What a little bird told me…

By Hakim Joe

Almost exactly one year ago in October 2010 and right after the PKR Party Elections Fiasco, ZR nominated himself to be the Ketua Cabang Pandan by virtue of his position as the Pandan PKR Elections Committee Chairman when results of the Pandan polls showed a tie between himself and Nik. This decision was backed up by Molly Cheah, the PKR Party Elections Committee Chairman even after a protest was officially lodged with PKR as no recount was performed after the decision was announced. It was much later announced that this was because the polling boxes went missing.

How was it even remotely possible that a candidate be given the authority to decide on the outcome of an election in the event of a tie? Why wasn’t there a recount when the results showed a tie? How did one lose the polling boxes? How can the PKR Central Committee even consider ratifying the results?

It was then well known amongst the PKR members that ZR was a devoted member of the Anwar/Azmin clique and that he was on the shortlist to be nominated as the PKR Pandan candidate in the forthcoming general election. As of one month ago, the ZR Election machinery was mobilizing its people all around the Pandan area ensuring that ZR be nominated as the Pandan candidate. That was four weeks ago.

Nowadays, the Pandan area is without a Ketua Cabang PKR as ZR was quietly relieved of all his official posts in PKR (as of last week). What a little bird told me was that ZR was alleged to be caught red-handed with his hands way inside the cookie jar, to the tune of RM5,000 or thereabouts. However, there is no news of this fact as yet and an advance search on the Internet failed to provide any articles regarding this “misallocation of funds” as the PKR Central Committee is keeping this potentially explosive news all wrapped up in view of the forthcoming general elections.

Remember the time when the PKR Supremo, albeit un-elected, assured us that he shall personally weed out the undesirables within the party ranks? Well, it can be said that he is actually doing so but what made him give his full support to ZR in the first place, and especially when the 2010 Pandan PKR election results showed a tie? Was it a really bad decision of his own or did his sidekick Azmin influence him in making this decision? If that is the case, does it actually show an appalling grasp of judgment within the top hierarchy of the PKR?

Nik, who was never found with his hands in the cookie jar, was sidelined after lodging an “undesired” official protest in 2010 that was subsequently rejected without reasons, and after ZR authorized himself to act as the Ketua PKR Cabang Pandan, Nik’s political fortunes took a headlong descent. One year in the political wilderness is a long time especially when the general elections are due and without a doubt, Nik can never make up ground for the mistakes made by Molly Cheah, DSAI and Azmin. Even appointing him as the defacto Ketua Cabang PKR Pandan now can never compensate for the series of undemocratic and appalling decisions made last year. Who are they to complain about the EC when they are practically practicing the same procedures? Is this a case of “I can do it but you cannot”?

For those uninformed, there were officially over sixty separate appeals (one third of all seats) lodged after the PKR Party Elections in 2010 but none were addressed and the only statement issued was “we will look into the irregularities”. So far as everybody is concerned, they are still looking into it and it makes one wonder in awe just how long they intend looking into it as one long year has already passed us by. To be impartial to PKR, they did not mention that they would be doing anything once they have had enough of time just looking into it but that remains to be seen as they are still looking into it (phase 1). Perhaps these people would consider the possibility of seriously thinking about doing something (Phase 2) once Phase 1 is over (God knows when) and proceed really thinking about doing something (Phase 3), to deliberate what needs to be done (Phase 4), plan how to do it (Phase 5) and actually doing it (Phase 6); and before you know it, Phase 6 will come into effect when you are watching the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics on television in full HD.

DSAI must take full responsibility for this debacle but unfortunately that was certainly not the scenario. Is this who we potentially want sitting in Putrajaya next year? Some of us might think that he is the lesser of two evils, and rightly so, but why can’t we settle for someone special who cares more for the country and its residents rather than himself or herself? (And no, I do not know of any such candidate now that is “constitutionally-qualified” to become PM).

So, if there presently exist rotten apples like ZR within the PKR rank and file who cannot wait till the big-time to loot a mere RM5,000 now, what are the chances of a repeat of frog-like behavior once millions in cash are on offer after they are elected?