'Who has the edge in leading Pakatan?'

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your say 'PKR should take PAS as an example to follow. A contest is just a contest and the winner should be the one most preferred by the members.'

 

Zaid closing in on Azmin in No 2 nominations

Chris: Well done, Azmin Ali. Even Permatang Pauh nominated Azmin, so there is no second guessing as to who Anwar Ibrahim prefers. All the ‘cabangs' (divisions) are free to nominate their candidates, and of course, this will be based on the majority of their members' support.

Why do you think the majority of Sabah cabangs will nominate Zaid Ibrahim as their choice? Simple - because Zaid enjoys more support from Sabah members. The number of nominations received will determine the popularity of that particular candidates among the members, and this will translate into votes during the election.

At the end of the day, a win is still a win, but I believe some sore losers will blame all this on cheating, phantom members, Umno culture and so on.

Ronin: PKR should take PAS as an example to follow. A contest is just a contest and the winner should be the one most preferred by the members. After the contest, PAS closes rank. Anyway, all this is suppose to be for the rakyat and Malaysia's future, not for personal agenda, power or money.

MW: Permatang Pauh's nomination for Azmin is revealing. Perhaps the 'rumours' about Anwar's tacit support for Azmin is true after all. I don't care either way even though I support Pakatan Rakyat. It is wishful thinking, but maybe miracles could happen. PAS and DAP will find a way to work together minus Umno-lite (PKR).

Tg Harris: The choice of Azmin in Permatang Pauh is an indication of Anwar's preference. We hope that other cabangs make their own choice based on the qualities of leadership of both candidates, not only to lead PKR, but to lead Pakatan to Putrajaya in the absence of Anwar if the political situation twisted that way, as a continency.

The crucial question is who has that edge to lead Pakatan to Putrajaya? Let's de-Umno-ise the process of electing leaders lest we are back to square one. Avoid the ganging up and winners-take-all mentality. Let's have a grand debate between the two candidates for members to weigh and decide, not for the warlords to determine.

ACoward: If members of the party only follow their leaders without thinking on their own, the party will face a disaster and the development of the party will be unhealthy. This is what crony politics is all about. Crony politics is where you have a million members but only with one brain (usually an ‘evil' brain, at that).

The Sensibility: I hope Zaid Ibrahim will be given the chance. He has earned my respect. Unfortunately, it looks like Anwar is supporting Azmin. This shows Anwar has no foresight for PKR. If it's his wish to return his obligations to his close comrade, then he isn't really a true leader - he does not know how to distinguish the sacrifice he needs to make to ensure the party's vision is achieved.

I pray that Zaid Ibrahim will be elected as the deputy president as he has the respect of the public. You may have a popular leader within the party but if that person is unpopular in terms of public support, it would be no use clinging to the deputy president's post as you will drag the party into oblivion.

I hope PKR members are wise enough to choose a righteous leader who can lead the party into the next general election.

Anonymous: Actually, the nomination process should be stopped once the candidates concerned have qualified to contest so as not to invite unnecessary interpretation of support or strength of each candidates.

CKS: I, too, think nominations should stop as soon as the minimum number is secured. That will be the true spirit of ‘one man, one vote' democracy.

CarL: Azmin has been consistent for 12 years and has not deserted the ship. Zaid is a proven turncoat. He knew he was a goner when Najib Abdul Razak takes over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - and his fellow ministers wanted him out as well - he did the next most sneaky thing: he went against his masters, pretended to be upset over the Internal Security Act (he does not fight for that now) and to all and sundry, he gave up his plump de facto law minister's post.

He then resigned from the party that had already kicked him out, said he was not going to join anyone, but later joined PKR, then got teary-eyed after getting hit with accusations and said he would take leave for six months, which he did not, and said he would never run for a post and did not want a post, but now he does.

Trust this guy? I am not a supporter, but PKR members must see through this guy.

The Way I See it: I would have preferred the amiable Zaid to the stern mien and fiery bang tables-style of Azmin. Zaid possess a comfortable relationship with people in DAP, PAS, and even East Malaysians, which by the way, is more an asset to Pakatan Rakyat than to PKR. Azmin seems more comfortable within his party.

That's just the way I see it. Both are nevertheless good men with their own individual strengths.

PKR polls: 'Will capability trump popularity?'

Rayfire: I do hope capability will be the measuring stone for most PKR members in selecting their future crop of leaders. Anwar's time is almost over, literally. There is a need to reconsider the future direction of PKR in a whole new context, post-Anwar.

No doubt, the party was started in support of him but now we have greater concerns on the role of the party in the context of establishing a two-party system in Malaysia. This requires leaders with great vision.

Party loyalty aside, do PKR members really think Azmin is the leader to bring them to greater heights or will Zaid fare better despite him being relatively a new member? PKR members will have to help the leaders set the priorities right.

From what I see, most of whom left Umno to join PKR carry the same syndrome. They left Umno but the Umno mentality did not leave them. Do what is right for the nation, not for an individual. Otherwise, PKR will join the list of soon-to-be extinct parties such as Gerakan, MCA, MIC and Umno.

 

 


 

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