Zaid’s apple-polishing act upsets Kita

Zaid's apology to Najib has been viewed within his own party as a big mistake and also questions the party's the third force stance .

PETALING JAYA: The public apology by Kita chief, Zaid Ibrahim, to Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, over the latter’s decision to abolish of the Internal Security Act (ISA) has distressed the party’s state leadership.

On the eve of Malaysia Day, Najib announced that the ISA would be repealed, three emergency proclamations would be lifted and the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPA) would be reviewed.

The next day Zaid apologised to Najib for the “gross mistake” of underestimating his will to abolish the ISA as well as hailed him as a “worthy prime minister”.

But Kita state chiefs were dismayed by what they viewed as an act of irrelevant apple-polishing that could call the party’s allegiance and neutrality into question.

Negri Sembilan state chief, R Sri Sanjeevan, bluntly said that Zaid’s apology has stripped him of self-respect and dignity.

“Zaid should have issued a supportive statement instead of an apology,” he said. “Now not only has he lost his dignity but also displayed disrespect for the party.”

“We joined Kita because we were told that it wasn’t inclined to either BN or Pakatan. Zaid’s statement has thrown that into doubt and the grassroots have interpreted it as his attempt to get into Najib’s good books for an ulterior motive.”

Penang state chief and Nibong Tebal MP, Tan Tee Beng, said that Zaid had never called for a meeting with the central and state leadership prior to making this statement which he believed should have been of a congratulatory nature rather than an apologetic one.

“There is a very strong possibility that it will be misinterpreted,” he said. “We are trying to portray a third force and the people could accuse Zaid of taking on a pro-BN role now.”

Malacca state chief, Colonel Hashim Putih, however was less harsh on Zaid, saying that his statement was a well-intended personal opinion which shouldn’t have any bearing on the party.

“I’m not worried of any repercussions,” he said. “Perhaps the grassroots elsewhere are questioning Zaid’s motive but those in Malaccas are not dwelling on it.”

But Hashim’s secretary-general, Yahya Mohd Idris, didn’t share his opinion and sided with Sanjeevan and Tan that Zaid had stepped out of line.

“He can agree with the abolishment but apologising isn’t appropriate,” he stated. “It’s almost like he is trying to go back to BN and reclaim his Cabinet position. It was a big, big mistake.”