YOURSAY 'Having gone through and still going through all the trials and tribulations, Anwar deserves the PM post.'

'Interim PM' while I'm in jail, says Anwar

your sayCala: In deciding the best man for the post of interim prime minister, is it a zero-sum game or a positive-sum game?

I suppose that if the Pakatan Rakyat coalition wins the next GE, no one in his right mind will object if Anwar Ibrahim becomes the PM. Otherwise, where is the rationale for Umno-led BN regime's single-mindedness in finishing him off as evidenced in Sodomy I and II trials?

Now the issue is how do you come to a settlement in choosing the man for interim PM amongst the coalition partners? To me, it depends on the mindset of each of them.

If all of them share the true spirit of democracy where power and responsibility are meant to be shared, no one will lose out in a collective setting. It is a positive-sum game.

On the other hand, it is deemed a zero-sum game if certain party does not subscribe to democratic principles (where every partner has a stake and be counted).

In this instance, the winner takes all while the loser is left with nothing. Umno does just that in BN.

RR: Anwar has to be a little humble than to say that there will be an interim PM whilst he is in jail. This does not augur well for the opposition as if there are no other capable leaders to be PM from amongst the opposition.

Besides the judgment is not delivered yet. Who knows the judge may acquit Anwar as the evidence are in his favour and the judge may go by his conscience and jurisprudence than to give in to any outside pressure.

Proarte: All this talk of 'interim prime minister' even before elections is irresponsible. I hope DAP and PAS do not entertain such frivolous talk.

It shows Anwar's sheer desperation for power given that he has a whole load of skeletons in his closet which makes him unsuitable to lead the country. He has yet to clear his name over the highly damaging sex video expose which allegedly involves him.

It very insulting for Anwar to think that Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh or even Abdul Hadi Awang would be 'seat warmers' for him.

Also equally worrying is the notion that the 'system can be fixed' to secure his release from jail. Will the judicial process be circumvented? Will the rule of law be ditched purely for the sake of securing Anwar's release?

This certainly is not the new paradigm which the rakyat is crying out for. Does Anwar expect Pakatan to betray its promise good governance just to secure his release?

Raja Chulan: Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. If Anwar is found guilty, it is only fair that he serve the punishment accordingly. He also has the right to appeal. Not every judge in Malaysia is corrupt. There are also some good ones.

Who becomes the PM in the event Pakatan wins is not for Anwar to worry too much. There are many capable Malay leaders who qualify to be our next PM. In fact, many will support a simple, honest and humble yet dynamic person with far less baggage/controversy to be our next PM.

Anwar can still contribute in whatever other ways he can (even from prison). We must trust a good democratic system rather than any single individual to govern this country. We must rebuilt the democratic systems and institutions that Dr Mahathir Mohamad has destroyed.

Hanyayangbenar: Anwar is planning ahead and anticipated that if Pakatan comes to power, the interim leader will be chosen through consensus between Pakatan coalition partners.

Why is there such a fuss if another Malay leader from PAS or PKR is chosen? The decision should be respected by all Malaysians.

I am hurt by comments from some people here dismiss a PM candidate from PAS. Don't they realise without PAS support in Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition will crumble.

Blind Freddo: If the selection of an interim PM is a thorny issue then you should have sorted it out already and you should let Malaysia know. All this secretiveness smacks of Umnoism and suggests that you have lost control of the situation and have already lost respect for Malaysians.

RAW: I am for change for a better Malaysia. Anwar should not say what he said. What he said is essentially that he is the only one in opposition who is qualified to be PM. This only casts himself and the opposition in bad light and gives bullets for BN to shoot at Pakatan.

Swkdayaks: Having gone through and still going through all the trials and tribulations, Anwar deserves the PM post.

Which Malaysian has proven that he is resolute, resilient and determined to fight on despite of all the odds against him and also despite of the temptations and rewards offered to him by Umno to give up his struggle.

Anwar has passed the test of leadership. He was with the student movement in the 1970s and detained under the ISA, then in the government as DPM, and later imprisoned for several years, before joining and now leading Pakatan.

He ate food served to kings while in the government and he ate the ‘dog food' served in prison. So he has tasted, felt and gone through both the sweet and bitterness of life.

How many Malaysians have gone through all these? None. How many Umno-BN and even Pakatan leaders have been tested as such? None.

Multi Racial: I do not like the idea of interim PM. However, it is still a better idea than having a corrupted and racist one there permanently.

 

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