By T K Chua
For reasons I don’t quite follow, if one faction of PKR is for the reform agenda, can we then impute that the other faction is not for it?
I will be saddened by the contest between Rafizi Ramli and Azmin Ali for the post of deputy PKR president, if it materialises.
I thought PKR was part of the new Malaysia. I thought everyone was motivated by the party’s overarching principles and policies.
Democracy allows contests when there are serious differences in principles or policies. But in the case of Azmin and Rafizi, is there really any?
It would appear to me their differences are more due to personal rivalry and personality. Such a contest is likely to tear the party apart rather than promote open competition and the spirit of democracy.
What has happened to all the unity, inclusiveness and reformation talks we heard when the party was struggling to gain power?
I would very much prefer to see PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim playing the role of keeping everybody in the loop.
I would prefer to see more equal distribution of power among the top leaders in the party by ensuring positions in the government are dished out more equitably.
Those with positions in the government must respect the party and leaders not holding government positions. This is the essence of party controlling the government, not vice versa.
It is important for those holding government positions to remember that their legitimacy and opportunity come from the party they represent.
It is also important to uphold and respect those who have contributed enormously to the party but have been given no position in government.
To me there must be mutual respect and consultation between the two groups.
I am seeing this dichotomy not just within PKR but also in DAP. No one asked how the veterans in the DAP felt when the young and recent ones were given all sorts of positions in state and federal governments. Not everyone is Lim Kit Siang and not everyone can follow his example.
Those given government positions will eventually dominate those without positions. How soon the fissure will start to show is for everyone to guess.
T K Chua is a FMT reader
The views of the writer do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.