Re-thinking the PKR Elections

I thought I had written my last article on the PKR elections. In my last article I did say, I want Azmin to win. I gave my reasons. Basically it boils to the contest between political skills and entrepreneurship applied to politics. I speak from observing history when I say we will rue the day we elect to put a business minded person in the position of leadership. They are similar but distinct and operate on different values. Accordingly I cannot place too high a premium on Khalid’s entrepreneurial skills. I don’t wish to repeat myself on this.

But there was one move that puzzled me. Why did Rafizi and Nurulizzah form a team? The team was endorsed in Sabah too.( in the cabang whose MP sits beside me in Parliament) Which means the idea behind the formation has traction in Sabah. Then Tian Chua withdrew from contesting the deputy president. I am expecting the other remaining candidate to eventually withdraw, leaving the battle to become a 3-cornered fight between Azmin, Khalid and Saifudin.

Clearly there was a battle formation.

I have the utmost respect for both these young leaders and even see Rafizi as a prime minister material. Tian Chua has already achieved a legendary status. Plus I don’t want to have my ears bitten. 
They do not make an uncalculated move. To me, the formation of the team clearly indicates and was meant to show to all PKR members, that they should choose Saifudin. Saifudin is the solution to the Mexican standoff between Azmin and Khalid. Both should be reduced to save PKR.

That formation and the comments following my article made me re-look at the issue at hand.

When I read the many comments, there were many who feel strongly against Azmin as deputy president. We must respect their views. Unfortunately not many have rebutted the logic of my arguments, preferring instead to rely on subjective assessments on Azmin. He is greedy, he is that and this. Not persuasive to me. Discerning readers many of whom I suspect are PKR members want to listen to logical rebuttals. And unless there is equally compelling reasoning, the fence sitters are likely to vote in Azmin.

Fortunately, Azmin I think will be the first to disagree with me. People may respond in disjointed fashion but they indicate undercurrents. In response to the formation of the so-called dream team of Saifudin- Rafizi – Nurulizzah, Azmin said that it’s not cartels and groupings that decide the outcome of the contest. It is direct voting by all members.

From experience, I can say this. While that opinion may be true, in practice groupings indicate a consolidation of like-minded forces which Azmin ignores at his peril. Groupings can signal the call for battle formations and helped members make up their minds faster.  Nurulizzah and Rafizi are no lightweights in PKR. Azmin was clearly jolted by that grouping. It showed that senior and powerful PKR leaders are endorsing Saifudin and distancing both Azmin and Khalid.

Then we must remember the unfinished agenda of the kajang move.

Perhaps this was the main objective of the unfinished Kajang move agenda- to diminish both Azmin and Khalid. The war of attrition between both is endangering PKR and so a third person is needed.

Therefore, my own earlier thoughts on the election are not that relevant after all because, in the end, it will be the delegates who will decide. Some will be swayed by objective reasoning and not a few will be influenced by subjective and emotive appeals.

So I have to give space to the dissenters who have strong feelings against Azmin. Last night, I was met up by a PKR leader who admits that he is part of the get Azmin and Khalid out of the way to save PKR. Now, this is a fellow whom I know very well and I don’t take his views lightly. Conceding that I may be wrong in my views, I am giving as much space here to his arguments.

If PKR members were to read this latest article, they may want to use the points here to enhance their decision.

While Azmin’s political skills are appreciated, it is his political character that is a cause of concern. Here is one of the comments from a reader which requires some construction. Construct into what conclusions is entirely up to PKR members.

“I have observed Azmin's actions for a very long time since he came into the PKR picture. He is too greedy to get into power and will go all out to get what he wants or his way. He was willing to sacrifice a parliamentary seat by sabotaging Zaid Ibrahim, although it has now turn out that Zaid and Azmin are in the same boat. Both sore losers and acting like women scorned. In Sabah,he tried to relegate the local warlords to foot soldiers. And Sabah PKR more or less imploded”.

Can this type of comment be representative of the thinking that, Azmin has monarchical tendencies and is an absolutist? That if he comes into power, he will rule close-fisted?

That seems similar to the message that my PKR friend brought to me. That he is meeting me in person indicates that he feels strongly about this aspect of Azmin’s leadership.

The commentator continued:-

Put Azmin into any position of power, whether it is deputy president or president of PKR or MB and Umnoputras will be dancing crazily celebrating on the streets. It is much easier for Umno/BN to floor PR with Azmin in power than Khalid, Nurul or even the street brawler Rafizi.

To get into power by backstabbing, sabotaging and cheating and doing all dirty tricks on anyone deemed a threat to oneself, even to the extent of de-stabilising the party and grassroots supporters is not the one to lead the PR to Putrajaya. What I do expect if Azmin gets to be deputy president and later president is more likely PKR will self-implode before GE14.

Some parts of some comments I have edited to interpret a clearer line of thinking:-

When he did not want to assist MB Khalid in handling certain issues, it only shows his own ambitiousness, his domineering bad leadership hidden behind the sunglasses. Furthest from his mind is Selangor remaining in Pakatan's collaborative leadership, the Selangorians' interests and staying true to fighting harder against the umno baru leaders. We cannot gamble our votes for such a shady politician - who has reigned in Anwar with ghost blackmailing aka demands and too many childish sulking.

Many remember Azmin and Zuraidah showcasing themselves on a huge signboard - the early sign of extravagance, wastage and arrogance, open to the insatiable lust of the hearts and minds - corruptions once they ascend to power.

I could have written those lines in a different style- but who am I to modify what was said coming direct from this person’s heart?

In the end, perhaps what PKR really needs is a compromised candidate. I don’t know Saifudin sufficiently to evaluate him. I wish PKR members all the best. Do what you think is best for PKR.