N Gobalakrishnan has gone. Pajudin Nordin has quit PKR. Suhaimi Shafiei in Selangor stands firm against repressive strategies on both his rights and that of the rakyat by the UMNO led regime.

These three leaders are like many others in our midst. But what is important is for the rakyat to recognise the leader who is for, and with them, in this hour of struggle.

Gobala, whom I know as former member of the supreme council of PKR vowed he would never leave Anwar and the party unlike others. Why then did he decide to announce his departure on the eve of the Tenang elections?

Only Gobala knows the real reason. The timing raises more questions than answers. What was the carrot that hung before him and by whom?

Or did he have any skeletons hidden that would now surface and destroy his position as Member of Parliament?

Pajudin as a leader, I know very little but his shortlived leadership speaks volumes as well. Among the many questions that surface is:

"Why did the PKR leadership choose him when there are so many others in Sabah?

The President of PKR says, "It was to attract the young people to the party". But he was definitely not the right one at all.

This is one big mistake the party has undoubtedly made and should review itself critically in its choice of leaders.

At the same time PKR does have many good and committed leaders like Suhaimi. He is a strong Adun and works hard both for the constituents and Selangor.

It is the goodness in his leadership that the current repressive regime wants to "shoot" him down through a court process on trumped up charges on the issue of loyalty to the monarch.

The police, a stooge of the current Umno led regime, now warns people not to gather at the court in Shah Alam. This is a senseless warning which comes from the fear that the rakyat will now throw support for Suhaimi.

The court trial will distract his focus and will take up resources. But that is the challenge we as leaders face when we oppose oppression and repression of the people and stand up for rights, dignity and democracy.

I look back on my 13 year trial under the Printing Presses and Publication Act for exposing the horrific conditions in detention centres including deaths of detainees.

Yes, it was tough and a major challenge to resilience, to gaining support and remaining consistent to the position taken on rights, good governance and against corruption.

I also remember being part of a large group of people who fasted for 72 hours as a show support and solidarity for Lim Guan Eng, charged, sentenced and imprisoned under the Sedition Act for standing up to the rights of a girl raped by a chief minister.

He never gave up continued the people's struggle for justice and dignity. Today he is a chief minister, creating a new and possible reality under Pakatan Rakyat.

But the strength of the leader comes from both the belief we have and the support from the rakyat. Leaders do need to see the support growing. It gives renewed strength and motivation to remain in the struggle.

It is now up to the rakyat of Selangor and to rest of us in Malaysia to come forward in many different ways including funds to keep a genuine leader alive and a state assemblyman within Pakatan.

The party and the rakyat must realise that at different moments in our time, leaders are challenged. We must breathe a sigh of relief for those who have left, quit the party as it becomes clear that they are not able to deliver or are too self-centred.

It is this process that the party becomes strong as I believe people do change, either way, for their individual interest or for the rakyat.

So, good luck Gobala and Pajudin. Sadly, you have indeed destroyed your political careers.

We, the rakyat and the party must work harder to develop genuine leadership that we need where the rakyat respects and hopes for change to be realised while the repressive regime fears leaders like Suhaimi, Anwar, and many more who are with us committed to political change for our country and for our children.