Discord in PKR over Zaid’s role

Discord in PKR over Zaid’s role

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Matters which have been percolating for weeks boiled over at PKR’s emergency political bureau meeting on Tuesday night.

A decision was made that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim should not go to Sabah and Sarawak this weekend as a result of the open revolt by divisions there.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes that Sabah PKR needs new leadership but 17 of 23 divisions in the state do not want any leader sanctioned by Kuala Lumpur foisted on them.

Several PKR leaders here believe that by going to Sabah and Sarawak, Zaid would be sending the wrong signal and not showing solidarity with party headquarters.

But party insiders say that a schism between Zaid and others in PKR had been inevitable given their different styles in running the political party.

Several PKR officials are troubled by Zaid's gung-ho approach to solving problems and pushing for a common platform with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.

Zaid had been brought into the party with great fanfare by Anwar earlier this year.

The former Umno man had been given the task of crafting a common platform for the PR coalition to take into the next general election, with an eye towards taking Putrajaya.

Zaid was brought into PKR earlier this year. — File pic

But The Malaysian Insider understands that he has faced obstacles not just from PAS and DAP but from within his own party.

Some PKR officials believe that he has ambitions to eventually lead the party — a possibility if Anwar is convicted for sodomy.

These leaders see Zaid as a threat to them. They are also suspicious about whether a more inclusive and multiracial approach will be enough to win over the majority of voters.

Zaid's supporters in the party say that he has stepped on toes because he believes that Malaysians are ready to embrace multiracialism.

His stand, that PKR has a historic opportunity to become a platform of multiracialism, has not gone down well with some party leaders.

Zaid is understood to be reconsidering his position in the party and may choose to take a step back.

But what is clear is that breakdown in relations between several PKR leaders and Zaid is the last thing which the party and the PR alliance needs at this point.

Despite a winning streak in by-elections in Peninsular Malaysia since Election 2008 that was only broken last week in Bagan Pinang, the coalition remains fragile.

PAS and DAP have been squabbling publicly over their respective Islamic and secular stand on government policy.

PKR has also been faced with problems in Selangor, with the threat of defections from among its rank still a potential threat.

And without strong units in Sabah and Sarawak, the federal opposition can forget about governing Malaysia.