Anwar Ibrahim: A Superb Campaigner but…
November 16, 2010
Anwar is a poor Party Manager but a Superb Campaigner
by Terence Netto (received by e-mail)
Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo once observed that politicians campaign in poetry but govern in prose. His dictum meant that winning support on the campaign trail requires gauzy rhetoric, the beguiling of crowds with tantalising possibilities, and the conjuring away of problems just because people want a leader to do so.
In contrast, the prose of governing demanded negotiation with recalcitrant partners, the necessity for compromise, often messy and maddening, satisfaction with partial or incremental improvements, and half victories that leave principals unhappy and supporters disgruntled.
The Campaigner-Poet
Campaigning can be vague but governing has to be specific. Being good at the former does not translate into prowess at the latter. PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, in just over two-and-a-half years after leading Pakatan Rakyat to a signal watershed in Malaysian political history, has revealed that he is better at the poetry of campaigning than he is at the prose of governing.
Obviously, Anwar likes to think that when he gets to the top of the greasy pole, he would be better at the prose than he is with the poetry. The manner in which he attracted Zaid Ibrahim to join PKR in June last year and the way he tackled the competitive spite Zaid’s presence provoked among his cohort revealed his strengths as a crusader for reform and his weaknesses as governor.
However, Zaid is a febrile character who would cause problems anywhere he goes. So Anwar’s initial success at co-opting Zaid and subsequent failure at keeping him must be placed against the perspective that a wealthy parvenu would always be difficult to manage.
The Jeffrey Kitingan Problem
But in a miscellaneous political world, there is one opportunity and now another. This one comes out of Sabah where Anwar is trying to keep the mast of Dr Jeffrey Kitingan securely fastened to the PKR flagship.
In October last year, Anwar was strongly advised to appoint Jeffrey as head of the state chapter. Anwar disdained to do so, showing a visceral dislike for the leader of the powerful Kadazan-Dusun-Murut faction in PKR.
The dislike has got to do with what Jeffrey is alleged to have done while he was Sabah Foundation chief 
from the mid-1980s to the 1990s. The distribution of scholarships to deserving applicants was reportedly far from ideal.
Say what you like about Anwar Ibrahim, contrary to UMNO’s propaganda, he is averse to any move that shortchanges the Malay or Muslim cause. In the event, Anwar slighted Jeffrey’s claims to leadership of Sabah PKR and though there was a compromise later that patched up things, the truce was unstable and made worse when a contest for deputy president of PKR between Azmin Ali and Zaid became inevitable.
Now, in the immediate aftermath of Zaid’s withdrawal from the PKR No 2 race and his resignation from the party, fears are abroad that Jeffrey would join Zaid should the latter form a new political party.
This is a misreading of the situation. Though he is an ally of Zaid’s, Jeffrey is more devoted to putting things right as far as Sabah’s merger with the Federation of Malaya is concerned than he is with becoming an appendage of yet another peninsula politician.
Mistrust of peninsula politicians, Anwar included, is rife among Sabah and Sarawakian leaders. In Sabah, Anwar is saddled with the additional disadvantage that he was complicit in the schemes that upended the Parti Bersatu Sabah-led state government in 1995 and its replacement with Sabah UMNO, which led to a worsening of the state’s myriad problems.
Instead of making amends for that bit of nasty business in 1995 against the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) community, of which PBS was the standard bearer, Anwar has been blasé about the need for contrition.
Will Pakatan hold together?
A few days ago, in the teeth of Zaid Ibrahim’s gyrations, Anwar passed word to Jeffrey that the latter could control the naming of PKR candidates for the 20 KDM majority seats (there are 60 in the state assembly) in the fast approaching general election.
Jeffrey is leery of Anwar’s word, for good reason. In the run-up to the recent Batu Sapi by-election, Anwar assured Sabah PKR that they enjoyed full autonomy on candidate selection. Anwar then went on to name Ansari Abdullah, an inveterate foe of Jeffrey’s who was not on the shortlist of candidates a committee headed by Jeffrey had compiled. Yet again, Anwar showed that he’s maladroit at managing the factions in PKR.
The very public Zaid-Azmin feuding of recent weeks has damaged PKR in the eyes of a watching public keen to know if the PKR-led Pakatan Rakyat coalition is actually going to hold together once endorsed at the next general election.
The public will be inclined to forgive the PKR contretemps over Zaid. It is not likely to do so when Jeffrey makes his move which is expected very soon and which Anwar can only forestall by being outstanding, in this instance at least, in the prose of governing PKR.
“Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” John Adams.
Yup, suicidal – all of you who think that democracy means one bark, one vote is the end all. It’s messy, dirty and disruptive.
Whatever Anwar is, he’s no manager – he’s a ‘paroxysm’. He may pass away, but his ideas will not. He has suffered, and hopingly had become enlightened, as had many. He realizes the need for real reconciliation of masses, not just a marketing strategy to woo the braindead. He elucidates the vision, you decide – but management, he can’t do. No one can, unless they are dictators.
Remember Vision 2020? It’s myopic becuz it needs a Stalin-esque character. Octo micromanages well. Jibbo? Nah. He’s a marketer.
Menyalak-er - November 16, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Salam Aidil Adha to Abg Din & All Malaysian
DSAI a Master Strategist.
Indirectly, someone else is cleaning those dirty ground.
Better to let loose those unwanted baggage now before the next GE.
The truth will prevailed.
hangkebun - November 16, 2010 at 6:59 pm
In good defense of Anwar, Manyalak-er. But as a management man, I believe communications is not enough. You need proper execution be it in the game of business, war and politics. You need clear vision, objectives, strategies and tactics; you need structure (or organisation), proper chain of command (lines of accountability for results) and you need funding for all your political and social activities. The leader must be focused and ruthless in execution.
By being a poet and a populist, Anwar will end up last.If he is not careful and is unable to manage the fallout from the Zaid-Azmin feud, he will find that the road to Putrajaya can only be is just a fleeting fancy.
Can Anwar change his style? I wonder. So far he is adopting the Mahathir style: when in crisis, go abroad and let the problem be handled by his close advisors. He must now change his approach and be more hands on, if PKR is to remain a force in Malaysian politics.
Right now the momentum of 2008–and Badawi was easy meat–is all but lost. Regaining credibility on governance and democracy is likely to be a tough effort for him and PKR. He has made a mockery of freedom, democracy and justice. The decision to hold direct elections of office bearers in PKR is, therefore, a disaster. –Din Merican
dinobeano - November 16, 2010 at 7:14 pm
“direct elections of office bearers in PKR”
A good and commendable idea badly managed and implemented.
When you want to showpiece an idea, you work out the details and plan all the nuts and bolts. Not just throwing out an idea and outsource to others to implement it.
That is the fault of Anwar. As a seasoned politicians, he should have known what it takes to materialise an idea. In UMNO, it was easy for Anwar then , it was bull dozed through, with money and influence peddling.
PKR should be given up to lick its wounds and rebuilt (if that is still possible). Surrender the Pakatan lead role to PAS instead.
At this point, PAS is the only credible opposition party to take on UMNO in the next GE.
PKR has lost its credibility in the last 16 months… it is unlikely it will win back those seats it won in March 2008. Many of the PKR seats will go back to UMNO or MCA.
The only way to prevent the loss of seats by Pakatan is to give those PKR seats to PAS and DAP to take on UMNO and MCA/MIC and GERAKAN.
The more I project the scenario towards the GE 13, the likelihood of PKR retaining all its seats (forget about increasing the number of seats) is becoming improbable to impossible. Which means PAKATAN RAKYAT as a coalition will have LESS seats in Parliament.
The only bright side is that Penang and Kelantan will remain with DAP and PAS respectively.
There is a 60-40 chance for Pakatan to win back Perak from the illegal takeover of the state by UMNO-BN with the help of the Perak royalty.
Pakatan has only a 40% chance of holding Selangor.
Kedah is 50-50.
Pakatan and its supporters should now lean towards strengthening PAS and DAP. PKR is a almost a lost cause unless some dramatic and radical changes will take place in the next 3 months. Not 6 months.
Najib is celebrating after his chicken pox.
Frank - November 16, 2010 at 7:29 pm
” Regaining credibility on governance and democracy is likely to be tough for him and PKR “. – Din
Maybe , but it is worse when you consider the fact that most Malay leaders in PKR seem to be Malay supremacists too. Worse still is the fact that the middle level Indians , seem to be similar, if not worse, then Semi Value’s pack in MIC and the Chinese in PKR and Pakatan’s partner DAP – they seem to , by and large , give me the impression that pork consumption is more important then building a Malaysia, which will be fair to all, with our Malay brethren. Chinese chauvinism must go .
The only ones willing to give Malaysia a chance seem to be people like Jeffery Kitingan specifically and Sabahan’s and Sarawakian’s generally.
sunshine - November 16, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Anwar is triple-tongued, that’s why he is a superb leader. Unfortunately, he has failed as a true leader. he is full of promises, lies and inconsistent with his own principles. Go menyalak some where else if one doesnt agree with me.
Or to Karpal Singh who concur with me, that Anwar hasc aused enough trouble to the nation. Are u dumb!
Brandon Lee - November 16, 2010 at 7:53 pm
“Hundreds of phantom members probably voted in the PKR Kelana Jaya divisional election early last month, an FMT investigation shows.
There were more than 100 dubious names in the electoral list for the division, which claims to have 6,000 members. Like in the case of the Kota Raja division, names, addresses and MyKad numbers were near or exact duplicates.
For example, there were two voters named Geetha d/o Velu, one with membership number B 130002628 and the other B 130003657. They shared the same address and their MyKad numbers were almost identical: 40922-10-5508 and 740922-10-5308.”
And yet this superb campaigner Anwar would insist – show me proof….gosh!
Patma - November 16, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Hundreds of phantom members probably voted in the PKR Kelana Jaya divisional election early last month, an FMT investigation shows.
And yet this superb campaigner Anwar would insist – show me proof….gosh! Anwar is Anwar!
Patma - November 16, 2010 at 8:01 pm
rpk is right. pkr is exact copy of umno. its lreaders are all castoff from umno.annuar i m convince is incapable of managing the country as pm. its going to a disaster worse than what umno has done to the soul of the country. i think annual is incapable of doing a makeover of himself and of pkr.so verry very tragic for the country.maybe raja rasrin san the white hair ong tee keat jefreykitigan and tunku lee should organise a third force and ask rpk to put the plan into action. pipedream?
sandman - November 16, 2010 at 8:26 pm
“Can Anwar change his style?”
Don’t think so, Din. He never went to management school, nor is able to countenance the “god of small things”. He has always been the Chairman of the Board, so to speak. He gives general directives, and expects his directors to the niggly stuff. Another comparison would be like a chief surgeon who excises the main tumor, then leaves his juniors to resect the regional lymph nodes and do the follow-up wound closure. That’s when infection and complications set in – the patient survuves the operation and is cured of the cancer, only to succumb to the poor post-op care.
Anwar, as you and i know him is not a manager nor executor by any stretch of imagination. What he has – is the ability to galvanize the people through his oratory skill and sheer charisma. We need that and a vision on how to proceed in nation building. He listens, but often forgets. The last person in, has his ear. Don’t expect him to bury his nose in the nitty gritty. He’s by nature an optimist and he needs people closest to him who can anticipate his sometimes incoherent thinking. If Azmin does that well, then by all means he should be the no. 2 and the ‘Fixer’, as we used to call him during the Min-Fin days. Zaid is definitely a no-go, as he flies tangentially off into deep space. Kak Wan knows him well enough, but Izzah hopes her daddy will change. That is the beauty of youth.
What i actually look askance, as i have previously mentioned, is the sheer naievity and the monumental stupidity of having direct elections within PKR, as a testament of “democracy”. It is not as if there were no other tried and tested ways of carrying this exercise out. That is my point wrt to “suicidal” democracy.
Menyalak-er - November 16, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Oh btw Din, PKR needed you more than you needed them.
They do not deserve much sympathy. They are only able to irritate and imitate – just like Liz Wong (Bean’s favourite) who’s focused on plasticky issues, while chicken shit is splattering all over the wall. They don’t have professionals like you in their ‘pipedreams’.
I’m glad you took the ‘option’ – but they will return soon, on a bended knee. Wait..
Menyalak-er - November 16, 2010 at 8:53 pm
My central thesis has always been assuming Pakatan were able to take Putrajaya, enough centrifugal forces exist to ensure its early disintegration as a governing coalition as it spins away. It appears it may not even come to that if PKR which leads the coalition is unable to hold its own. Bearing in mind that PKR also represents a structured response to a new form of politics, that which has race not at its core but perhaps at the periphery, its early transformation into something more familiar could sound the death knell for change that never was.
It is normal enough for personal animosity between supporters in different camps to brew, simmer and boil over, let loose by a wild and fractious struggle for the second most powerful position in the party. Criticism against the leadership (read: Anwar Ibrahim) in the way the issue of fraud at the polls was handled may continue for a while longer. The hope among many of its supporters is that it will abate and dissipate and disappear into the remote corners of memory fast enough for its leaders to get on with the job of governing.
A post mortem analysis of what happened and how it could have been avoided is academic especially now that the self-styled crusader for social justice has thrown his towel down in disgust and did the right thing – quit. Worn and weary this lone crusader will get on his high horse and rally support for his cause. But that is just how democracy works.
Our bloghost has recently been throwing his support behind every which way except Anwar’s way. In doing so he is fiercely unafraid of the stones that will be thrown in his direction. One is tempted to ask why. Why the eleventh hour shift in loyalty? In exercising his constitutional right to free speech he is unafraid of the criticism that may be leveled at him for his apparent and frivolous support of principles. But then democracy is also about freedom to choose.
When the choice is between old wine in a new bottle differently labeled and just wine that sparkles, one is entitled to reserve one’s opinion.
Mr Bean - November 16, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Me?? I’m off to buy some good red wine. Thanksgiving is around the corner. But the President has yet to pardon the one turkey so it could go on to lead a life of luxury while the nation continues to spiral down the tube. That is life, my friends.
Mr Bean - November 16, 2010 at 9:08 pm
The charismatic leader needs to be supported by capable organizers.
Like Mao needs to be supported by Zhou En Lai
Phua Kai Lit - November 16, 2010 at 9:09 pm
let dr m lead the third force. msia needs dr m now and forever.
matthew francis - November 16, 2010 at 9:27 pm
PR should not entertain the idea of taking over Putrajays after GE13. Stay focussed firstly you must work to retain the seats you have and try to make gains and narrow the gap. Then You have to do your homework. Each PR Member of Parliament must ask at least 10 questions for each session of Parliamnet. Yes, they may not make it to Question Time. But the Minister must provide a written reply which will be in the public domain. It is then up the MPs who asked the question to bring it to the knowledge of their respective voters.
thumblogic - November 16, 2010 at 9:46 pm
“Most times I do not understand what he’s saying.Bahasa terlalu tinggi.”- Asril sani
Anak melayu yang bodoh betul!!!
Frank - November 16, 2010 at 10:56 pm
“Why the eleventh hour shift in loyalty? “- Mr Bean
I have said before, Loyalty is not absolute. Loyalty is a contract.
Frank - November 16, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Yup, Frank.
This guy’s a jerk. He probably can’t understand his own mother, not to mention his father. But i think in the end, it’s won’t not can’t.
Btw, excellent analysis on the GE-13 chances. Thanks.
Cheers.
Menyalak-er - November 16, 2010 at 11:18 pm
PKR elections were rigged by Anwar and Azmin. Not just Zaid but other high profile candidates like Mustafa Kamil, Anima Ferrar, Badrul Hisham and others too questioned the election on-goings. Yet, Anwar still demanding for proof. Azizah said all complaints are being looked (upon until end of time maa?).
But people still wanna have faith in Anwar or PKR. That’s mind boggling.
If SPR is bad than PKR is super duper terrible.
Kapar man - November 16, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Thumblogic, your suggestion is sound.
But i think we don’t have the luxury of time. This country needs a regime change pronto. Our trade is going to stagnate soon, domestic and foreign debts are mounting. If we don’t have an influx of funds or stemming the hemorrhages, we will turn turtle. Our local investors even GLCs are running away, since there is no real sustainable stimulus, except the huge handouts by JPM.
Menyalak-er - November 16, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Anwar is a showman. Being one he needs to possess extraordinary oratorical skill to sway his audience. He needs to dish out promises which would be difficult to fulfill in reality. Like a snake-oil salesman, he will sell cure-all remedies for all manner of sicknesses. Just go to Chow Kit road at night and watch the antics of these snake-oil salesmen. They are very persuasive in their oratorical presentation, and most likely than not, after the end of the show there would be a sellout among the listeners to buy the products that was being hawked.
Anwar is reminiscent of these super salesmen at Chow Kit Road. As I wonder why there were so many who had quit the party, they were so vehemently angry against one personality in particular: Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar could have promised them the sky and the moon, often at odds with so many expectations. There could have been a deadline to fulfill these promises and thus the audacious and high-stake plan to lure 25 BN MPs into PKR within a certain date. Being a showman, he has to be dramatic in announcing numbers, dates and plans for the takeover without taking into consideration a deadly enemy that has all the levels of power at its disposal to frustrate his plan. Yes, Anwar turned many eyeballs but when the cross-over does not materialized, there was disillusions aplenty, and many mutinied and bolted from the party with vehement disgust.
That, in short, is what is ailing PKR. Many have joined the party just on promises and hope of marching into Putrajaya. When the main dream was shattered, every man and woman fights for himself/herself. In tandem the dream of a new dawn in Malaysia is so near but yet so far, so tragically mishandled by a poor manager.
vsp - November 16, 2010 at 11:34 pm
“the dream of a new dawn in Malaysia is so near but yet so far, so tragically mishandled by a poor manager.” – vsp
It has turned into a nightmare, starring Anwar Ibrahim
“looes74″, who loves movies and TV-series, might relate the current state of affairs in the country to the latest movie in the theatare (he must have seen it, of course), Nightmare on Elms Street, a continuation of Freddy Krueger saga.
Frank - November 16, 2010 at 11:43 pm
When the choice is between old wine in a new bottle and just wine that sparkles, perhaps we should just settle for red, red wine.
Mr Bean - November 17, 2010 at 12:00 am
PKR is fast turning into a soda that is missing its gas.
Mr Bean - November 17, 2010 at 12:02 am
Helllo All,
Here are my views.
1. Malaysia at the present state is not a really fair state. There is no fairness in almost everything. The past GEs, BEs are not fair. You think if there is no POSTAL VOTE, people will vote for opposition? You think all those allowable ceramahs in few days can change people? Think again. It is a systemic stupidity. It will take years to enlighten the people. Even it will take years to let some readers on this blog to become less idealistic.
2. Yes, Anwar is an idiot but the rest of you including me sometimes are more idiot. It is not an easy job to make people understand. It is not easy job to manage without real power. You think by winning Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Kelatan the opposition can prove what they are? Enforcement is not up to them, the police force is not under their control. Look at the sand mining case. What can the Selangor government do. They simply just cannot do anything. What about the Kelantan oil and gas royalty? Do you think the Kelantan government can get their rights even it is crystal clear that the royalties belong to them. What happen to Perak oustered government, what happen to justice? So without the federal power everything is pretty impossible. So think again, harder this time.
3. If you read United States of America, it takes almost 300 years to become what it is now but still far from perfect. Same goes with the French revolution. Even the mightiest China takes almost 30 years to become what it is today still not perfect. And in Malaysia it not even 4 years yet, but some of you who has very little patience are complaining like it has been 400 years the opposition ruling the country. Living in this country is still very difficult for most us. Even to meet our monthly ends also are pretty difficult. Inflation is very high, the amount you spend in your shopping cart this year is much higher than last year. Crime rates is high, almost every housing estate needs to employ security guard, almost every house gets cctv installed. Still a lot of people with no jobs, which translate to higher crime rates. So everything we do, from groceries, housing loans or rentals, securities, get and back from work cost us a lot of money. So it is not easy here in the ground.
4. Easy for some of you to say this is not right, this is wrong; because some of you either have so much of money to spend, or too old and waiting to die or live abroad. So you just being too idealistic without considering the reality here. It is not easy. Really it is freaking hard. You think Anwar really wants Putrajaya? Think again. He is 60s, he almost have everything, he can be a lecturer or professor in the States or in the Arab world. He can even retired in peace. He doesn’t need any of these. The humiliation, the almost vertical uphill battles, the tiredness. But the way I see it he does this for us. Us who are talk so much yet do so little.
5. If only I can speak to Anwar, I would ask him to resign and go and have his quality time with his family, go abroad. Don’t live here and don’t care about the people here. It is just wasting his time, because some people here, who got PhD, Master degrees and even bachelor degrees think they are too smart and too perfect and they think they can do better than Anwar. It is ok to discuss to find weaknesses and to find solutions but GIVING UP is not an option. GIVING UP is letting the present government becomes stronger to screw us all along.
6. If we really wants to show our open disagreement, let the opposition has the real power first, the federal power. Then at that time it is easier for them to fulfill our needs. It is easier for us too to demand this and that. Believe me, now is not the time, if not we will have another Menara Warisan in which Menara Dayabumi, PICC, Putrajaya and many others are disaster expenditure by the present government. Who pays for those failures? We as the taxpayers.
tricycle - November 17, 2010 at 2:37 am
Try googling the below and tell me what your views are?
“people-please-guide-your-barisan-rakyat”
AgreeToDisagree - November 17, 2010 at 4:11 am
Tends to agree with the comments of “tricycle”.These are “evil & corrupted” forces that have to be overcome to build a New & Better Malaysia for us & future generations….playing the “Racial Card” to oppress,persecute,intimidate anyone who stands in their corrupted way and the “Tragic Comedy” is to see them persecuting their own “Race”.
Hidup Malaysia !!!
fairplay - November 17, 2010 at 6:43 am
Never mind if he is not a good manager. PKR should focus on GE13. No need to takeover Putrajaya. Just consolidate your position and try to increase your strength in Parliament. With that you can slowly bring to the forefront the governance of the ruling party. Reuqest for greate transparency, more accountability, Public accounts committee must be more focused and tackle the big issues and then may be you will be provided with another opportunity to defeat the Government’s Supply Bill. You had the opportunity the last time but for only reasons known to you , you did not exercise it.
Each PR MP must ask at least five substantial questions during every Parliamentary Session. Yes, you may not get the publicity of the Question Time. It does not matter. The MSM does not report it anyway. But the minister concerned must give a written reply which will be in the public domain. Then each PR MP must take that reply and give it the appropriate publicity.
This will then send a clear message to all those Civil Servants out there who are honest. Mind you I think that you can rely on at least 75% of them. Once they get the message they will support you. That is the leadership that is required to takeover Putrajaya. If you cannot get the institutions of government on your side through your deeds, honesty and integrity forget about takeover of Putrajaya.
thumblogic - November 17, 2010 at 10:56 am
“Worn and weary this lone crusader will get on his high horse and rally support for his cause. But that is just how democracy works.” Mongkut.
I want to dedicated this song to Zaid,
tean - November 17, 2010 at 11:08 am
Mr Bean - November 17, 2010 at 11:25 am
Having read the comments, I feel like laughing and also crying. Anwar is good, nobody ever said bad, fantastic Leader a good vocalist. We all know of his cases in Court. Am a simple person with simple language. As far as PKR and its strength is concern its there and will be there until we reach Putra Jaya.
But before that, what wonders me is even after the last G.E and taken four States, nothing much could be done to address the problems of the Rakyat, probably because of the Federal Government is still in BN’s control. Selangor is PR. but the truth is most of the benefits besides water was already existing in the previous bn Government already. It was only that most of it was refurbished according to the income of the Rakyat. Example the poor were people earning less than RM700.00 and below than and today RM 1500.00 and below. Free tuition was practised by Local Government even before P.R. taking over. Example MBPJ was providing the benefits for the eligible candidates during the Datuk Mohd Nor Badoor. Basically its all the refurbished benefits which is being provided by the Selangor Government of today, besides the water. The Selangor Exco’s are only runners for the Government of today, by collecting the allocation and running down to the streets to deliver to the Rakyat, especially the Xavier. Yet this Exco’s engage their own Agents to do the delivering s to the people. Thats exactly the same as bn engaging the Government Departments to deliver. Talking about the benefits during any disaster, its normally carried out by the Govt Dept than, but today we have the RUNNERS doing it to gain cheap publicity. Here I notice that the Govt Dept officer become the runner for the Y.B.’s.
Talking about the Local Councilors, no doubt, P.R. cannot have election in proper as was said before the G.E. 12. But that does not mean that the Y.B.’s can engage any Tom, Dick and Harry to take office. Looking at the present Local Councilors in MPK, they are nuts, whom know nothing about a Councilor ship. They are mere ” Yes Y.B.” people.
Now after Putra Jaya is the whole system going to be perfect? To engage a security guard also we need to have an interview in proper. Whereby this Councilors are to be working directly with the Rate Payers. How will they be working and whom will they be working with? Could it be for the Y.D.P? Dato Bandar? Y.B.? Menteri Besar? The President of P.,K.R.? Or for Datuk seri Anwar Ibrahim?
Am not pleased with the present system and its administration of the Local Government affairs at all, and how will P.K.R. give confidence to the Voters in the P.R.U.13??????
Anthony - November 17, 2010 at 11:38 am
I don’t think any ‘sane’ opposition, anti-Establishment minded bloggers are asking Anwar ro resign. Some of us are aware of his strengths and weaknesses. Most of our criticisms are known to him – for he knows himself best. We are airing it to many so that the public knows what to expect and so that the false adoration and subsequent disappointment doesn’t repeatedly resurface.
PKR needs a better team of professional managers who can see the ‘trees from the forest’ instead of perceiving only PuraJaya. At the moment they are disparate group, with some NGO personalities tagging along. NGO (by their own acronym) inclined people do not make good governors because of their idealism, uncompromising, sometimes impractical methods.
I’m also wary of DAP with their innate, if tempered, chauvinism and leery of the ulamaks of PAS. Only Anwar can exert sufficent influence to make PR work, if not smoothly – at least in fits and starts. Even this, is much better than the old ways of false marketing, cynical and divisive manipulation of race-religion and the apartheid that is tearing the country apart. It goes way beyond mere Economics. 2 generations of divisive political cynicism is more than this country deserves.
So to me at least, Anwar and his ideals (not managerial skills) are more important than all these ‘bitches’ who came on board only to be disappointed at their own blissful fantasies.
Hidup PR! Kick out Be-End!
Menyalak-er - November 17, 2010 at 11:52 am
Mongkut,
Today is Raya Haji in Malaysia and many animals will be “kurban”.
What can you kurban in New York this season?
tean - November 17, 2010 at 11:53 am
PS: PuraJaya is not mispelled.
Menyalak-er - November 17, 2010 at 11:56 am
” GIVING UP is letting the present Government to become stronger to SCREW US ALL .. “. – TRICYCLE
sunshine - November 17, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Guys,
We all have to give change a chance otherwise Jibby and Rosie will continue to screw us good. I’ll not give them that luxury, not an iota.
Come hell or high water, my vote is with the opposite camp. BN is a big nay.
Let’s give Anwar and Zaid a break. They deserves it. Nothing comes easy. My good friend Kula is being screwed big time by the Ngeh cousins but must I desert him in his hours of need?
They need us and we need them. Without us how are they gonna survive? Tricycle says it all…
Tok Cik - November 17, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Let the present Government screw up this farce PKR and Anwar, coz with lies and cheats PKR try to screw up the people. BN may be bad previously, but they learn quickly and at least Najib is moving.
Anwar demand proof form Zaid, but the pictures of fake elections are so obvious to the people. Whom is Anwar trying to cheat and deceive? Stupid people who only know how to menyalak?
dennis - November 17, 2010 at 1:56 pm
In New York it’s korban cinta ala Bean…
Tok Cik - November 17, 2010 at 1:56 pm
When Zaid exposes the worms and shits in PKR, especially the de facto Anwar, all PKR supporters could do is to attack Zaid’s personality. PKR is rubbish and will fall together with Anwar.
Anwar has bluffed the Indian community way to much. Now he is bluffing the PKR members.
Dont waste time with Anwar, never trust Azmin who called Indian a pariah. Better still, get rid of these hipocrite so-called leaders.
subra - November 17, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Indeed Anwar is a superb campaigner, small wonder 8% of 400,000 members voted:-
Only 8.4% of PKR members even bothered to vote in their own party elections. Considering Animah Ferrar’s comments (she is the Chairman of PKR’s Disciplinary Committee) that there was vote rigging, manipulation, abuse of power, intimidation and fraud the real voter turnout is actually much lower than 8.4%.
Even the Disciplinary Committee Chairman questioned the election!!!!
C'sense - November 17, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Worst still for this superb campaigner, CHINESE AND INDIANS wiped out in PKR Elections – a sham for democracy, a shame for racism!
Other than Tian Chua, no other Indians or Chinese have been able to win anything. So PKR is going to be void of Chinese and Indians at its top levels.
This is Anwar and Azmin’s PKR for YOU PEOPLE.
C'sense - November 17, 2010 at 2:54 pm
As for the other A, I mean Azizah, go home and do cooking with your grandchildren. Indeed madam, you are the President of PKR!!!
Anwar and Azizah, one is menang tidak perlu bertanding, the other menang tanpa bertanding.
C'sense - November 17, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Talk is only 4 – 5% of PKR members actually turned up to vote in their own party elections. This is only about half of Saifuddin Nasution’s figure of 8.4% voter turnout. This means that about half of the votes cast so far are a result of “vote rigging, manipulation, abuse of power, intimidation and fraud.”
PKR must get their house in order first before they have any moral ground to condem SPR, or BN. Walk the talk. Not talk talk talk all day like Anwar!
Edwards - November 17, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Seems Din’s Blog is really getting the heat and to show multi-racialism , a “new” battalion of cyber troopers has arrived but seems non-bumi @ least their moniker(s)….@ least most varied their “messages” but the laziest of the lot is one matthew francis who always recycle the same monotonous message like a broken record!!!
Hidup Malaysia !!!
fairplay - November 17, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Korban, tean and TOk Cik?
I once met a group of Indonesians fresh from Indonesisa. They said they were told about this hospital in JB. It’s called Hospital Korban Lelaki — and they were looking for it. Apprehensive of how Muslim Malays treat their women and all. Then there was this one time I met an Indonesian in Jakarta. He was looking for an Indonesian Embassy.
Hari Raya Korban? Is that what you call it? This takes us some 3,000 years ago to the time when Prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim) was called upon by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God then made a covenant with Abraham. As to what that covenant is, that’s a topic for another day.
Mr Bean - November 17, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Behold The Lamb.
Mr Bean - November 17, 2010 at 6:12 pm
“God then made a covenant with Abraham.” – Mr Bean
Jewish folklore.. believed by Muslims and Christians and Jews .just like Aesop Fables believed by little children.
By the way, Abraham was an Iraqi from the city of Ur. You might know, Saddam Hussein could have been Abraham’s descendant.
Frank - November 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Interesting Observation
There has been many comments about Anwar not competing for the Presidency of PKR…..say he competes and wins the Presidency… perhaps then PKR will be in more “danger”…consider:
If Anwar gets convicted for Sodomy 2 and is jailed then the D.President ascents to the Presidency…..but in the present scenario….if Anwar gets jailed,the PKR leadership structure does not get disturbed and so there is less disruptive danger….and many forget that the President Wan Azizah has been quietly & firmly holding the fort when Anwar was jailed for 6 years…..in fact I consider Wan Azizah as better PM material than all other Ladies “candidates” for PM….but of course she has to stand for Parliment first,which she should !!!
Hidup Malaysia !!!
fairplay - November 17, 2010 at 10:06 pm
fairplay
If Anwar cannot or does not want to be President, he should stay in the background and let Wan Azizah and others to be the front of PKR.
Rather odd that the President of PKR is not in Parliament and the Leader of the Opposition is not the formal leader of PKR. That is why PKR is in a bloody mess at the moment.
PKR is presently structured like an NGO with elected politicians instead of a political party with ministerial material wanting to be a govt in waiting.
Frank - November 17, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Frank,
The “strategy” you suggest of Anwar being the elected President is too “straight laced” & orthodox and as suggested in The Art of War by Sun Tzu….unique and/or unusual situations call for “heaven & earth” formation……and that’s exactly what Anwar & Azizah combination Leadership is …..Yin & Yang……Dragon & Phoenix and remember that the Dragon and the Phoenix are excellent Warrior in their own right and when combined their “movements” are confusing & befuddling to the “enemy”…in this case Be-End!!!
Frank….believe me….I have nothing against Zaid….never met him even….but cannot let him derail the “War Campaign” in mid-stream,so has to puncture his ego and make him a “Laughing Stock”….actually his “qualities” would make him the best choice as “political adviser” to the Heaven & Earth formation of Anwar & Azizah !!!…..latest news is that seems trying to reconcile with Zaid….will also be “good” as God Knows…the formation of a New & Better Malaysia needs the help of all “True Malaysians” !!!
Hidup Malaysia !!!
fairplay - November 18, 2010 at 12:05 am
“Rather odd that the President of PKR is not in Parliament and the Leader of the Opposition is not the formal leader of PKR.”
Well, there’s Sonia Gandhi to consider. But i guess that’s ok, considering that the Congress Party is already the ruling party.
She is one heck of a fighter – by default too.
Menyalak-er - November 18, 2010 at 12:58 am
Err.., fairplay buddy, could you please be kind to switch of your dot matrix machine. Just to one or 2 dots at a time. Thanks.
Menyalak-er - November 18, 2010 at 1:02 am
Fairplay was raised by a dotting mother.
Mr Bean - November 18, 2010 at 1:10 am
ooops …. doting
Mr Bean - November 18, 2010 at 1:13 am
Kat once could not connect the dots. She can now with the help of doting members of this blog.
Mr Bean - November 18, 2010 at 1:15 am
fairplay will listen & act accordingly..to the “doting words of wisdom” of the Inner Circle of Six Doting Elders viz. Din,Bean,Tok Cik, Frank, Menyalak-er and not forgetting Tean.
Hidup Malaysia !!!
fairplay - November 18, 2010 at 6:31 am
“Well, there’s Sonia Gandhi to consider.”- Menyalak-er
Bad analogy.; Sonia Gandhi became a public face ONLY after what happened to her poor husband, Rajiv Gandhi. The Indian Congress was leaderless and wanted a name to remain relevant after her husband and Indira Gandhi.
Wan Azizah gave up her role as elected politician to her husband but remained a non-MP leader of PKR
Frank - November 18, 2010 at 7:06 am
What Anwar should do is be like the de facto partner of Julia Gillard, PM of Australia.
Frank - November 18, 2010 at 7:07 am
just wanted to say thanks for the writeup, i truly learned something from it, and am looking forward to more posts. thanks.
ibnu fulan - November 18, 2010 at 10:29 am
Hi Mr Bean, thanks for doting, right back at you guys.Well I can see why fairplay does it, he is err”talking” kinda .
I read with interest and have learnt lots form all the comments. I agree with Frank ,that a leader must be present in all sense of the owrd and lead the party. Absence will allow for mistakes and derailment and allows others to destroy everything the party stands for and wishes too implement for the people and of course becasue of the mindset of the M’sian ( being immature and power mad),infighting just like Umno. Then the people will be dissillusined wont they? .They have to step up or they may just loose.
Kathy - November 18, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Dear Menyalak-er,
Do not worry. In the affairs of state whatever policies you inplement now will only show results ten years down the road. PR must stay focussed.You can alrady see some results. People are beginning to question some of the major financial decision and government is beginning to get engaged in this dialogue. It is a good thing. If the PR can make this government more accountable they would have achieved their objective. The rest is in the hands of GOD.
thumblogic - November 18, 2010 at 5:12 pm
“If the PR can make this government more accountable they would have achieved their objective.
Unfortunately, this is never Anwar’s objective. His sole objective is to ride on PR and PKR to be the Prime Minister at all cost, at whatever cost it takes. By hook or by crook.
So you see, Anwar is PR’s downfall.
Brandon Lee - November 20, 2010 at 2:11 am