TV PAKATAN RAKYAT

part 1


part 2


part 3


part 4


part 5


Just how much has Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's profile grown in the past 13 months? He was a relative unknown on March 17, 2008, when he was appointed Perak mentri besar. Today, he is PAS's rising star and a symbol of its possible future where the stigma of Islamic extremism no longer retards its political ambitions. At the time of writing, the new Bukit Gantang MP has collected vice-presidential nominations for the June party polls from all three divisions that have had their general meetings so far. The Feb 5 toppling of his government, which has led to a gripping constitutional crisis, has paved the way to a paradigm shift within the party, that for decades, suffered under the perception of Islamic extremism, rendering it "unelectable" to non-Muslims, in the words of research chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Dogged by the constant controversy over its espousal of hudud, which prescribes punishments such as amputation of limbs for offences like robbery, and an Islamic theocratic state, Nizar's overwhelming popularity with non-Malays due to his moderate and inclusive stance may further open the floodgates for PAS if he is elected into the vice-presidency. With the startling success of Nizar in sweeping the non-Malay — 85 per cent of Chinese in the state constituency of Kuala Sepetang voted for Nizar — votes in the April 7 Bukit Gantang polls, PAS now has a clear path from being a Malay belt party, to a truly national and mainstream one. But whether it chooses to embark on this journey is a question that will only be answered in the June muktamar in Shah Alam.

Observers have long spoken of two main factions existing within the party. The side supporting closer ties with Umno, led by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, are labelled the ulama faction, while those who support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are tagged the Erdogans because of the opposition leader’s close ties with the Turkish leader. The former is synonymous with a more conservative Malay Muslim view of the party's objectives while the Erdogans, who have the blessing of spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, believe that Islamic principles can complement an equitable multicultural society. Nizar, although not a member of any faction, clearly shares the sort of moderate views espoused by the Erdogans.

Modest, as usual, Nizar preferred to analyse circumstances as an "opportunity for PAS's true colours to emerge" and with Erdogan man Datuk Husam Musa set to take the step up from vice-president to deputy president, the post-June Islamist party could very well be the sort of partner that PKR and DAP can finally be comfortable with. Husam has so far been reluctant to signal any intent to contest for the No. 2 post but it is understood that like Nizar, he will respect the party's wishes if it decides to push for his candidacy. Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider that he is confident that the party is beginning to take a more pragmatic view of how the party should operate, and step away from pure dogmatism that has in the past stopped it from making the sort of inroads with non-Muslims that it has managed to make in the past year or so.

"Of several candidates considered for Bukit Gantang, eventually Nizar was chosen as he was the most 'winnable' despite our studies showing there would be a reduction of Malay support. But the party understood that what was important was to win, so the party is now able to conceptualise its priorities differently," he said. Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who was Nizar's No. 2 in his 11-month-old administration, told The Malaysian Insider that PAS's inclusive policies, if continued and affirmed, would create greater cooperation within Pakatan Rakyat. "For PAS to be a national party, it must continue with its open attitude," he said, adding that it would quash what he calls Umno's demonisation of PAS as a party of extreme ulamas (religious scholars). Ngeh's hopes may soon be realised as Nizar's candidacy as vice-president is not the only brow-raising trend in the nominations so far. While it is accepted that Hadi will retain the presidency uncontested, it appears that his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa has not impressed the grassroots.

Out of the three divisions, the ulama leader has only received one nomination, the same as Husam. But with heartland Malay division Temerloh nominating Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak instead, Nasharuddin could be in trouble. Indeed, developments so far will give PAS's Pakatan Rakyat partners some joy. Besides Husam's candidacy for No. 2, the favourites for vice-president are dominated by more moderate voices such as Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, firebrand vice-president Mohamad Sabu and Nizar. For those who feel that a strong Pakatan Rakyat is crucial for the political future of Malaysia, the PAS muktamar, and not last month's Umno general assembly, may well be the highlight milestone for 2009.

PKR today announced its deputy Penang party chief Mansor Othman as the candidate for the Penanti by-election. The announcement was made by the party’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a public rally in the Penang state constituency which is situated within his stronghold Permatang Pauh. With his candidacy confirmed Mansor is expected to be named the new deputy chief minister if he wins the seat, said Anwar.

“I have discussed this matter with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. If he wins and becomes the assemblyman his name will be proposed to be considered as a candidate for the deputy chief minister post,” declared Anwar. Lim was also present at the announcement. The by-election was called following the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin who had earlier stepped down as deputy chief minister amid allegations of corruption. He was subsequently cleared by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.

“So on May 31 our responsibility is big. We are not electing an assemblyman but also a possible candidate to be the deputy chief minister,” Anwar added. Anwar said that the former USM lecturer was the most qualified candidate adding that the party’s leadership had agreed that the party nominates someone senior for the by-election. “He earned a masters degree from USM and a Masters in Arts and a Masters of Philosophy from Yale University. He was an associate professor at USM and was also the director of the centre for policy research,” said Anwar.

His selection would also be seen as another attempt by Anwar to tighten his grip on the party and the administration of the state. An Anwar loyalist, Mansor was the former deputy prime minister’s political secretary and also a founder leader of the then Parti Keadilan Nasional in 1999. In the Permatang Pauh by-election last year, Mansor filed his nomination as an independent in the event Anwar was disqualified by the Election Commission, but he withdrew his papers once the returning officer confirmed accepting Anwar’s nomination. In the last general election Mansor contested in the Pulau Betong state seat but lost narrowly to Barisan Nasional’s Muhamad Farid Saad. Mansor had been expected to be nominated a senator by the state assembly yesterday but instead proposed Penang PKR secretary Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff.

Just hours after Penang assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said that former Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin cannot retract his resignation as lawmaker, the Penanti assemblyman today reiterated his decision to resign. Fairus also vowed to take legal action against individuals and media organisations who were allegedly involved in slandering him, he said in a statement. “I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against individuals, politicians and certain media for embarrassing me by making baseless allegations against me,” said Fairus in a statement sent to The Malaysian Insider. He also said he fully support the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier today, Fairus said he would leave it to the party leadership whether he should retract his resignation as assemblyman which was announced last week. His resignation paved the way for a by-election and the Election Commission is scheduled to announce its decision on the Penanti seat on Monday. Yesterday the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) cleared Fairus of graft allegations. The decision not to prosecute Fairus was also reportedly backed by the Attorney-General. The 33 year old resigned as the deputy chief minister last month amid an investigation into alleged corrupt practices relating to an illegal quarry in Penang after a state PKR Youth leader lodged a report with the party leadership.