Halili's exit: Principles vs 'true colours'

PKR Hulu Selangor treasurer Dr Halili Rahmat’s defection from PKR to Umno has excited speculation among members of parliament.

Some attribute to disappointment that he was not selected as PKR’s candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, although Halili (right) has denied this , or to rifts within the party.

However, Pakatan Rakyat politicians are taking this on the chin.

The following comments have been edited for language and clarity.

Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department

I have known Halili since our days at Malay College Kuala Kangsar and he has always been a principled man. I believe he must have found it perplexing that he had not been nominated as the candidate. I think it is not so much that he wanted it but because the choice of candidate (Zaid Ibrahim) tak baguslah (was not good).

 

Halili has been with PKR since its inception, when Anwar Ibrahim was in jail. He was there all along with (president Dr Wan) Azizah Wan Ismail. But this is the way they treat their people. That is why you see, one by one, elected representatives leaving PKR and ….you also have those who have worked hard but (who are) later forgotten (when candidates are selected).

I think this will boost BN's chances. I am sure he has his supporters. And if he is in BN and if that seat belongs to Umno, I think he is a natural choice. But I want to say again, this is Anwar. When it suits him, he will take you, but when it does not, then you get dumped.

Halili will have to continue with what he has said, to campaign for us (Umno). I am sure he has a lot to say. If he is agreeable, we will seek his help in campaigning for us.

Azmin Ali, PKR vice-president and Gombak MP

Umno is desperate. Every single person who leaves the party (PKR) is being welcomed (with open arms). They can have these sort of characters.

We have to move on. What’s important are those members who are still in the party. PKR leaders  are committed to the cause and will continue with the present struggle. This should be the priority.

I don't think that it is a fair statement to assume Dr Halili left because he was not selected. We gave him an opportunity to contest under the Keadilan banner in 1999. Of course he lost. But he should have continued to engage with the people of Hulu Selangor, which he did not.

It was difficult for us to (select him as candidate) because he had distanced himself from the people of Hulu Selangor (HS) over all these years. It would not be fair to voters in HS... Even (after) he lost, he did not spend time to engage with people on the ground.

The loss is not as ‘explosive’ as what the Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had claimed it to be. We will have to go down and explain to the voters as to our position and our objectives. Locals, those who know Halili, knew he has distanced himself from them over the years.

Karpal Singh, DAP national chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP

It is a good thing that Dr Halili was not put up to contest. His actions today show that he is not sincere as he has decided to join the other side.

I think he has shown his true colours as a person who cannot be trusted. It is good riddance to him - he has done a service to PKR (by leaving). His departure will not affect (Pakatan) as he is not a giant figure to cause tremors.

Mahfuz Omar, Pokok Sena MP

This shows that Pakatan made the right choice in choosing Zaid, although Dr Halili's name was also shortlisted. It would have been a problem if Dr Halili was chosen, wins and then defects later.

There could be other (similar) announcements in the coming days but it will not affect PKR or Pakatan's preparations. Pakatan will continue to work hard towards ensuring that Zaid wins.

Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth head and Rembau MP

I think he must have his reasons for wanting to leave. The opposition will say that he left because he was not picked as a candidate. I think there were more deep-seated reasons and probably that was the tipping point.

From what I understand, it has to do with the systematic sidelining of certain people by Anwar. This is just the symptom of what is happening. The root cause, from what I understand, is deep- seated dissatisfaction in the leadership because of  Anwar’s policy of favouritism.

The favouritism has spilled onto the rift between Zaid and Azmin Ali. This is also affecting the coalition members. That is why PAS has been very slow in moving their ground troops to Hulu Selangor. This development has nothing to do with BN. This has got to do with internal dissatisfaction because of Anwar. That is why people are dissatisfied and it is dividing PKR.