Pas' Folly in Kedah: A Lesson in Leadership Selection

This is not the first time Kedah Chief Minister Azizan Abdul Razak has courted controversy. The embattled CM had courted controversy in the past over his decision to set up a high Malay quota for housing projects in the state which had caused uproar from developers in the state.


He was embroiled in several spats with PKR assemblymen over his old school politics and overzealous tendency to flex his Islamic credentials through some very odd measures. This time, he has caught the irk of his own Pas colleagues and exco members. Two of them, led by Phahrolrazi Mohd Nawawi, refused to accept reappointment as state excos and threw his administration into jeopardy.


Pas central committee had to intervene before the full meltdown. Their leadership has installed a PAS steering committee to monitor and assist the Kedah government (or to clip Azizan's wings). This move has been deemed as controversial and odd. 


Their BN Opponents had criticized the move as unconstitutional and disrespectful to the office of Chief Minister who was appointed at the consent of the Sultan of Kedah (and current King). It was seen as a direct interference of the state administration by the Pas central leadership.


Azizan was appointed the CM because of his loyalty and seniority rather than his ability to govern and lead the Kedah government.


The move by Pas central leadership is as good as telling us that Azizan does not measure up as a leader. If this is the case, they should have replaced him with another capable leader and not risk being accused as trying to make a mockery of the state constitution.


Pakatan leadership should take heed of this development seriously. Their leaders are often quick to accuse the BN for flouting rule of law. They should be mindful not to commit the same. Public discourse is becoming meaningless if Pakatan leaders and supporters can only accept criticism being hurled at BN but not at their own coalition and leaders. I hope they will use the same yardstick to measure their own action if we are going to succeed in creating a first world governance and political system.