Yoursay: All contributed to reformasi, Anwar more than everyone

YOURSAY | 'Yes, Azmin and Co fought for reformasi while Anwar was in prison, but who paid the heavier price?'

Azmin and supporters make their stand at venue of PKR's founding

Gerard Lourdesamy: With all due respect, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, the people did not vote for PKR so that you can surreptitiously become the next PM.

We did not vote for PKR so that you can perpetually undermine your party president, Anwar Ibrahim, in the hope of replacing him as the eighth prime minister.

We certainly do not support your clandestine moves to form an alternative government with Bersatu, Umno and PAS that would exclude two-thirds of the PKR MPs as well as those from DAP and Amanah.

We did not vote for PKR so that you and vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin can become apologists of and subservient to Bersatu chairperson and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Malay supremacist agenda endorsed by his puny party.

Yes, I was there when PKR was launched in 1999. It is not about one man or one family, but haven't you, Azmin, now made it all about you and your political ambitions? Is it the role of PKR under you to defend Mahathir all the time and his misguided policies that are weakening Pakatan Harapan on a daily basis?

In any political party, there must be loyalty and discipline and you lack both qualities. Do you honestly trust Mahathir to reward you and keep you in power after he steps down?

Anwar may not be perfect but unlike you, he has suffered public humiliation and imprisonment far longer than any other active politician in recent memory. What have you suffered personally, Azmin, other than the recent sex videotape scandal?

It is sad to see that your ambitions have no limits. Your record as Selangor menteri besar was not sterling either and to date, your performance as economic affairs minister has been mediocre at best.

Just because you have the patronage of Mahathir at present does not mean that you are better than Anwar. Your political future will be effectively over if you and your motley group of supporters are sacked from PKR.

Cynical: "Tian Chua and I stood in this hall in 1999 (when Keadilan was formed). PKR Wanita's Zuraida (Kamaruddin) also stood in this hall, so did R Sivarasa," said Azmin.

But the real driving force behind PKR was Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, while Anwar himself was the raison d'etre for the party’s existence.

Azmin was only a bit player, nobody knows Zuraida while Sivarasa was with PRM, not PKR. Vice-president Tian Chua was the rabble-rouser back then. All these characters rode on Anwar's name to elevate themselves.

With Anwar in prison, they made use of him as a symbol of their struggle and to control the party. Once Anwar was free and dictating the directions of the party, they felt powerless to continue their modus operandi. That is why there is a rebellion today.

Anonymous_3b6c1f0c: The battle lines have been drawn and all this because Anwar wants total control of PKR and as president, refused to stand as a neutral leader but actively promoted the election of vice-president Rafizi Ramli and his supporters when they lost in the PKR elections.

Anwar brought them back into the leadership using his presidential prerogative. Anwar has behaved demonstratively undemocratic in governing PKR. How are we to expect that he will behave any better to serve the ideals of the public if he becomes PM?

Boyeng: As I recall, we demonstrated every Saturday to support Wan Azizah and Nurul Izzah. We didn’t do so for Azmin, Zuraida or Tian Chua.

My subordinates were signing post-dated annual leave forms in case they were caught and detained.

After every demonstration, we would wait to read the updates from blogger Sabri Zain in Laman Reformasi. Sabri was a prolific writer who can describe the chain of events in a passionate and humanistic nature.

Never was it in my mind that we were demonstrating because of Azmin.

Anonymous 770241447347646: It is easy to pinpoint other people's mistakes but not look at oneself.

Yes, perhaps Anwar made a mistake by bringing up the Si Kitol story in his opening speech at the PKR congress. After the reconciliation meeting, there should have been better moves to try and make amends on both sides.

Do not forget the moves you made, Azmin. Why support Mahathir to remain for five years when he was the person who had sent Anwar to prison and the reason behind the creation of the Reformasi movement? Why meet with the Umno and PAS politicians at your house? What was that meeting about? Why do you not attend party meetings?

If you point one finger at others, there will always be the other four fingers pointing back at you. Your actions also are part of the reason behind the sour relationship with Anwar.

Yes, you and your partners struggled for reformasi while Anwar was in prison, but who was paying the heavier price? Anwar had to spend many years behind bars and suffering not only a black eye but the many years alone in a cell.

He could have easily succumbed to his tormentors and retired from politics. He would have been offered luxuries and freedom. Yet he decided to stay and fight.

Everybody paid the price. It is easy to remember personal struggles but forget that the other side also paid a heavy price.

So if PKR and reformasi are going to stay alive, it is time to find a path to solve your problems. It is time to sit and talk, instead of making public statements. Your enemies are watching the show and are celebrating.

CHKS: Azmin shouldn't have reacted to the Si Kitol comment. Anwar, being a seasoned politician, has trapped Azmin into admitting his guilt with his reaction. If he is truly sincere and without skeletons in the backyard, why would he need to react with such strong emotion?

Like the Malay proverb says: "Siapa makan cili, dia terasa pedas" (Those who eat chilli are the ones who will feel the heat).

The Third Man: Yes, only the guilty would feel they have been targeted. If not, why all the drama? They could have used the congress to share their views and make their stand. Instead, they choose to exhibit their emotions and tantrums by walking out and not making an appearance at the end.

It shows how weak and feeble in character and personality are these so-called leaders and their followers.

Take a lesson from the great South African leader Nelson Mandela, who was incarcerated for 27 years. Even when he was in prison, his supporters never lost hope and fought on for the anti-apartheid movement. Did they lament and moan about their contributions in their fight or ask to be recognised and lauded?

Stop the nonsense and close ranks. Attend party meetings and air your views. Show true courage as leaders that you claimed to be. Otherwise, stop being a pain as nobody is indispensable.

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