It's Anwar who's Azizah's crony, Rosmah who's Najib's husband - Syed Husin

PUCHONG - Senator Syed Husin Ali upped the ante on critics of PKR president Wan Azizah, who have tried to tar her as being a puppet of her husband Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, and thus 'not qualified' to be appointed Mentri Besar or chief minister of Selangor, the country's richest state.

"Azizah is the president, so rightfully Anwar is Azizah's crony and if we were to look at Datin Rosmah and ask who is managing the important affairs in the country, there are those who say Rosmah is Najib's husband," Syed Husin said during a talk at the Centre for Reform, Democracy and Social Initiatives.

He was referring to Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who ironically had accused Anwar of nepotism in selecting Azizah as a candidate for the top job in Selangor state.

Syed Husin told the packed conference hall on Saturday that Azizah, the former Opposition Leader before passing the role over to Anwar in 2008, was better qualified than most people knew.

"She was the top student in her university," said Syed, referring to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where she was awarded a gold medal in obstetrics and gynecology and later graduated as a qualified ophthalmologist.

Able to work well with people including brawling groups

Azizah's softness was her strength, said Syed, who has worked closely with her since the 1990s when she was suddenly 'thrust' into full-time politics after Anwar was sacked and jailed on manifestly trumped-up sodomy charges, from which he has since been acquitted.

"Her specialty is in her ability to work with various groups, unite the infighting cliques," said Syed, as he rubbished allegations of nepotism over her party's decision to choose her to replace ousted outgoing MB Khalid Ibrahim.

"Azizah was chosen (to be MB) as she was her party's leader and not by Anwar, and her selection was approved by the (PKR) supreme council," said Syed, a former PKR deputy president.

What if Sultan said no

He also addressed questions from the audience who asked what would happen if the Selangor Sultan, who is speculated to be against Azizah's appointment on the grounds that she is a woman, turned down her nomination by PKR and DAP.

According to Syed, it would be the "first time ever" in the country's history if the Sultan ignored the fact that she carried the majority support of the 56-seat state assembly and had 30 statutory declarations to back her claim to form the state government.

"It would also be the first time for a country that practices the Westminster (parliamentary system) to do such a thing and I don't think the Sultan would want to attract such controversy," said Syed.

Opposing ideologies not a barrier

Syed also dismissed concerns expressed by some members in the audience over whether the Pakatan Rakyat federal coalition could survive with all three partners - PKR, DAP and PAS - each having their own ideology.

In particular, the 'secular' DAP and the 'Islamist' PAS have often crossed swords in public.

Malaysia Chronicle