Azmin will 'mature', says PKR chief Wan Azizah

INTERVIEW After more than a decade at the forefront of opposition politics, Azmin Ali has become a major powerhouse and, naturally, a lightning rod for controversy.

Having established himself as a loyal sidekick to Anwar Ibrahim, he has also earned a fair share of criticism, often pointing to his abrasive approach and for being of highly ambitious.

At just 46, Azmin has the title of Gombak MP, Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyperson, Selangor PKR chief and PKR deputy chief to his name.

Despite the meteoric rise, his image took the biggest hit last year when he locked horns with Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, a party elder, and was accused of rigging in the controversial party elections through the so-called 'Azmin cartel' .

In the third part of a wide-ranging interview with Malaysiakini , PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that critics need to consider Azmin's relative infancy in politics.

She argued that despite some flaws, Azmin had contributed vastly to the party and that his loyalty was without question.

"He is young and if you compare him with (former deputy president) senator Syed Husin Ali, of course there is a difference in age and so in experience, but give him time, he will mature.

"Azmin is after all a senior leader and he has already reached the second (topmost) post, so I think just give him time to be more experienced," she said.

' Defectors wanted instant gratification'

Wan Azizah, who has helmed PKR since its inception in 1999, said that she was satisfied with Azmin's performance as her deputy thus far.

"So far, he has done pretty well, coming up with (press) statements. He is the central election committee chief, he's doing all that and giving us analysis on seat negotiations and guidelines to all other states," she explained.

Since the 2008 elections, PKR has been humstrung by a string of defections , with many citing dissatisfaction with Azmin's overwhelming presence in the party.

On the subject of defections, Wan Azizah attributed this to greed and that for some, Umno still runs deep in their veins.

"When Anwar came out from prison, droves of people came in (to PKR). Maybe they were reading that we would take over Putrajaya at the 2008 election - that attracted them. When it didn't happen, and it didn't suit whatever they wanted, they left.

"If you look back at their history long enough, they were from the other side (Umno), so I suppose after awhile, temptation caught up, and they made their choice," she said.

However, Wan Azizah is confident that the remaining members are committed to the party's cause and subsequent candidates for the general election will be properly vetted.

"So far, the ones who are with us are loyal and have shown commitment enough. We have some criteria (to vet candidates).

"We have a committee that handles this, I don't normally interfere too much," she said on party policy in the selection of candidates.

' Willing to share seats'

Despite the turncoats, which had slashed PKR's representation in Parliament from 31 to just 23, Wan Azizah denied allegations that the party was now the weakest link in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

"I don't agree with that. In 2004, there was only one seat, then it became the biggest (party) by circumstances and I became the opposition leader. So you can't really say the weakest link when there is substantial appeal in PKR.

"Link or no link, I think Pakatan has become something that is tangible that you can see in Selangor, Kedah and Penang.

"In Kelantan, because they (PAS) have been there for long time, Pakatan's link is probably a bit (weak)... but (PAS spiritual leader) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) is the staunchest supporter of Anwar, and I thank him for that," she said.

Nevertheless, Wan Azizah said that PKR was willing to concede claims to several seats with a mix of racial composition.

"If the voters think that they are ready to accept that, then yes, we have to share our seats, but they also have to share their seats - it goes both ways. At the moment, of course, the bulk of it (mixed seats) are with us," she said.

'Perak possible, NS perhaps'

For the next general election, Wan Azizah opined that Pakatan was likely to wrest control of Perak again, but she was less optimistic about the coalition's chances in Negeri Sembilan.

Recently, there have been reports that the BN had conducted a polls dry-run which suggested that it would lose the two states. Pakatan came just five seats shy of winning Negeri Sembilan in 2008.

"Well, we can win almost everywhere, but it's not going to be easy because Negeri Sembilan has been traditionally (loyal to) BN and they are staunch Umno (supporters)... but we can try, of course," she said.

For Wan Azizah, the main challenge now for the coalition is overcoming the skewed electoral system.

"That is why we want Bersih, at least we can have a level playing ground. Of course, our machinery cannot match the BN's. Actually BN does not have a machinery, they have government agencies that act as their machinery," she said.

Compounding the problems further was the fact that current numerous talents within Pakatan are being poached from all sides.

"Sometimes the other side like the MCLM (Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement), they try to woo our supporters and our people. BN's side too, they are trying to get us.

"We must be doing well," she quipped.

Eyeing BN's fixed deposit of Sabah

On PKR's viability in Sabah, where the state leadership is constantly in flux due to leadership struggles, Wan Azizah said that disagreements against her chairing the state leadership represent only a minority.

"The majority wants me to at least steer for awhile. I'm not interested in becoming chief minister, they know that. I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome; they have to be prepared for elections.

"Sometimes (when) they think about party position then the focus is different. But now they're back to focusing on winning seats for themselves (and) for Sabahans.

"They (BN) question that I head Sabah, but why is Najib heading Selangor? If Najib wants Selangor back, we also want Sabah. They have a fixed deposit there, but we will try," she said.

 

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This interview was conducted jointly with Hafiz Yatim and Salhan K Ahmad.

 

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