions in blogsphere. Criticisms transcend personalities. We criticise a person for the ideas he represents or the actions he takes. We appeal to the powers of reason.

Which brings me to the issue of writing critical articles. In particular, the issue of being balanced. If readers of my blog read expecting a one way direction in my criticisms ending as it were, in a cul-de-sac of misty eyed romanticism, I must warn them they will be disappointed. If they expect for example, that I will criticise UMNO all the time they will be mistaken. They will be even be more disappointed if they expect, my vociferous objection to UMNO politics can be translated as an indirect support for Anwar Ibrahim.

Which is now the subject I want to talk about. Just a little mention about Anwar Ibrahim has aroused emotional outbursts. I saw many of these in many comments sent in response to my previous article. Such misty eyed adulation and romanticism will prevent us from seeing who the real Anwar is.

Let's call a spade, what it is, a spade. For Anwar, the ends justifies the means. Defection, for sometime was accepted as another brilliant chess move on the political board by Anwar. Hence he literally placed a gun on our collective heads when he was bragging about the defection of 31 BN lawmakers in September to 2008. That , did not materialise but its failure didn't extinguish Anwar's gluttony of treating defection as a legitimate means to secure the ends of taking power.

Now the very means that he has elevated as legitimate, is used by another and when that another succeeds at the game, it is now NOT open for Anwar Ibrahim to say, that means is not legitimate. We must reject, the proposition that only what Anwar does, is a measure of legitimacy.

I have used this expression many times in the past- its no skin off my nose, if people want to identify themselves with Anwar Ibrahim. When I was studying in the university if the late 70's and Anwar was often the darling of debating forums on campuses, I have, sad to say, never been impressed by him. With him, and I want the PKR people to know this, its always more shadow than substance, more hustle to the bustle. But I will give one credit to him- his oratory skills have never ceased to arouse orgasmic rupture among female listeners. Or in the immortal words of the blogger Mat bangkai, creamed a few knickers.

Yes, Anwar is blameable in this Perak episode. Of course I accept that Najib must also be castigated for this disguised coup d'etat. But in the immortal words of Karpal Singh, I cant be two extremes in one place at the same time.