As Pakatan wobbles, some start questioning Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — October is shaping up to be make or break month for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

PKR is fraying at the seams with Jeffrey Kitingan and his allies in Sabah parting ways with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's party.

The constant speculation over the future of PKR secretary-general Datuk Sallehuddin Hashim also adds to the impression that the party is not on a firm footing.

And the troubles surrounding PAS were the last thing the coalition needed.

Last night, PAS leaders averted the possibility of a potentially damaging EGM called by its spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to remove what he described as "problematic leaders" who were not entirely committed to PR.

The party's central committee promised to set up a disciplinary investigation into the problems the party is facing in Selangor.

And party leaders declared, yet again, that PAS was committed to the PR coalition.

But the public will still need some convincing on PAS's direction.

There appears to be less fear and respect now for Anwar. — File pic

And realistically the PR coalition cannot survive without PAS.

This is because without the structure and support base of PAS it will be hard for the coalition to move ahead with its ambitions of snaring Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN).

While DAP remains relatively stable, PKR remains the weak link in the PR coalition despite the fact that it has the most elected representatives of the three partners.

Instead of addressing its problems PKR leaders appear to be still in denial mode and this was epitomised by remarks made yesterday by its political bureau member Tian Chua.

Chua blamed the media for various "confusing reports" over speculation about Sallehuddin's apparent resignation.

But it has already become an open secret that Sallehuddin is unhappy with the party. And his resignation could well be a matter of when and not if.

In PKR there appears to be less fear and respect now for Anwar.

That is why Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and others are willing to go their own way and are questioning some of Anwar's positions, strategies and appointments.

Zaid, who was sacked from Umno and joined PKR amid some fanfare, had been given the job of formulating a common platform for the three-party coalition.

But the recent flap over his wish to visit Sabah and Sarawak amid an open revolt in the two states caused him to announce his six-month leave from party political work.

What is happening in PKR appears to be a result of its own unwillingness to confront problems early on and effectively.

Even some of Anwar's and PR's biggest supporters among the network of Internet bloggers who helped galvanise support for the opposition during Election 2008 appear to be growing disillusioned.

While many of these pro-PR bloggers still express commitment to the opposition coalition, some of them are questioning Anwar's leadership.

Prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin wrote yesterday of Anwar going into "self-destruct mode."

"Anwar Ibrahim and many of the opposition leaders have this false feeling of grandeur… but are not grand and certainly far from great.

"They did not make March 2008 happen. The people made it happen. And what the people make the people can break. And the people are of the opinion that the opposition leaders, Anwar included, have lost their direction."