The need to chart Nurul Izzah’s career path

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her ‘home-state’, Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member of an important portfolio.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim sex trial verdict might push for political heir

(Press TV) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's supporters say the verdict of his sex trial, scheduled for January 9, would indicate the transparency of the country's judiciary.

Anwar, who stood trial for sodomy, has repeatedly said he did not get a fair trial throughout the two-year court proceeding. He also accused the government of trumping up the sex charge to end his political career and popularity.

Anwar was charged with sodomy for the second time a few months after he led the opposition to an unprecedented victory at the general election in 2008, which denied the government its two third majority.

His party loyalists say that the judgment is crucial in determining if the government had meddled into the trial.

The government has denied any political conspiracy. Anwar lost his position as the deputy prime minister when he was arrested and charged for corruption and sodomy in 1998. He served a six-year jail sentence and was released in 2004 when the federal court overturned his conviction.

Government leaders say the country's judiciary is independent and alleged that Anwar is orchestrating conspiracy theories for his political gain.

If seen to have manufactured the sex charge, political observers say that it would cost prime minister Najib Tun Razak votes at the next general election, which is expected to be called early next year.

Political analysts say that the verdict for the sex trial of opposition Anwar Ibrahim would not just determine his political future but also that of the opposition coalition. But there is a widespread speculation that Anwar's eldest daughter, who herself is a member of parliament, might take over the leadership from her father.

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Many are now no longer talking about whether Anwar Ibrahim is or is not going to jail but talking about who will take over the leadership of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, once Anwar goes to jail. And there is already talk that Nurul Izzah can most likely be that candidate.

Of course, some say Nurul Izzah, at only 31, is still too young. That is, of course, a very subjective view. At 30, Alexander the Great had conquered almost half the world. And in these modern times many have became multi-millionaires or billionaires before the age of 30.

So, is 31 really an age that is too young?

I made my first million at age 27 (my good friend, Michael Toh, can testify to that because he was my mentor). By age 37 I went bust when ‘Black Monday’ swept the world (because I became too big for my britches and did not listen to Michael Toh who advised me to focus and consolidate rather than expand and diversify indiscriminately). So it was a very short ten years of life as a millionaire before I was reduced to a life of begging.

So, again, is 31 really an age that is too young?

Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah must first be groomed and trained for national leadership. In the next election she should contest a state seat, maybe in her ‘home-state’, Penang. Then, if she wins that state seat, she should be made one of the Deputy Chief Ministers, or at the very least a State EXCO Member (State Minister) of an important portfolio.

This will give her the opportunity to learn the ropes. Her job as a state minister would give her the experience she needs to eventually take on the task of a federal minister, or even as one of the Deputy Prime Ministers (assuming by then Malaysia has three Deputy Prime Ministers once Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government).

Furthermore, this will also allow Malaysians the opportunity to gauge her performance as a Deputy Chief Minister or a State EXCO member. Whether she also contests a parliament seat so that she still has a presence in parliament is up to the party to decide. To me that is not as crucial as her training in the state government to eventually play a prominent role in the federal government.

Even if Pakatan Rakyat gets to win the next election and gets to form the federal government there is no problem with Nurul Izzah spending a stint in the state government before moving up to the federal government in the 14th General Election -- assuming, of course, Pakatan Rakyat wins the 14th General Election. By then Nurul Izzah will be about 40 or so and at just the right age to take centre stage in the federal government.

Anyway, that is just my opinion, not that my opinion means anything to those who walk in the corridors of power or aspire to walk in the corridors of power. But the point is, Nurul Izzah’s stint in the state government not only allows her to gain the experience that she will need but also allows us to gauge her suitability to play a bigger role at federal government level.

“And why Penang and not Selangor?” you might ask. Well, because Umno is saying that Penang is controlled by the Chinese and with Nurul Izzah as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers she can demonstrate that the Chinese do not control Penang and that Lim Guan Eng is not the dictator who runs Penang like it is his personal kingdom. Furthermore, Nurul Izzah would have no problems working with Guan Eng plus we Malaysians would not be losing any sleep wondering whether she would sell out the opposition and go join Umno. This would put to rest the ‘frog’ issue.