PKR No.2 Contest: Outcome too early to tell
October 31, 2010
PKR No.2 Contest throws up an acid test
by Terence Netto @www.malaysiakini.com
COMMENT A nice contrarian test of authenticity suggests itself after day one of the first weekend of the historic direct election of principal office-bearers of PKR.
Three more weekends of balloting follow in this first-ever enactment of the one-member-one-vote franchise in Malaysian politics. Truly, the very thought staggers the imagination. However, thus far the script for the prelude to the actual balloting has been unedifying. It has resembled the melodrama of soap operas than the mundane histrionics of political process.
That is why the disclosure at the end of day one that deputy presidential aspirant Zaid Ibrahim is in the lead is propitious grounds for the application of a test of sincerity that would redeem things somewhat: let’s see if his faction sustains their critical scrutiny of the electoral process and queries its “irregularities” even as he leads.
On the other side, let’s see if rival candidate for the No 2 post, Azmin Ali, in trailing in the tally of votes, 
keeps his cool about the electoral process, as he has thus far, and disdains to accuse the other side of resorting to underhand tactics even as he lags.
An unedifying prelude
Why the contrarian test to establish sincerity and authenticity? This is because the prelude to the actual balloting has been marked by the tendency of life to imitate art, something that’s bad for politics. It leads to exhaustion, suggests that political life is not serious, and that the PKR arena is marred by hamsters and clowns.
An unedifying prelude, if the two prime deputy presidential contestants measure up to this contrarian test, would be followed by a redemptive conclusion – just what proponents of the one-member-one-vote school argue is the elevating thing about the ‘vox populi vox dei’ theory of democratic governance.
Of course, the best test of the sequel to the deputy presidential contest would be the credible accommodation of the losing side by the winning one. That would be a test of the imagination of the most creative sort, possible when art imitates life.
For a young political party, PKR is blazing a new path in Malaysian politics.
Even with the warts and all, I still think it is a brave effort of PKR leadership.
It is truly unfair to condemn the political process thus far. There will be the downside in anything that is new but at least PKR has the guts to take the path never taken before.
So I think the armchair critics should zip their mouths or tie up their tongues for now and let the whole process play out to its conclusion.
That is, both be a half clever smart ass.
Frank - October 31, 2010 at 6:03 pm
correction’
That is, don’t be both, half clever and a smart ass.
Frank - October 31, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Not enough debate and political education and awareness. My take of this one member, one vote will be political embarrassment and there will be no winner for the party.
Your guess is as good as mine with the wrong move you know who will win!
At the moment with all the hype, the process is just like “monkey see and monkey do”-way to go PKR.
Eagle - October 31, 2010 at 6:19 pm
The roar of activities in PKR’s party elections can be taken to show that the party is energetic and has due process to bring out the best from its members, for the party, and for Malaysia.
‘Storming’ is a very important part of the youthful party group development. It indicates the party is a very heterogenous group, and hence, will come many new ideas, innovation, commitment for Malaysia.
Bad press from its detractors and rivals would just go on to show that the ‘storm’ as a disadvantage, but discerning people and readers should take it as an advantage because Malaysia needs fresh energy and ideas.
Tang Loon Kong - October 31, 2010 at 6:27 pm
PKR is experimenting with grassroots democracy and for the time being it is a logistical nightmare. Yes, Frank, we have to be patient and supportive of their efforts.
Mainstream media which we know is pro-UMNO and Barisan Nasional will use anything to discredit PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. The fact that Penang has been able to have budget surplus two years in a row is not highlighted. That the Auditor General commented favorably on the PAS- led PR state administration in Kedah too receives no publicity. This is politics in BolehLand.–Din Merican
dinobeano - October 31, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I do not think the PKR elections have to be a logistical nightmare.
It is just either very poor preparation, or that room is being left for electoral manipulation for some favoured winner.
If not, why are there accusations that standard, transparent, and rigorous electoral guidelines are not being adhered to? (see here).
Why no assurances?
Are we going to use here the excuse that “this is new for PKR since it is its first experiment with grassroots democracy”?
I think that would be a ridiculously poor excuse.
Remember that poor electoral procedures can bring doubt to the results and cause the nullification of the entire electoral exercise, making the whole thing a waste of money and time. That’s why any such grouses must be addressed and views publicised.
But why is this complain being stifled or not taken seriously?
God Of Good Things - October 31, 2010 at 7:22 pm
The test for the viability of any political party in the throes of elections is in how fast it comes together once elections are over. Will PKR be able to do that or will the animosity and ill will between factions generated by those elections boil over and threaten the unity of the party itself?
On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 4.
Mr Bean - October 31, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Claims of a tainted political process are normal. Not because the political process is tainted but because the fact that you are free to make such claims is itself a measure of how untainted the political process is.
Mr Bean - October 31, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Does the outcome of this blazing “new” trial matter? It’s the process that’s unwieldy and prone to collapse. Ask the ancient Athenians – they bickered themselves to oblivion in the Ecclessa, despite having brains like Pericles.
Menyalak-er - October 31, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Sometimes the conduct or behavior of polticians are very misleading. They know, eyes are upon them. They will be careful enough not to reveal their real goals through their behavior. Most of them are like good “poker players” (please do not construe this as encouraging gambling in any sense).
Good politicians must be able to conceal their real values, and attitudes, and deceive their rivals with their outward ‘behavior’. Otherwise, their rivals could easily lay an ambush when the values and attitudes become predictable from their behaviors. Escape from the ambush is rare even for the case of the doctor politician from Johore.
It is more like playing chess. The intentions of the politician are hidden until it is too late for the opponent to do anything. Try playing chess not knowing who your opponent is.
It is never easy to latch onto the real thinking of any politician.
Some academicians have been deluded into thinking they could. These academicians eventually end up as tools for politicians because they simply cannot jettison the so called “scientific methods”. What more for mere mortals like me?
Therefore, if anybody were to judge PKR negatively, in the midst of its party elections ‘roar’, the bases for the judgement need revisiting. Those who see the current PKR roar as negative could be simply impatient, and perhaps more so unsettled in their political persuasion decision-making.
Most of us would like to see politics as science, because we are comfortable with it. It can be many things, some beyond our imagination but it is never a science.
Tang Loon Kong - October 31, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I’m sorry, Tang. Your youth and inexperience shows through your writing.
Mr Bean - October 31, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Grassroot democracy? Absolutely.. Only the roots will be left. All else will be levelled above ground. Pure unadulterated ineptitude, incompetence, fantasy and idealism gone wrong. Don’t you guys learn anything from history? Yet, some of us were derided as ‘idealists’.. Chess, my foot! This is civil war! all for a few crumbs of transirnt glory..
Practicality, discernment and experience counts for nought izzit? Never underestimate the evil that man can do. Chaos and greed is the norm – without proper command and control systems in place. You have for the head of elections, a nice retired doctor who in all her nice cosy elitist existence, never faced a bunch of vulgar gangsters and foulmouthed goons – now that’s the “demos” izzn’t it? Rabble results in rubble.
Yes, Bean the survival and progress of PKR, despite of this experiment gone wrong, will be dependent on ‘goodwill’ and ‘munificence’ of the victors. Political maturity, unfortunately, is sorely lacking in this party. I sincerely hope they grow up pronto.
Menyalak-er - October 31, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Mr Bean - November 1, 2010 at 12:37 am