It was doomed from the start when Zaid joined BN's Cabinet. You can't say he didn't try. There are many others left behind. Perhaps they won't budge at all.
It's just as well that Zaid did try!!!
Zaid joins PKR
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Former Umno minister span Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has joined PKR, in a boost to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Zaid's decision today at a special PKR congress here, saying it will help improve ties between the three PR parties.
Zaid said he felt he would be most effective in PKR which fits his ideals and chose the party because he knows Anwar is a good man.
“It’s also multinational party with a wide Malay base, a young party with plenty of room to expand.” he said.
He said he was looking forward to playing the role of strengthening the relationship between Pakatan Rakyat’s coalition partners.
Zaid resigned from the Barisan Nasional (BN) cabinet last year in protest against the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and was subsequently sacked from Umno.
During his short tenure as minister, he attempted to introduce reforms to the judiciary and pushed for compensation to be paid to judges sacked during the 1988 judiciary crisis.
But it is his role as a reformist and moderate which is expected to be a big boost for PR as Anwar attempts to put the opposition alliance’s agenda for reform back on track.
The PR alliance has been beset by crisis in recent weeks with PAS and DAP leaders at loggerheads over the Islamist party’s attempts to hold talks with Umno on Malay unity.
Anwar will be hoping Zaid can help bridge the differences between the secular and Chinese dominated DAP and the Islamist Malay PAS.
Zaid said today he was ready to help make PR a better alternative to BN.
He said he had friends in both PAS as well as DAP and feels he can play a meaningful role.
“The first step is to be better friends before we can move forward.” he said.
Meanwhile Anwar said Zaid’s entry was a positive development and would provide a boost to PKR.
“Zaid has a reputation for fighting for human rights and for the independence of the judiciary.”
He said PKR could use Zaid’s experience and exposure.
Anwar said Zaid’s role with Pakatan Rakyat would be formalised only after discussions with other component parties to be held next week.
He added that the PKR president would also decide on Zaid’s formal role in PKR.
However due to his experience Zaid is expected to be given a seat in the party’s supreme council and political bureau. - The Malaysian Insider
5 comments:
Whilst I congratulate Zaid on his choice and decision to join PKR, I like to caution him to stay alert 24/7 for pockets of UMNO mindset within it that has been giving much problems to Pakatan Rakyat. It's obvious alot of cleaning up is needed in PKR camp.
He must be opportunistic on the job and take advantage of all posibilities offered; there are no free lunches in this world.
When Zaid Ibrahim joined Pak Lah's cabinet after having published his book "In Good Faith", many had no faith he would be around for long in the BN Government.
He will come into PKR and PR familiar with the tough issues facing intra-party and national politics. We can only wish him the best and see how the issues and challenges in PKR pan out and how he will engage and meet them.
One thing is clear with Zaid, he woun't be a reluctant PKR member or leader!
Zaid got to clean up all the rubbish in PKR. To me, PKR gave me an impression of tong sampah.... :D
UMNO people throw into PKR.... no?
It's difficult to say whether Zaid will clean up the so-called rubbish, Jarod. He's bound to fail if "the rubbish" doesn't want to. He'll probably find some ways to make them want to, in such manner of leadership. There'll be other things not less important he might have to delve into. The Party system itself must handle most of the disciplinary bits.
You can't make light the energy AI has put into PKR to make people leave UMNO/BN despite the obstacles UMNO/BN have unfairly put out. There'll be learning curves and processes but its the opposite with UMNO/BN, ain't it?
Generally, you'll get all kinds of people and no political party ever, will be spared this.
It's a pity Zaid's brief stunt in BN Cabinet met with more obstacles and disappointment than he had bargained for, for the simple obvious reason he had a spineless boss in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to begin with, who wasn't prepared to stand by him. That weakling was more interested to snooze!
But with a strong leader in Anwar Ibrahim, let's hope he will get all the support he wants to effectively get down to things before the 'tong sampah' start oozing out more haunting odor!
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