YOURSAY ‘Anwar should stay neutral. Let the better leader (not politician) win.’

 

Khalid confirmed to take on Azmin in PKR polls

Anonymous #37634848: Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim can contest for PKR No 2 but can he win? That is doubtful.

 

He has no grassroots support, even in his own branch. PKR deputy president Azmin Ali built the party from scratch and survived the difficult years. He has good grassroots connection. Azmin should be recognised for his sacrifice.

 

Khalid is like a guest who came to dinner when it is already set on the table. No effort. We still don't know whether he can be effective politician in Pakatan Rakyat.

 

Fair Play: DSAI (Anwar Ibrahim), this is how I read the situation. Your action, or the lack of it, in curbing Azmin has forced Khalid to now go on the offensive.

 

Your entry into the Kajang by-election gave Khalid no alternative but to take the pre-emptive step of contesting PKR’s no 2 slot. Remember, Khalid was the architect who orchestrated the successful 'dawn raid' in the UK to bring Sime Darby back to Malaysia.

 

In the likely event he loses the MB position, he might emerge as PKR no 2 by booting out Azmin. That would place him as your likely successor in PKR.

 

Now, PKR has no credible leader except yourself in state administration, unlike PAS and DAP, which have a host of seasoned politicians.

 

If the scenario plays according to plot (as stated above), PKR might emerge as a long-term credible partner in the Pakatan coalition and, by extension, provide a believable alternative to BN in GE14.

 

Of course, BN, especially Umno, would be watching Pakatan's every move.

 

Ferdtan: I am not too sure that Khalid will be the right person to be PKR’s no 2.

 

As deputy president, it can be ‘tolerated’ but what happens when due to unforeseen circumstances (with the current scenario, it is most probably) he is forced to stand in as head of the party. That will spell the end of PKR and the opposition coalition.

 

Just because Khalid is challenging the obnoxious incumbent, Azmin, whom the general public dislikes, everyone is cheering him on.

 

Seriously, think rationally and be truthful with yourself - is Khalid that good or strong enough to be able to withstand the often bitter fights/pressures against the bigger, more evil and powerful Umno?

 

He wouldn’t last a day if Umno, with its mighty party and public institutions machineries, were to target and pick on him - like they did to Anwar, Lim Guan Eng and even Mohamad Sabu.

 

He is a good administrator and he should remain as that. On top of that, he has not the energy of a politician. Have you seen him crisscrossing the Selangor state in the last GE, much less the whole country, to aid his party members on any of the campaigning tours? No.

 

For the ‘greater good’ of the whole opposition, Khalid is not the good choice. However, having said that, we hope there should be a third PKR leader who has better qualities to step forward to take on Azmin.

 

It is time for other senior leaders, be he a Chinese or Indian, thus making the party truly multiracial, to be the second top man.

 

Borrowing Shakespeare’s quote, ‘I tell you why I rose against Khalid, this is my answer: not that I loved Khalid less, but that I loved Pakatan more.’

 

Anonymous #28709072: The contest will be good for PKR. I’m very sorry to say Azmin has projected himself as arrogant, hot tempered and overly ambitious.

 

We need more ‘wakil rakyat’ (elected representatives) who are mature, cool and productive, and who are more of a team player.

 

Ablastine: May the better men win. Politicians must be polished and maybe even slimy enough to survive. So intra-party contest for any post is essential as it serves to promote the better candidate into position of power and responsibilities.

 

Mushiro: I am not sure if Khalid is making the right decision. This is politics, not economics or business where Khalid excels.

 

Even if Khalid wins, he cannot keep the party together - that is the forte of Azmin who has kept the party intact all these years. In the clash of personalities, the loser should not lose all. It will be a big loss to PKR.

 

Sodom Me Sodom You: The animosity between these two have caused so much problems in the past and this showdown will prove the mightier politician.

 

The decent thing to do after is for the losing party to concede and work for the betterment of the party. I hope Anwar sees this in a positive light and continues his struggle. What will happen if Anwar doesn't become MB of Selangor?

 

Third Eye: If the contest is on, Anwar should stay neutral otherwise PKR will break up. Let the better leader (not politician) win.

 

Khalid is a better asset for PKR. If Azmin loses and wants to take his followers to Umno, as some quarters predict, it will clean up PKR.

 

Quigonbond: Azmin is too ambitious and Pakatan don't really like him. If Khalid can take him down, by all means.

 

But Khalid on the other hand is not so polished at playing politics, so he can be a seat warmer (still, for a considerable time) until perhaps the likes of Nurul Izzah and Rafizi Ramli rise up in the party ranks.

 

I think it's democratic and fair for Khalid and Azmin to slug it out. Let the party members decide.

 

HatiPakatan: Anwar is in a dilemma as Azmin has been his aide-de-camp for ages while Khalid has been a good friend and financier. It was Khalid who bought the campaign bus that Anwar has been using in GE13.

 

In terms of corporate and management experience, Khalid is way ahead. The water deal with federal government is classic. Syabas and gang refused to accept Selangor's offer of RM9.6 billion and asked for more.

 

Now with the federal government intervention, Syabas and others have to accept the offer and above all Putrajaya gave Selangor a RM2 billion grant.

 

Well done, Khalid. Selangor needs a clean and efficient MB, unlike all previous BN MBs.

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