Analysis by Simon
Peter
Supporters
and observers of Sarawak chapter of PKR are anxiously waiting who will be the new
state chairman over the next three years.
Will
Works Minister Baru Bian still be
appointed to hold the post that he has held since 2009? Or will the
party central leadership appoint another person?
 |
| Baru Bian, will he be replaced as Sarawak PKR chief? |
The chance of Baru, the Selangau MP and
Ba'Kelalan state assembly, to be re-appointed does not look really good.
At a
just concluded party congress, the newly elected president Anwar Ibrahim openly
chided Baru for being absence from the congress.
Baru's
explanation was that he had already
informed the party secretariat that he was unable to be present due to work
commitment which was also held on the
same day as the congress.
Whether
or not Anwar was informed of Baru's message, he did not tell.
The
rebuke, of course, did not go well with Baru's supporters and even Sarawakians,
in general. Instead, they pointed out that Anwar should train his eyes on those
who used money to gain power and secure more votes in the party election.
It is
not Baru's absence from the congress that will destroy the party, but those who
use money to secure power will.
Ultimately,
party supporters and the people will lose confidence in PKR if money politics
is allowed to control and manipulate the party, just like Umno, MCA and MIC
did.
Based on
the reports lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), there
is no denying that money politics was widely used in the party election throughout the country.
Sarawak
PKR has claimed to have devastating proof of corruption in Julau during the polling day on November
10.
Will PKR
members in Sarawak allow themselves to be controlled and manipulated by money politics?
In
appointing who will be the next Sarawak PKR chief, the central leadership,
including Anwar, cannot just dismiss the views of the branch chiefs on the
state chairmanship.
We
cannot see he will over-ride the views of the branch chiefs and the feedback
from the grassroots, unless he wants to see a new person to be the Sarawak
chief, for whatever reasons.
Baru's
support from the branch chiefs cannot be taken lightly. Out of 29 branches in Sarawak, 24 of them
supported Azmin Ali for deputy president while another five backed Rafizi
Ramli.
Among
the branches which gave their support to Azmin was Lawas which elected Baru as
its chairman.
The
support of the Sarawak chapter of PKR to Azmin was decided by the state liaison
committee chaired by Baru.
Baru,
therefore, has a great influence on the 25 branches into supporting Azmin.
If
someone were to be appointed the new chairman, that person must have the
support of these 25 branches.
That
person must not be someone who threw his support to Rafizi. It will be a political
harakiri if the central leadership decides to bulldoze the appointment of
someone from among Rafizi's supporters.
If there
is anyone to succeed Baru, it has to come from Team Azmin or else, we can
expect strong objection from the 25 branches.
One
branch leader has already made his objection known should pro-Rafizi PKR member
is picked to be the next chairman. He said he is not alone in the objection.
A
chaotic Sarawak PKR, of course, is a welcome news for Gabungan Parti Sarawak
(GPS). Voters don't normally give their support to parties in crisis. Why
should they, anywhere. If parties can't manage their own affairs, then they don't
expect people to support them.
And of
course, the powerful Sarawak DAP may find unfamiliar person taking over as the
Sarawak PKR chief as uncomfortable to work with.
And
Sarawak DAP members and supporters, deep down their hearts, may even have their preference who they want
to be the Sarawak PKR chief.
Simply, Sarawak DAP wants to capture the state
government in the next state election, and the lest they want to see is a
component party in Pakatan Harapan embroiling in crisis over the choice of Sarawak PKR
chairmanship.
Sarawak
PKR in crisis is surely a bad news for Sarawak
PH, something the Sarawak DAP does not want to see. - November 20 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment