YOURSAY | Who can hold the candle to Anwar?

YOURSAY | ‘What can we expect others to do what he hasn’t done?’

COMMENT | Who after Anwar?

Kim Quek: A superbly articulated article by former minister Zaid Ibrahim about who can replace Anwar Ibrahim as the leader of Pakatan Harapan and the leader of PKR after the Malacca state election, which if widely disseminated and resonated by the Malay masses, could save the country from falling into the kleptocratic clutch of Umno again.

And PKR president Anwar Ibrahim unquestionably remains the ideal democracy icon to lead the reform movement spearheaded by Pakatan Harapan to counter the revival of the Umno hegemony, which will be an unmitigated disaster for the country, especially when combined with PAS extremist religious advocacy.

As the younger generation is unfamiliar with Anwar’s earlier history, may I humbly suggest that Harapan launches a campaign now to publicise the illustrious leadership record of Anwar tracing back to the time when he was the heir-apparent to then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad more than two decades ago, including the tumultuous birth of the Reformasi movement?

And that would help restore Anwar’s charisma which has been diminished through decades of incessant slanting by Umno propaganda.

And the restored charismatic image of Anwar would then inspire new confidence and boost the support for the reform movement, especially among the Undi18 new voters.

Prominority: Indeed, Zaid’s article is just what the doctor ordered, a mature enlightening to the detractors of Anwar. Those who are against him are taking advantage of the fluke election results.

I see no profit in a quarrel as the saying goes, lawyers are always confident before the verdict. It's only afterwards they share their doubts.

To be impartial is not natural, not human. It's no secret that many are waiting with bated breath for Anwar to give up politics.

There's no denying that Anwar is in a unique position that it's impossible for him to be replaced. As Zaid rightly asked, "Who after Anwar?"

It's an enviable position for those who cannot hold a candle to him. It's a great boon that one Malay leader is for all. He has gone through an Olympian degree of humiliation and shaken to the root of his soul, and this is just a passing cloud.

Vent: Are we not missing the slight barbs thrown in what appears to be a commiserating note on Anwar?

While Zaid says, "Few men had endured as much betrayal of his close colleagues in the struggle to make life better for the country as Anwar", in the very next line he avers that, "Of course, Anwar should not be rewarded with political success just because life had been tough on him."

I guess all political rivals have their day. That said, no one wishes the man ill, not even his diehard critics such as me. He has suffered enough but he is not a leader.

He doesn't even qualify for Zaid's laundry list of what makes a good leader - "an old-fashioned leader who believes in an honest government, who will not steal from the peoples’ coffers, and who can plan effectively in dealing with the host of problems we have".

Even if we pass him on the first two (albeit the first more cautiously), he will be pipped at the third.

If he cannot deal with the subterfuge and deceit within his own party thus far (PKR being the weakest link), how can any rational person following the political events in this country trust this vacillator to deal with "the host of problems we have"?

MS: Spot on, @Vent! Zaid appears to be playing to the Anwar gallery while simultaneously trying to come across as even-handed.

But by penning this piece when it is obvious that PKR is in serious need of its own reformasi medicine, he has once again put personality before issues - a key marker of local politics in which feudal mindsets shape the narrative.

Zaid would have done better if he had spotlighted Anwar’s stand on ‘ketuananism’, child marriages and the various social ills contributing to the state of affairs.

He would have helped push for reforms if he had focused on that memorandum of understanding (MOU) which in no small way contributed to suspicions about Harapan’s politics of appeasement.

Other than tickle the emotions of diehard Anwar supporters and make dear leader the front and centre of opposition politics, he has done nothing.

Karnak: Every time some calamity strikes, there are aggrieved calls for Anwar to step down.

And then the same spiel is hoisted on voters: “You don't know politics. You don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Who is going to take over? You are blaming the wrong people, etc.” There are thousand and one reasons.

Then the furore will die down and PKR, DAP and Amanah will pat themselves on the back and say they "managed the message" very well.

Well, the thing about apathy and resentment is that it doesn't really happen overnight. Every time the "message is managed", a little trust is lost until there's nothing left but old recycled excuses no one listens to or believes anymore.

If a party can't figure out "who's next" or can't seem to answer: "Who will then lead us?", that party or coalition doesn't seem to warrant anyone's vote because that party or coalition is inherently incompetent.

Malaysia Bharu: People are shocked and disappointed at Harapan's disastrous performance in Malacca and perturbed about its future heading into GE15.

It is true that Anwar is the icon of Harapan, the reform movement and the opposition, and he has suffered most at the hands of the decadent establishment.

While his contributions and sacrifices are second to none, the bigger question is whether he should be the one leading Harapan into GE15 considering the string of by-election defeats suffered by Harapan since GE14 and the Sabah and Malacca fiasco.

The leaders must take responsibility.

FairMalaysian: The popular vote obtained by both Harapan and Umno is not far off and yet in terms of seats it is altogether a different story. The curse of disproportionate delineation, going contrary to the Constitution is a curse to the opposition. All the odds are stacked against the opposition.

What can we expect others to do what Anwar has not done? Why not convince them that supporting a convicted criminal for putting Malaysia on the world map is wrong? That, and that alone, is enough to answer the calls for Anwar to resign.

He gave us hope and he and his family suffered a lot to give that hope. Quite frankly, I can't find someone to replace Anwar, at least for now, and this is not the time to test new hopefuls.

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