THERE are those who expressed surprise, others mocking while some seem genuinely exasperated about moves afoot to get Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to be deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
But just as many seemed to be keen on the idea.
They are falling over each other to justify Nurul’s candidacy, which in essence will pave the way for her to be the future PM if PKR remains a leading party and the only party offering a Malay/Bumiputra candidate.
Those opposed or chagrined by the idea boxed it as nepotism, something which Anwar and his supporters were extremely opposed to and allergic to when they were in the Opposition.
Indeed, the holier-than-thou days are fast diminishing, fading from their memories – an alien value and concept which existed in a parallel universe.
For today, these same groups are dismissive of the nepotistic nature of the idea and instead, working overtime to wax lyrical about Nurul’s capability and ability, justifying her being prepared to take over the party and obviously, in the future, the nation.
The settings are being prepared for PKR to be the party of the Father, Mother and Daughter, with the first two already fulfilling the destinies as the party presidents and being PM and Deputy PM as well.
Now, with the third in tow, a legacy hattrick in PKR’s presidency seems inevitable, while the PM-ship is not a long shot either.
It is history in the making for never before had a sitting PM been able to affect such a legacy relay, the closest was the attempt to promote a son-in-law, but that plan had since been scuttled.
It is argued that if the nation is too rigid in opposing the idea of nepotism, when the likes of Nurul are indeed capable, it would be depriving itself of potentially good leaders.
That, however, is quite a hollow argument as the one that Nurul potentially replaces is the incumbent Rafizi Ramli, also once touted as the wonder-boy, a prodigy and the scion of promise.
Of course, it can be further argued that he had lost his lustre ever since he joined the Cabinet. Then again same can be said of the PM and the rest of the Cabinet.
Furthermore, if the one-time PKR prodigy is not one anymore, why should anyone believe the luminary of Nurul when the ones waxing lyrical of her are from the same party that had previously waxed Rafizi similarly.
This is especially true given Rafizi’s prominence compared with Nurul, as the former had been crowned the King of Formulae, given his ability to come up with formulas when addressing any of the nation’s ails.
It made him out to be an intellect and technocrat who had ready answers to problems, while Nurul’s fame is being the Princess of Reformation when she took up her father’s political struggle.
Ironically, her credentials included leading street demonstrations against corruption and nepotism, among others.
Though the crown worn by Rafizi about the formula is becoming a subject of mockery, neither is Nurul’s regality pertaining to reformation.
Since both of them have had their credentials dulled over time, the need to unseat Rafizi with Nurul should not be a priority nor of urgency.
In fact, Nurul should be reined in or propelled, as her ascension will ensure PKR suffers the nepotism affliction or diving into the gene pool governance.
But such assertions are unlikely to deter those who are for Nurul.
It is then left to the PKR leadership, Anwar included, if they truly were opposed to nepotism and cronyism, which had been central in their political rise and credentials.
Leaving it to the party to decide is the most irresponsible because the party’s agenda was set by the leaders – Anwar, the wife Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Rafizi and Nurul included.
If anything, they should be reminding party members and other leaders that attempting to push Nurul to the second highest echelon in the party is hypocritical and a reversal of what they once championed.
Even if they truly cannot stomach Rafizi anymore and, even if they make public his flaws, it will not negate the accusation of a throne relay if Nurul is offered as the replacement.
That leaves PKR with Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, perceived as a loyalist to a fault, though that had eclipsed competence.
Nevertheless, he was still appointed to the Cabinet despite having lost in his parliamentary quest. Again, not many would believe his appointment was due to his competence. More would have bet on his adherence.
Unfortunately, that is what the PKR is left with, and the choices are anything but alluring, not by standards imposed from outside but rather strictly internally.
While this evolving, public opinions that PKR and its leaders had broken faith with the public for reneging on their promises are becoming a matter of fact.
On one side, if viewed cynically, another renege vis-à-vis Nurul and nepotism would not change public opinion, nor would observing the promise. That being it, PKR might as well just proceed with Nurul and lie in the bed they’ve made.
And score a dynastic hat-trick in the throne relay.
- Shamsul Akmar is an editor at The Malaysian Reserve.
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