Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim confirmed today what has been swirling in political circles for weeks. He quit PKR and will represent the good people of Bayan Baru as an Independent in Parliament.
It is likely others from PKR might keep him company at the bench for Independents where Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali currently sits with the two SAPP MPs.
These few, like Zahrain, have been critical of PKR leaders and partners in the Pakatan Rakyat of late, just as they near two years ruling Kedah, Penang and Selangor since Election 2008.
Yet, they have never articulated their grouses save for calling Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng dictatorial or authoritarian or someone who prefers his own DAP men over his allies. And of course, there is always the matter of money or allocations. And posts.
Their behaviour and demands speak for themselves. Perhaps it comes from years of being part of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. Perhaps it’s because of their closeness to de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Perhaps it’s because they are just born that way where everyone else has to give way to them.
Be it in corporate or political organisations, no one is indispensable especially politicians who still put self before the larger interest of the party or the nation. These are politicians without principles, who latch on to causes for their on greater self-interest and then whinge when they don’t get their way.
In Zahrain’s case, it has been festering since he was passed over for a senior post in the Penang state government or Lim over-ruling him in giving out a contract for the Bukit Jambul Golf and Country Club. For this, he has argued the case against Lim and complained that Anwar is soft on his allies and hard against his own party members.
But Anwar has not been seen to be strict with his own members, if the experience of Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin comes to mind. The Syariah lawyer has been attacking PKR allies PAS and DAP despite a gag order and being hauled up before the party disciplinary panel last month.
Zahrain too was due to face the panel but his resignation today will end that saga.
Fact is, PKR should count itself fortunate that Zahrain decided to take the plunge and leave the party as it has never had the stomach to tick off or kick out members. It has always been a case of a disgruntled few leaving and denouncing the leadership since its early days as Parti KeAdilan Nasional in 1999.
For PKR, Zahrain’s resignation is an opportunity to spring-clean the party and get rid of the selfish who are just there because they are loyal to Anwar. PKR needs men and women of principle and those who won’t wilt or cry because they don’t get attention or money.
Election 2008 has shown that the voters have a choice in choosing the party and the candidate. The people in Kelana Jaya put their trust in ‘Lingam’ cameraman Loh Gwo-Burne despite a lack of fluency in Bahasa Malaysia or any other redeeming qualities over the MCA/Barisan Nasional candidate because they were fed up with the ruling coalition and gave a chance to PKR. The same with Bayan Baru in Election 2008.
The situation will be different in the next general elections. Pakatan Rakyat will have to pull up its socks and get better candidates if it wants to retain its seats and grab more in its quest to capture Putrajya. Five assemblymen have already left the opposition pact to be friendly with Barisan Nasional. Zahrain has also left.
The quality leaves a lot to be desired. Its time PKR realise that and do the necessary. Kick them out before they become toxic. Don’t create another Zahrain saga and leave it lingering to poison its new dawn.
MI
12/02/10
It is likely others from PKR might keep him company at the bench for Independents where Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali currently sits with the two SAPP MPs.
These few, like Zahrain, have been critical of PKR leaders and partners in the Pakatan Rakyat of late, just as they near two years ruling Kedah, Penang and Selangor since Election 2008.
Yet, they have never articulated their grouses save for calling Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng dictatorial or authoritarian or someone who prefers his own DAP men over his allies. And of course, there is always the matter of money or allocations. And posts.
Their behaviour and demands speak for themselves. Perhaps it comes from years of being part of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. Perhaps it’s because of their closeness to de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Perhaps it’s because they are just born that way where everyone else has to give way to them.
Be it in corporate or political organisations, no one is indispensable especially politicians who still put self before the larger interest of the party or the nation. These are politicians without principles, who latch on to causes for their on greater self-interest and then whinge when they don’t get their way.
In Zahrain’s case, it has been festering since he was passed over for a senior post in the Penang state government or Lim over-ruling him in giving out a contract for the Bukit Jambul Golf and Country Club. For this, he has argued the case against Lim and complained that Anwar is soft on his allies and hard against his own party members.
But Anwar has not been seen to be strict with his own members, if the experience of Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin comes to mind. The Syariah lawyer has been attacking PKR allies PAS and DAP despite a gag order and being hauled up before the party disciplinary panel last month.
Zahrain too was due to face the panel but his resignation today will end that saga.
Fact is, PKR should count itself fortunate that Zahrain decided to take the plunge and leave the party as it has never had the stomach to tick off or kick out members. It has always been a case of a disgruntled few leaving and denouncing the leadership since its early days as Parti KeAdilan Nasional in 1999.
For PKR, Zahrain’s resignation is an opportunity to spring-clean the party and get rid of the selfish who are just there because they are loyal to Anwar. PKR needs men and women of principle and those who won’t wilt or cry because they don’t get attention or money.
Election 2008 has shown that the voters have a choice in choosing the party and the candidate. The people in Kelana Jaya put their trust in ‘Lingam’ cameraman Loh Gwo-Burne despite a lack of fluency in Bahasa Malaysia or any other redeeming qualities over the MCA/Barisan Nasional candidate because they were fed up with the ruling coalition and gave a chance to PKR. The same with Bayan Baru in Election 2008.
The situation will be different in the next general elections. Pakatan Rakyat will have to pull up its socks and get better candidates if it wants to retain its seats and grab more in its quest to capture Putrajya. Five assemblymen have already left the opposition pact to be friendly with Barisan Nasional. Zahrain has also left.
The quality leaves a lot to be desired. Its time PKR realise that and do the necessary. Kick them out before they become toxic. Don’t create another Zahrain saga and leave it lingering to poison its new dawn.
MI
12/02/10
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