Kadir: Anwar fears being forgotten

Both were convicted. But while Karpal Singh vacated his post as DAP chairperson pending the disposal of his appeal, Anwar Ibrahim, however, is contesting to be PKR president.

And one of the reasons for this, according to veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin, is because the opposition leader fears that he would be forgotten.

"After being disqualified from contesting the Kajang by-election because of the sodomy ruling, he has to win the PKR president post in order to have a legitimate claim on the party.

"If he goes to jail once again, he will go as president of PKR. For a man who was quoted as saying, 'Jail holds no fear for me', Anwar fears being forgotten.

"Anwar knows that he stands to lose the post if he is committed to prison. But that’s fine because in spirit he can claim to be the leader of choice of the party," he added in his blog.

Kadir also described the contest between Anwar and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the top post as a "political drama at its most ridiculous".

Touted as the "Segambut move", it was put in place to prevent party number two Azmin Ali (right) from taking over the leadership reins.

"Anwar fears that if Azmin is allowed to challenge Wan Azizah, he will win and with that victory he can act on (Selangor Menteri Besar) Abdul Khalid (Ibrahim).

"Azmin may continue to be loyal to Anwar but with the power that the job offers, he could gradually wean himself of Anwar’s influence, more so when the latter faces the prospects of spending four years in jail for sodomy," Kadir said.

So to stop that possibility, the former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief said Anwar has to take on his wife.

"The latter can withdraw and give her husband a walkover. But that will be undemocratic and hollow.

"Being a democrat, Anwar has to show a semblance of democracy by having the post contested and chances are, being a good wife, Wan Azizah will lose gracefully," he added.

On the same note, Kadir said the dispute between Azmin and Khalid (left) could continue to fester, with the latter in possession of a healthy war chest by virtue of his menteri besar post.

"For Azmin, not fighting Wan Azizah does not mean that he will be re-elected as deputy president. He is facing five challengers including Khalid. vice-president Tian Chua and secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail," he noted.

As for Anwar, Kadir, who is said to be closely linked to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claimed that the opposition leader’s approach to solving his personal problems lacked moral latitude.

"He fights to stay on at all costs. In contrast Karpal, who faces a lesser sentence (for sedition) temporarily vacated the post while waiting for the outcome of his appeal.

"Such are the plots in our political dramas. For Anwar, ambition and desperation, like fire and steel, have forged into one," he added.