Zaid: Pakatan’s CPF useless

Anwar's open support of hudud law is a clear sign that the coalition's Common Policy Framework has failed, says Kita chief

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat’s former policy coordinator, Zaid Ibrahim, has declared the coalition’s Common Policy Framework (CPF) “in tatters” after its leader Anwar Ibrahim openly supported hudud law.

Zaid, who was the chief architect of the 21-month-old CPF, pointed out that the framework included an agreement that a consensus approach would be used in any decision-making concerning the coalition.

Anwar’s recent statement of support for the implementation of the hudud law in Kelantan has therefore violated this agreement as neither DAP nor PAS have echoed his sentiments.

“When the CPF was launched, Pakatan leaders were prepared to accept the Federal Constitution and move on,” Zaid told FMT.

“There was no talk of an Islamic state and I thought that they were on the right track. But Anwar for whatever reason now wants an Islamic state.”

The Kita president went on to brand Anwar as a “closet Islamic fundamentalist” and a Renaissance man who would “even drive changes that are unacceptable to the majority”.

He also attributed Anwar’s controversial statement as a diversion from his inability to respond to BN’s recent political and economic transformation plans.

“All he has done is say that Pakatan would come up with something better but has not said what it would be. He never sees things in a positive light, only from his point of view,” said Zaid.

“Anwar’s politics is one of expediency. Now that Najib has moved to the middle ground, Anwar is forced to revert to the other extreme.

“I’m not endorsing his move, which I think is poorly thought out, but I’m just explaining how he thinks,” he added.

What personal opinion?

Zaid also dismissed Anwar’s clarification that his statement was a personal opinion and not reflective of Pakatan’s stand.

“There is no such thing as a personal opinion when one is an opposition leader,” he retorted. “Anwar can have a personal opinion on Malaysian batik but not on political matters.”

When asked if he believed whether Anwar truly supported the hudud law or whether his statement was part of a political game, Zaid laughed and said that it was “always a game”.

“Anwar will say and do anything necessary to keep him in power,” he said. “Nothing is sacred to the so-called liberal, Renaissance man who thinks he can get away with anything.

“I wonder if he consulted PKR leaders on this issue. What do people like (Batu MP) Tian Chua and (vice-president) Chua Jui Meng think of him now?”

“They sacrificed a lot for someone who they thought was a progressive leader,” added Zaid.