From the onset, Ariff Sabri states that he is writing as a political observer and his views do not reflect DAP's official stand.

Weighing in on the forthcoming PKR elections, the DAP MP endorses incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali against Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Ariff said if Azmin deserved to be menteri besar, then he must be supported and dismissed the accusation that the PKR leader has too much "Umno DNA".

"This is unfair I think - Azmin has proven his PKR credentials and his loyalty above all. As far as I remember, Azmin did not hold any post in Umn, nor did he contest for any post. His link with Umno was his service with an Umno leader and that leader happens to be Anwar Ibrahim.

"Khalid has more Umno DNA. He contested for a post in an Umno branch in Kuala Selangor and lost. He was then appointed to be in the Biro Ekonomi Umno," he added.

Ariff (right) also noted that another contender for the PKR number two post, current secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, was also active in Umno.

"If I am not mistaken, Saifudin even served as executive secretary for Umno Youth. He has also served as political secretary to Syed Hamid Albar. His link with Umno is even stronger.

"His brother, Sahlan , was the political secretary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Sahlan contested in the last general election, and now serves as Najib's special officer or something," he added.

An abuse of reasonableness

Ariff said Azmin is the head of  Selangor PKR and not giving his due place in the state administration was already an abuse of reasonableness and propriety.

"I am surprised that (PKR de facto leader) Anwar hasn't corrected this anomaly. A party that does not observe discipline will crumble," he added.

Ariff said many find it objectionable if Azmin continued as deputy president and becomes the Selangor menteri besar later and this appeared to be the sole reason behind the “stop Azmin movement”.

"Azmin must not win - otherwise he will demand to become MB. Of course if Azmin wins, the people should expect him to ask to become MB.

"So they come out with the disingenuous argument- (Dr) Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail) (left) is the president and therefore should take precedence as MB. It seems to me that the people already expect Azmin to be the next MB should he defeat Khalid.

"So the circumventing argument is put forward. If there is a person superseding Azmin in rank, that person should take precedence. Meaning even if Azmin wins, he cannot become MB as he is only deputy president. This argument is put forward only when Azmin is involved," he added.

This argument, noted Ariff, however forgets that people do not find it odd that Khalid is MB while Wan Azizah is a state assemblyperson.

"This is clearly wrong. The person higher in rank should be the boss. Wan Azizah should become MB after this party election.

"If people insist on having pre-election status quo, i.e. letting someone lower in rank to become MB, then no one should find it objectionable to accept Azmin (right) as MB if he wins the deputy president's post.

"People should be consistent in their conduct and behaviour. Why is it not odd for someone lower in party rank to be MB but it becomes odd only when that someone lower in rank is Azmin?" he asked.

The second objection, Ariff noted, is the belief that if Azmin becomes MB, he would practice cronyism and nepotism and would fritter away the cash reserves.

"This is an unwinnable objection. It is indefensible because the wrongs mentioned have not taken place. We have already prejudged Azmin.

"Unless PKR members know that Azmin has a bad record in this aspect or Azmin has shown he has already done these things before, then they are entitled to that judgment. If they don't, then it is all prejudice," he added.

Khalid being softened up by Umno?

Ariff stressed that Pakatan Rakyat needs a political leader above all at this moment in Selangor.

"We have regretted the day we put in business-centric persons in political positions. We had (former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) for instance. He is a businessman first and foremost," the Raub MP said.

In view of this, Ariff said he was not going to place too high a premium on Khalid's seemingly good business sense.

"He has already begun some questionable moves. What kind of deal did Khalid (right) alone conclude over the water supply in Selangor? Remember – Mahathir did the same thing. It was he alone who decided what was good or otherwise for the country," he noted.

The DAP leader wondered if hidden forces are working hard to emasculate Khalid, soften him and others up, so that Umno can stage a coup?

"Suddenly Umno is supporting Khalid and MCA is hailing Khalid as the best. Are they afraid of Azmin replacing Khalid? With Azmin in a stronger position, will all the behind-the-scene machinations and intrigues be shattered?" he added.

Businessman or politician?

In his earlier article, Ariff had asked if PKR would choose a politician or businessman as its deputy president.

"If I were to have a wish list, the top question is, what kind of leadership do I want for PKR? My answer will be: since PKR is a political party not a corporate entity, or a management-centric organisation, I will want a political leader.

"The aim of politics is basically that of organising efforts, materials and resources to obtain political objectives of securing and retaining political power.

"The other overriding objective is to have a leadership with the resolve, dedication and discipline to defeat BN. That, to me, would require a different kind of leadership than one that is required to run a business corporation, for instance.

"Business leadership may one day find it more profitable to be in mainstream politics and so can decide it is of strategic importance to be in BN. |

"But political leadership sees no profit in linking up with BN because it is driven by different values, namely to stay the course and remain true to its own political objectives," he added.

Ariff stated that he has a problem with the continued promotion of business success as a qualifier for public office.

"Therefore, while Khalid's achievement in obtaining RM3 billion in cash reserves for Selangor is laudable, that to me isn't a qualification for him to be a deputy president of PKR," he added.