Q&A First Madam Opposition: It's a daunting task
The nation’s first female parliamentary Opposition Leader tells Malaysiakini about her new role, the need to strengthen ties of the three opposition parties, the possibility of her not quitting politics as yet and the opposition’s First Family in the 45-minute interview.
The nation’s first female parliamentary Opposition Leader tells Malaysiakini about her new role, the need to strengthen ties of the three opposition parties, the possibility of her not quitting politics as yet and the opposition’s First Family in the 45-minute interview. Malaysiakini: Let’s talk about your appointment as the first female parliamentary Opposition Leader in the country after the three opposition parties gave their backing to you.
Wan Azizah: It is a daunting task, it is also an honour for Malaysian women (to have a woman) for the first time to hold the post in the Malaysian Parliament. It augurs well for democracy in the country. I am grateful that the three parties agreed that I take the position. I thanked them for the trust but I also feel the burden in that sense filling in the shoes after Lim Kit Siang, Ustaz Fadzil Noor, Ustaz Abdul Hadi Awang and Asri Muda before that. There has been a history of very good Opposition Leaders and I have to fill in the shoes. I hope there is a bit more of gender sensitivity (in the House with a) woman opposition leader.
There have been a lot of sexist remarks made in the House in the past.
By virtue of me being a woman, being there and (having) a motherly image, that would probably put them (the MPs) in their places. When they see me, they will have a little bit more restrain, it comes naturally because when you have a motherly image, men tend to be a bit more well-behaved.
Compared with Lim or Hadi, who have a rather tough image as Opposition Leaders, you are often seen as soft-spoken. Would you change your style?
No, I think you can be soft-spoken and have your feminity, yet getting your message across. It's just different styles. You can bring home your message justly but firmly.
Like it or not, you have not been seen as outspoken in Parliament.
It’s my first time as the Opposition Leader. I have never been confrontational, that is part of my weakness in that sense because usually the Opposition Leader has this image of (giving) fiery speeches like how Mr Lim Kit Siang has served his term. Give me a chance, probably I will develop a different attitude now. There was only one (PKR’s) seat in 2004 and before that (1999) I was a first-time MP. Now in my third term, I’ll be more experienced. I’ll be a little bit more outspoken, I think (grins).
As the new Opposition Leader, how are you going to strengthen the cooperation among the three opposition parties in Parliament? It was seen as slightly lacking in the last term because prior to that, we understand that the parties will usually meet to coordinate with each other on issues raised in Parliament, something like a pre-council meeting. Any immediate plan to strengthen the ties of the parties in Parliament?
There is a different scenario pre-election and post-election. For post-election, we have already broken the two-thirds majority of BN and the reality is we have to work together because that will be the way forward for a two-party system that hails well for the future of Malaysian politics. The three parties themselves realise this (so) the working (model) will be on such that we will work on this and therefore we will take on the government much better. If we work separately, it will not be a force to be reckoned with by the BN government. Now that we are together, we see that the BN will have to be on their toes. After 50 years of being in power, they have became complacent, sometimes arrogant and quite insensitive to the need of the rakyat.
Is there a need to formalise the cooperation of the three parties?
It has already been working. We have a different scenario now, PKR being the youngest party among (the three) but DAP and PAS have been around (for years), they know the scenarios have changed (and we have) to work together towards a two-party system, which is actually the way forward. I have been through this in 1999 - as a novice then and new to this game - (but) we have worked together before.
How about a formal structure? Is there a possibility to go back to Barisan Alternatif, which would also include the DAP?
DAP has come to terms. They were with us in 1999, although now we don’t use (the term) Barisan anymore - we agreed on that - but we have came together after the results. Look at Penang, DAP also knows in the working of a government, they also need us (PKR) to make it work. In Perak too, even though the DAP has the most seats, yet the (state’s) constitution also is such that we have to work together, it has to be a multi-ethnic (coalition government), so reality checks in. DAP has come to terms with that, we have been working together before that - Yes, (it was) on-and-off, hot-and-cold sometimes, but we are here together.
But in Penang, the sole PAS state assemblyperson has been more or less excluded from the DAP-PKR coalition government?
No, he is included, he (his seat) is in the Permatang Pauh constituency, so he has been taken care off.
So you do agree that there is a need to formalise the structure of cooperation among the opposition parties?
It can be better.
As the Opposition Leader, you may be the target of the backbenchers in the House on the different stands of PAS and DAP on issues like the New Economic Policy (NEP) and Islamic state. How would you address that?
We are a democratic country, they have different views and ideologies. PAS has its ideology and it has been like that since PAS was established. They talk about Islam, we accept that. DAP too talks about a secular state. We (nevertheless) have the Federal Constitutional and (what is) under the constitutional framework, that will be how (my) answer should be.
From one seat to 31 seats and the biggest opposition party, is that something that you are still trying to adjust to?
You don’t really need much adjustment. Of course it was quite a low morale (in 2004), we have only one seat, I was the lone ranger then. Going to Parliament also not very much bersemangat (not in high spirit) (laughs). Now suddenly we have a change, it’s exciting time, altogether we have 82 seats in Parliament, a lot of us who were in the wilderness are now in the limelight. You can see there is a (possibility) of changing the government, you never thought of that.
We should not give up hope, we should try, we give credit to the electorates because they can see it. Many young people have made the change, politically being sensitised and awakened. It’s an exciting time. I am quite happy to be in this position now and with the back-up behind, I think I can do it.
The election results nevertheless also show that the oppositions can’t keep on using the argument that the Election Commission is not free and fair.
I thanked the electorates but why the EC stopped the indelible ink (implementation at eleventh-hour)? Why are we having evidence that one name appears 47 times on the electoral roll? Why people over 100-year-old were all over the electoral roll? In Permatang Pauh, they chased away five Indonesians and Pakistani (who intended to pose as voters to vote). Thank God to the people for voting the oppositions en bloc, therefore the electoral fraud cannot overturn.
You have listed five issues as your agenda, would you like to elaborate?
Our economy competitiveness has dropped, we want more investors to come in, we should embark on measures to boost (the competitiveness) again. What has happened over the years, our voters have felt it too and that’s why voters give their fresh mandate and reduced the support to BN. Now we have Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan - these are important states and these are the places where we can actually invest in to boost up the economy.
On the corruption index, what we can go after is what he (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) promised when he took office, to go after the big fish - where are the big fishes that were supposed to be caught? What are the measures that you do then? What are the measures to prevent anymore people from being victims of crime? After 50 years, what about our national integration? What about the Malays still feeling marginalised and think they still need the NEP? We have other races and we are all Malaysians. We have to build our nation together now, this integration of being truly Malaysians will help to boost the economy as well.
Then we have the media. Malaysiakini is almost spearheading media freedom, I thank it for that, it has been kept up to this level now and progressing very well. Now the internet has became very important to us.
Also, there is the issue of the ISA (Internal Security Act) detainees. We have human rights but the record is not that great comparatively. ISA has always been used against political dissidents, (Hindraf legal adviser and newly-elected Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson) M Manoharan especially has to be freed unless you charge him in open court. What crime has he done? I also feel that the environment itself is a very big issue, we have laws but the enforcement is something else.
On ISA, you have called for the release of Manoharan and four others Hindraf leaders but there has been question on why (husband and PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim is rather quiet on that? Was that due to the whispering campaign on the ground that he was pro-Hindus or pro-Hindraf?
He has - even though I think there is no formal statement - but he has spoken about it and he always call for the ISA to be repealed and all ISA detainees to be released. It is just that through me, we have both came out with the statement. The (rival’s) election campaign before said that Anwar was pro-Hindraf, he is actually pro-Malaysians, pro-human rights. He actually said we do not agree with all what Hindraf is seeking but their basic right to speak and association, we have to give them that, as it is enshrined in our constitution.
You have always preferred to take a backseat in politics and it has been 10 years since you first thrust into politics. With your new role as the parliamentary Opposition Leader now, it looks like you however will not be able to take a backseat anytime soon.
Perhaps it was a repeat of 1998. I was a politician’s wife, I was happy doing my work in the hospital and I was happy just making coffee then. I was thrust into this limelight and having to deal with so many things, my life was kind of in a turmoil.
My husband went to jail, having all these terrible, terrible crimes thrown at him. My children were young, the youngest was six. It was a difficult time but I went through it. Now it’s a different scene, my husband is out, I can bank on him to help me. I have so much goodwill among friends who assured they will help me out. My role will be together with the rest, I have a group of MPs behind me now. In any debate, there will be so many debaters who can do well. It will be like I am there also, but I have a lot of help.
So you won’t quit politics anytime soon?
I did mention I was going to set aside my seat for Anwar, but of course there were views that is just one option. There are other views like why don’t we get another seat for Anwar and he may not take just Permatang Pauh. There are few other seats the MPs are actually willing to give up the seat for him. Quitting politics? In the first place I was quite accidental (to enter politics), it will be alright if I just fade away with the sunset.
Having said that, this won’t be your last term?
Given a choice, I will prefer to go back and lead a not-so-political life. But sometimes providence says I am together with a politician husband, now my daughter (Nurul Izzah) a MP, so basically I will be there to help out if the need arises. Being an Opposition Leader is something that I would like to do my utmost.
It appeared quite certain earlier that you would be the one to give up your seat for Anwar.
Yes, that’s right. (But) we also have a few other people holding both Parliament and state seats, so that is another option (for Anwar to consider to stand in a by-election).
About Anwar’s plan, there is talk now that Anwar feels he is not in a hurry to stand in a by-election immediately after April 15.
Yes, it may not be as urgent as we thought it to be. If we had been government, yes, it would have been urgent for him. Now as the opposition leader, he can take a longer time.
Meaning his priority now is to form the next government than to stand in the by-election?
I think so. We have enough opposition MPs at the moment, Anwar can then go to other work, try to formalise this coalition.
Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin has said there are 16 BN MPs who have approached PKR and keen to cross over to the opposition?
I believe he has his sources, I was not in the discussion, I am not in the know at the moment so I think we leave it as that.
Are you concerned with the perception that despite you officially being the party president, you are not in the know of some party matters?
Anwar is the de facto leader, I accept that and he has proven himself as the leader. Just because the government did not allow him to contest and I am in the position, I will take whatever responsibility that is for me to fulfill. I am a doctor, if I want to go to a doctor, I want a doctor who has clinical acumen, with experience and all that. I am not a political leader, he has experience, we get his advice and decisions. He has proven himself, I have no problem with that.
You have no problem with Anwar and to a certain extent, your daughter, overshadowing you?
I am really proud of my husband and daughter. I am the mom - it is not overshadowing me, there is nothing to overshadow - they are to serve the country. I am so proud and thank God for this opportunity for them to do so.
Do you encourage your children to be in active politics after having gone through the trauma for your family during Anwar’s sacking?
(Sighs) No, I don’t encourage them but I give them a choice. They make their own choices and if they like to, I won’t stop them, I support them. When Izzah wanted to contest (in Lembah Pantai), I wasn’t very happy because she was going to take on a giant (ex-minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil), a well-known woman minister. It’s not easy, she is a novice - not quite a novice - but she is young and inexperienced. I am a mom, I want to protect my daughter until the end of my life. But she made her choice and once she made her choice, being a mom, you support your daughter, because mommy’s love is something that you can’t question too much.
How about other children, are they keen to be in politics?
(Second daughter, Nurul) Nuha, she is sometimes interested, sometimes not, she haven’t make up her mind. My son is not interested. The youngest two (daughters) are still in school. They really love to go and support their sister, dad, we are happy to be in that way.
How would you address the criticism of political dynasty in the case of your family?
I don’t see it as a political dynasty. I suppose (political dynasty is) if you are in government and you are in power then you dispense the power down the road. Now we don’t actually have power, we are opposition, quite in a wilderness and nothing much. I don’t consider it as a dynasty,.
How life has changed for you being a grandmother?
When she (Nur Safiyah, Nurul Izzah’s daughter) was first born, it was a very emotional moment for me. I took care of Nur Safiyah, clean her and bathe her, it is such an enjoyable experience. It has been six months and she has grown. It is an enjoyable experience being a grandmom (also) because I am not responsible for her in a sense. Last time as a mom, you are more tense, you are responsible for the children, now I can just pass her over to her parents if I have something to do (laughs).
Your family remains a close-knit family, how do you keep that up with the fact three of the family members are now full time in politics?
We have no real family programme, not so much planning. It’s not easy but I pray a lot.
