opinion

For many Keadilan leaders and members, the maiden party elections last month may have been their first lesson on the finer points of politics.

As an observer, one can see that the fundamental features of the party needs to be fine-tuned in accordance with the democratic system. The newly-elected leaders should be encouraged to be magnanimous towards their former challengers, and the losers should concede defeat.

Party unity in the two-year-old Keadilan was never truly democratically tested until the November elections. Their many problems came to light, and more importantly, it indicated the current state of politics within the party. Clearly, the party election, like any other, was not entirely free of the seamy side of politics.

The lesson learnt here is that Keadilan needs to rethink its power-sharing formula among the various factions in the party. This will hopefully neutralise anticipated opposition to the new leadership from the marginalised pro-Abim faction (those who are members of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia). To this end, the party needs a more down-to-earth approach rather than scholarly lectures on greater political openness.

This election results had significantly cut the pro-Abim faction strength to size. For the losers, this is a fact hard to accept since the faction has been a dominant force in Keadilan since the party's formation in 1999.

Support for the non-Abim faction - a loose grouping of ex-Umno leaders and individuals from NGOs - was so strong that for the first time the Abim-faction was left looking powerless.

Upholding democracy

But the main casualty of this battle is Keadilan's reputation as an upholder of democratic freedom. As such, restoring confidence in the party leadership and its ability to handle the crisis must become the immediate agenda of the new leadership. Serious effort needs to go into putting a lid on the problem.

The challenge that both sides face in bridging the gap involves the art of 'give-and-take'. They will have the opportunity to put this into practice as they sort through the decision on the proposed Keadilan-Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) merger, expected to take place next year. Otherwise, the emotions stirred during party election could soon generate a political momentum of its own, a process which could ultimately bury the party.

Evidence supporting this theory is apparent from the failed attempt of reconciliation between the pro-Abim and non-Abim group when the four former Abim leaders - Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, Ruslan Kassim, Annuar Tahir, and Mustapha Kamil Ayob - who lost the contest for the top party posts, had declined appointment to the party leadership.

So far, the four are yet to say whether they may reconsider the offer. If they take up the posts, it will certainly help solve the problem amicably.

On the other hand, Abim members in Keadilan should accept with an open heart the result which reflects the members' desire for a more multiracial leadership to run the party. They want the non-Abim faction as their leaders. It is also clear that members do not like having the agenda dictated by one faction in the party.

Advocate for reform

In the beginning of its formation, Keadilan was a vibrant advocate of reforms. It made a strong presence on the political scene, and still does. But due to the failure to impose effective control, factions with differing views have emerged within the party.

Being the prime mover of Keadilan's formation, Abim members may feel obliged to continue leading the party. As such, Abim president, Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman can be excused for allowing a note of frustration to creep into his remark on the disastrous party election result.

With these, government parties are sure to be tuning in keenly to news on Keadilan, as the happenings in the party now can determine the future of the opposition forces in the upcoming general elections.

Obviously, party president Wan Azizah must work out a focused and detailed plan that will keep the party intact. Most importantly she must be seen to be above the factions.

As the conflicting factions have stopped airing their dirty laundry in public, Azizah should get the conciliatory talks back on track before the opportunity slips away.

NASH RAHMAN is senior analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces the subscriber-based political report, Analysis Malaysia. He is a former chief news editor in Berita Harian , editor of now defunct Watan and associate editor of The Sun .