Azmin, Anwar, PAS: Who really wants what?

COMMENT | Selayang MP William Leong contested under PKR in the 2008 general election. This was a time when PKR was a one-seat party, and association with the party or with opposition politics at all was something most people shied away from.

Leong took quite a stand by quitting the party’s political bureau this last week, which consists of its most powerful leaders, and (in theory at least) decides most of its day-to-day affairs - and all this over dissatisfaction over the party’s inability to take a decisive stand on PAS.

I have been saying for a long time that PAS, more likely than not, has a positive role to play in the long term future of Malaysian politics. That said, by now, it is far from clear that pursuing a relationship with PAS, ahead of the next general election, is a good idea.

How should we understand what the various factions in PKR are trying to do, and what is the most logical way forward for them?

Falling between two chairs

At this point, we’re nearly at ‘any day now’ status as far as when the 14th general election will be called.

In the world of horse trading politics, this could still mean a lot of time, given that all sorts of deals can theoretically be struck at the last minute.

In the world of more honest politics, work needs to be done on the ground, and voters need to be given a clear picture of what candidates stand for. Succeeding in either requires a considerable amount of lead time.

My feeling is that the longer PKR remains disunited about the PAS issue, the weaker it will be in facing the general election.

In trying to sit between two chairs - one with PAS and one without - PKR will eventually fall between them...