COMMENT There is no greater sacrifice for a cause than to give truly of one's self, to barter away one's very freedom, one's dreams and indeed one's life. And for PKR defacto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has fought his battle to the brim, he has perhaps done just that – in the fight for all that is good and just.

While too jaded to see in him purely a hero, I have no doubt he has given more than most, in the quest to unseat from our sorrows.

He has sold himself not cheaply, but made the powers pay the bill, for his removal from the political chessboard, and did give the opposition a shrill battle cry. He had put himself upon the line, gambled of his own what he had hoped to give - the freedom that the rakyat sought for still.

But therein lies the rub, for his followers are blinded throughout, unable to see what he had given them; instead looking to hobble their own strategem. He had done his part, took them to greater heights, yet his followers now fight among themselves as if out of spite - they waddle in his freedom's preamble, while the party weakens, with no one to truly lead them.

He had paid the price, lest anyone would forget, least of all his charges, now a bumbling body without a head. His spouse had once led, only to abdicate without thought, though it was perhaps Anwar's own ambition that took away this best second option.

His allies are of no use, for in them lie the same truths: how self-interest dispels unity, and profit margins rules the roost perpetually. PAS is in the past; it was perhaps too good to last, now all but returned to Umno's fold, from whence it came to be a whole.

DAP is all for one but one for all it is not, struggling with that singular tint, the racial identifying marker it is adamant to not represent. Amanah is but a shadow, with the proper backdrop of course, though it lacks the substance to give it the life its allies desperately sought.

So once again it is left to PKR to steer and stir the opposition front, though without Anwar's firm hand, the party no longer wields a big branch. It's but a wispy whisper in the face of violent storms, with no weight to hold things down.

So now we come to this, the crossroads where PKR is - for it to truly move on, Anwar's freedom must be forever forsworn.

He is still their flag and banner, but he can no longer be the purpose, or else doom is all there is. They must not waste their energy - to fight for what he willingly gave; the only way to honour him, is fight for all there is.

As long as PKR is broken - by the battle for proxy leadership - as long as no one is able to restore this once mighty derelict, then forever will Harapan be hobbled by infighting and petty squabbles, by DAP's unilateral decisions, and Amanah's less than weighty position.

To truly honour Anwar's sacrifice, PKR must look deep within itself, find the courage to move forward, and build new bridges to forge ahead. It must stop looking into the past, but look instead to future paths, build new leaders and cut off old rots; it's time for youths to lead the charge.

Only once its whole is strong and mighty can PKR become the hope that Harapan needs; only by finishing what Anwar began, can PKR truly honour the man. And if he is truly the statesman some claim he is, he would see this as the best scheme, the only way to freedom's awakening.

There will come perhaps a time when he will walk freely again, but to see that day's coming, PKR must first truly forget him.

HAZLAN ZAKARIA is a member of Team Malaysiakini.