Pakatan en route to victory or disaster?

The coalition which touts itself as an alternative to Barisan Nasional and espouses reforms is in dire need of changes itself or risks being punished by voters in the next general election.

This is the stern warning from PKR coordinator Zaid Ibrahim to Pakatan Rakyat, which is drowning in internal conflicts.

Zaid, who has been tasked with the job of consolidating the fledgling coalition, has himself been rumoured to be a victim of such discord.

In his latest blog posting, the former Umno leader and ex-minister identified several weaknesses and problems.

He also suggested the possibility of working together with veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, whom Zaid described as being reform-driven.

But in order for this to happen, he said, Pakatan's larger-than-life leader Anwar Ibrahim would have to 'sacrifice'.

Using a soccer analogy, Zaid added: "Pakatan needs a few more strikers than what it already has to strengthen the team. Ku Li (Razaleigh) is an old timer, but he has integrity and a contemporary political outlook."

He said Razaleigh does not have to switch parties to do this but could work together in terms of holding political rallies and campaigns.

"I am aware that he still harbours the dream of rehabilitating Umno, to revive the original Umno which is dead (and now a tool for party cronies with problems of corruption and money politics).

"For me, there is nothing wrong in cooperating as we both want to initiate changes towards establishing a clean, efficient and corrupt-free system of governance," he added.

Let Nik Aziz chair Pakatan

Zaid also proposed that the venerated Muslim scholar and PAS icon Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat be appointed chair of Pakatan once its registration is given the green light.

He said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang could make a huge contribution to the coalition by asking Nik Aziz to take on the job.

This proposal comes in the wake of widening cracks between the two PAS leaders over Hadi's inclination towards a unity government with Umno.

Zaid noted that Nik Aziz, who is the PAS spiritual leader, could play a similar divine role in Pakatan just like Mahatma Gandhi who was the spiritual leader of the Indian Congress Party.

"(DAP veteran) Lim Kit Siang could prove his statesmanship by agreeing to this and assuming the role of advisor on matters of democracy and rights. Such a move would also eliminate the unity government agenda," he said.

The predominantly Chinese DAP has always been wary of PAS over its theocratic policies and intention to set up an Islamic state.

Winning big in Sabah, S'wak

Zaid also said that Pakatan must re-examine its "grand dream" of winning big in the BN fortresses of Sabah and Sarawak.

"Political reality shows this to be an arduous task. The negative impacts are already evident, with a tussle over seats taking place just like during the 2008 general election," he added.

The lawyer turned politician said it would be best if Pakatan played a supporting role to the local parties with a similar vision in the two states.

"This would not only be seen as respecting the locals, but also pave the way for them to become partners in Pakatan. Is this not more realistic?" he asked.

Consolidating the opposition coalition, Zaid said, could only be achieved if there is compromise by all quarters towards ensuring equitable national policies through the process of negotiations.

He stressed that only a "grand coalition" could overcome BN.

"But if the top leaders of the three parties (PKR, DAP and PAS) feel that they are great and strong enough and choose to continue with the old formula of electoral pacts, then I am certain that the Putrajaya dream would remain a dream," he said.

"And if there are those in Pakatan who give prominence to only their respective party interests and positions above collective interests, I do not consider them as champions of change.

"This group only wants to seize power for themselves. The people would see them as being no different from the leaders in Umno and BN," he added.

Reform is synonymous with sacrifice, underscored Zaid, adding that leaders cannot ask the people to make sacrifices when they were not willing to change themselves.

"The people are watching. If the leaders remain stubborn and adhere to the old way of doing things, the people would punish us in the next general election," he added.

Talk about the flesh, not skin

Meanwhile, Zaid also lamented that there was little excitement among the top Pakatan leaders over the application for the coalition to be registered.

Stating that he was personally elated by this development, the PKR coordinator pointed out that this is the first time that three major opposition parties in the country have agreed to unite under one legal framework with a single logo and political aspiration.

"But this joy is not shared by the top leaders of PKR, PAS and DAP. There is not a single encouraging statement from these leaders.

"It is as if they do not want the issue to be played up among the people. I don't know if this is part of their political strategy. Only they would know the reasons," he added.

With a layer of frustration and sarcasm coating his words, the former de facto law minister said: "What is played up instead is the statements by one of two senior PKR leaders eager to explain that I am not the chairperson of Pakatan."

"What the people want to hear, but which is not explained, is the direction, strategies and goals of Pakatan as an alternative to BN.

"As far as I am concerned, talking about the flesh is much more important than talking about the skin," he added.