CHARM
OF FISHING: Pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of
occasions for hope.
LAST week, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang offered himself to be the ‘other’ prime minister-in-waiting.
Who would have thought he preferred to be the master rather
than the “servant” of the people – and this after having said he didn’t really mind
going back to be a fisherman.
Apparently, he changed his mind following a popular demand at
his party’s recent annual conference or muktamar
for him to be the prime minister of a nation with 28 million people – that is if
the opposition won the next election -- although he appeared (outwardly at
least) to be playing down the strong call from his supporters to take up the challenge.
However, after sleeping on it for a night, Hadi welcomed the
call, saying unabashedly that “sometimes, it can be syok (a fleeting thrill) to be proposed for the PM post.”
As for his intention to return to the life of a fisherman –
presumably after quitting politics or getting a big knock at the polls -- the
PAS strongman said: “At least, I can teach the people.”
While he didn’t say how he would go about doing this – and setting
aside our difference in religion-- his statement sounds very biblical to me.
Perhaps he aspires to be a fisher of men.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) advisor and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)
de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was quick to respond, and trying to
sound as civil as he could, said the proposal by PAS could be discussed despite
his ambition to secure the PM post being an open secret.
DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng attempted to douse the
fire by maintaining that Anwar would be the prime minister if PR won the next
general election.
“This is the consensus of the three parties (PAS, DAP and
PKR). If PR wins, it’s Anwar who will be prime minister,” he declared.
When pressed to comment on the proposal that the PR
component party with the most seats would get the PM post, Lim skirted the
issue by maintaining that the consensus among the component parties was more
important.
“But we think the one who can represent the whole of PR, the
whole of Malaysia,
is Anwar,” Lim said, fully aware that his party could win the most seats.
The opposition tripartite looks very much like a perfect
pact – a lot of understanding and tolerance with the leaders ever so humble and
ready to serve!
Is that where my vote should go?
However, if it is PR’s consensus that Anwar should be prime
minister, then the resounding support of PAS delegates for Hadi to assume the
nation’s top post -- coupled with Hadi’s own consent to accede to the popular
demand from his party -- contradict the stand taken by the PR leadership.
And compounding the rather thorny issue of PR’s conflicting
stand on the PM post is public perception (disillusionment if you like) that the
opposition alliance is dithering and waffling when it comes to the question of hudud.
Problems surrounding the issue have not been ironed out yet.
There is no common stand and it’s highly unlikely the stalemate will be resolved
anytime soon if the overwhelming support shown by PAS grassroots for implementation
of the contentious Islamic law at the muktamar
is anything to go by.
While PR is plagued by the premiership and hudud controversies, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad
noted in his usual point-blank style: “Even before forming the government, they
are already squabbling. Later (if) they form the government, not only Hadi and
Anwar but Karpal Singh too would want to be PM.”
A political observer was quick to enlighten me that even the
consensus on the choice of PM will not count for PR.
Based on his calculations, Hadi has a higher chance to be
prime minister if PR were to form the next government.
“According to Article 43(2a) of the Constitution, the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint the Prime Minister to preside over the Cabinet a
member of the House of the Representatives who in his judgment is likely to
command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House,” he
explained.
Does this mean if there were more than one who aspire to be
the PM, there will be a voting for the PM post?
The observer said it is no secret the Barisan Nasional (BN)
MPs will never for a day allow Anwar to be prime minister, adding that if BN
MPs voted in favour of PAS, then it is possible the post will go to Hadi -- not
Anwar.
The aspiring fisher of
men, in addressing the annual assembly where he was urged to take up the PM
post, had stressed PAS would uphold its Islamic principles in pursuit of
Putrajaya together with its PR partners.
He also declared PR had agreed to hudud’s implementation
which again contradicts the promise DAP and PKR made to the people.
Indeed, consistency in PR’s principles, policies and spirit
is important and may well determine the outcome of its much-touted match to
Putrajaya.
The grapevine has it that Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan
Abdul Razak invited Hadi for a fishing trip when the PAS
president visited Kedah.
Before they headed out to sea, Azizan asked his family to
prepare spices for his favourite fish dish. But as it turned out, the catch was
dismal and all those fantasies of a sumptuous fish feast came to nought.
It is said the incident prompted Hadi to call on PAS
supporters to concentrate on winning the election and put aside the issue of
prime minister-in-waiting.
“What’s important is
that we must first win the general election,”
he said.
But for voters like me, I think it’s important to know who
will be leading the nation if the opposition wins the election -- Hadi, Anwar
or Karpal Singh? And just as important, whether the PR component parties will
be consistent in the execution of major policies in steering the nation?
But then, I only have one vote -- it probably does not
matter.
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