Zaid: Attacking Anwar illogical of Raja Petra

To attack opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yet claim support for a stronger opposition was “illogical”, said former minister Zaid Ibrahim of Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) president said he was “shocked” to read the blogger Raja Petra’s interview with New Straits Times published last Sunday over the latter’s statements regarding the opposition.

“It was not that he had anything to say about Anwar Ibrahim that he had not already said before the Sarawak election. It was the same stuff, which I will not repeat.

“What I had difficulty understanding was why Raja Petra chose to attack Anwar from all angles – while still claiming that he wants to see the Opposition grow stronger,” said Zaid (right) in his party blog.

Zaid said the opposition had to be inclusive of various groups, in particular small groups, in order to pose a “united front”.

“But it’s not logical to cannibalise part of the opposition (which Anwar is most definitely a part of) and say that is the way to make the opposition stronger.

“We have to fight for unity and harmony for all Malaysians.

"Those who say they want to see the opposition grow stronger yet advocate throwing aside a few leaders along the way that they don’t approve of, cannot be considered allies,” said the former PKR leader.

Zaid stressed that those who wanted to see reform in the country must not exclude those who share the same goals.

“We have to be inclusive – and we must not exclude those of us who want to see reforms and change in the way our country is being governed,” he said.

The said as such Raja Petra (right) was “definitely on the wrong side”.

“Petra is definitely on the wrong side. In this battlefield, we must learn to value everyone’s contribution, but only for those who still want to see democracy alive.”