Between principles and popularity

Wan Azizah's assurance the PKR will not choose dubious candidates for the coming polls augurs well for party, if only it walks the talk.

COMMENT

While the federal government under the Barisan Nasional banner believes it can win the coming 13th general election by fielding ‘winnable’ candidates, it’s nemesis PKR is banking on ‘principled’ contestants to help it take over Putrajaya.

Unlike BN which has never believed in placing emphasis on the character of the candidates, PKR’s assurance that ‘principles’ is what will win them the people’s trust does sound attractive.

The assurance came from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail when she addressed about 2,000 guests while officiating the party’s eight national congress in Johor last week.

Making it clear that PKR would not compromise on the enemies within, Wan Azizah sent the message out that the party will never choose ‘suspicious’ candidates for the coming polls.

“We (PKR’s top leadership) guarantee that we will consult the divisions and grassroots in choosing the candidates.

“The candidates should be those who are qualified, hold true to the principles of our struggle and will not be tempted by the millions of ringgit from the enemy (to defect).

“That aside, PKR will also not tolerate its elected representatives who failed to address the plight of the rakyat.”

It seems PKR has wisened up after its share of trials and tribulations when it’s trusted representatives decided to abandon ship in favour of pursuing their own vested-interests.

To Wan Azizah, the defectors who decided to quit PKR and turn ‘independent’ candidates were no loss

“They have become the tools of corruption,’ was how she referred to these individuals.

PKR has got it right

To BN chief and prime minister Najib Tun Razak, ‘winnable’ candidates are their ticket to winning the general election, with ‘character’ being of no interest to Najib.

Does ‘winnable’ here allude to representatives who indulge in the dirtiest tactics possible in politics to ensure victory is BN’s?

Obviously, the BN and Umno chief is concerned about winning, hardly about serving the rakyat, a factor which PKR is very careful not to overlook.

There is no denying the mistakes that PKR has made but unlike BN, it is learning from its mistakes and hoping to avoid making the same blunders.

For instance, PKR had no issue sacking the Kulim-Bandar Baru MP, Zulkifli Noordin, when he chided the party for not doing enough to protect Islam, the nation’s official religion.

Former PKR representatives like Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru MP) who turned ‘independent’ after quitting PKR has since been bad mouthing the party.

And he is not alone in doing so – PKR defectors like Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju MP) and N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai MP) have also been consistently denigrating the party.

With back-stabbing having become the order of the day, PKR has to make sure it ‘walks the talk’.

If the party is going all out to place a premium on ‘principled’ candidates, it has to work hard to ensure these candidates live up to the expectations of both the party and the rakyat.

Wan Azizah can take hint from all the ‘mistakes’ BN continues to make and strengthen PKR, for the sake of the people.

To throw caution to the wind and assume victory will be theirs is a mistake PKR can ill-afford to make. Whilst confidence is a good thing, too much of it can lead to disaster.

In this instance, the confidence displayed by PKR Wanita head Zuraida Kamaruddin that Pakatan Rakyat comprising PKR, DAP and PAS would have no problem in attaining two-thirds and conquering Selangor in the coming general election must tread on cautious path.

The ‘Buku Jingga’ unveiled by Pakatan in December 2010 and Wan Azizah’s assurance that only ‘principled’ candidates would be fielded come the 13th general election might be its bargaining chip towards victory.

With the ‘Buku Jingga’ proposing among others an increase in teachers’ incentives and the abolishment of the tolled highway system, the Pakatan coalition must ensure it delivers should victory be theirs.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.