Syed Husin unfazed, says not many will join Zaid

Outgoing PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali appeared unfazed by Zaid Ibrahim’s resignation and decision to form a new party as he believes that the latter will not be able to garner much support.

“I am not worried and neither are many leaders... I don’t think many people would join (Zaid). Even those with potential to follow him have made announcements distancing themselves from him.

“For me, if you want to leave then leave. This is cleansing process. A river becomes clearer after the rubbish have been cleared out,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

Among those who had previously backed Zaid, or were seen close to him, including parliamentarians Loh Gwo Burne (Kelana Jaya) and N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai), both of whom have declared loyalty to de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Laughing off Zaid’s suggestion that the veteran politician would be “happy” with his resignation, Syed Husin even hinted that he had doubts that the proposed new party would even take off.

Asked if Pakatan Rakyat is willing to work with Zaid’s party in the future, as the latter had offered yesterday, he said: “When the time comes, when (Zaid) has a party and some strength, when there are negotiations... (but) the question is, can he even maintain his party?”

“It is his right to form a party, his right to contest. But the people will determine whether or not that party has a future,” he said.

‘Zaid can’t make up his mind’

One evident hamstring of this soon-to-be party, said Syed Husin, is the constant wavering of its would-be leader.

“He appears to be someone who does not have a real stand. Even today, first he said he will hold a press conference then he cancelled, and then he decided to have one after all. This is his character.  

“He said he will contest for presidency, then deputy presidency, and then that he will withdraw if this person joins the race, and then not anymore. It raises a lot of question marks,” he said.

Anticipating this criticism, Zaid had yesterday said he was seen as a flip-flop politician by armchair critics who ignored the fact that he had been steadfast in his struggle, giving the oft-cited example of his resignation from cabinet.