Is sacking former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim a loss for UMNO or Zaid?

Is sacking former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim a loss for UMNO or Zaid?

For Zaid, it is no longer important whether he is still an UMNO member after resigning from the post of minister. Did he even bother about his party membership after he has given up the minister position?

In fact, Zaid has been ready to risk everything.

He is now free from the restraint of toeing the party line and he can say or do whatever he likes. He can criticise the party's racial slant and he can attend anti-ISA activities without fear.

He has left UMNO and the government as they couldn't find a suitable platform in them to put his ideas to work.

He has confessed that he is in no hurry to join the opposition Pakatan Rakyat. He has said just as much that he is keen to explore political ideals instead of seeking political fortunes.

However, in the long run, if Zaid wishes to continue his political struggle, he must find himself a new platform. The choice if to join PKR, DAP or even Pas. Otherwise, he may lose his influence be forgotten.

On the one hand, Zaid may not be succeed if he stays in UMNO. Instead, he may move far away from his ideals. Leaving UMNO means gaining freedom rather than suffering a loss for Zaid.

On the other hand, UMNO would not feel sorry for losing Zaid as he has been a pain among conservative UMNO leaders. It would trigger more controversies and disputes if he stays in UMNO. Also, it would be hard for UMNO leaders to explain to the party's traditional and conservative grassroots.

Sacking Zaid means getting rid of a problem as well as consolidating the internal factions. However, the reformist ideas brought by Zaid when he first joined the Cabinet had faced a lot of setbacks. Perhaps, UMNO leaders believed that they are not against reform but Zaid is just running too fast that could not match the pace of UMNO. However, some are of the opinion that sacking Zaid would make it more difficult for UMNO to change.

(By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)
05/12/08