Everybody knows Dr Wan Azizah as Anwar Ibrahim's wife, since her husband was sacked as DPM and Finance Minister in 1998, arrested in a high-handed way, charged and then jailed for 6 years. How could anyone forget his famous 'black eye' at the hands of then IGP?
Since then, she went on to form PKR and had been party president, MP and Madam Opposition in Parliament. More recently, she was elected as ADUN of Kajang in Selangor. Prior to her entry into politics, she was already a doctor (even gold medallist) and eye specialist.
Even with such credentials, her attempt to become MB of Selangor had been resisted by many, who described her as a puppet of her husband, remote-controlled and more recently, as unqualified to be MB by none other than President of PAS, Hadi Awang! That it came from a fellow president of a coalition partner makes it more hurtful, especially after much delay and confusing statements on her appointment.
Hadi Awang himself had been Mr Opposition, MB of Trengganu after GE12 (and lost it at the next election) and mainly responsible for having lost Kedah too. Already, for his statement that Dr Wan Azizah is not qualified to be MB, his own performance had been questioned and criticised.
What then should be the qualifications of an MB? By today's standard, people expect someone with a university degree or a professional, with several years of working experience. So far, we have had examples of MB without university education, a dentist fresh from dental practice, and Najib who was MB of Pahang at age of 29! There were no complaints or objections which could match those against Dr Wan Azizah, simply because those were Umno appointments. The only factor which most critics refuse to admit is her gender.
As to whether someone is a puppet of her spouse, how could we tell how much influence a husband or wife has over his or her spouse? There were many who criticised Rosmah as the de facto PM, but did anyone object to Najib being PM? There is no direct election on premiership and since independence in 1957, it was traditionally reserved for the President of Umno.
If spousal influence is such an important factor, should we choose only those who are unmarried? Even with married couples, we cannot rule out the influence of mistress or lover which might have far greater impact by way of pillow talk.
A state's administration should already be working smoothly, helmed by experienced civil servants. An MB's job is like that of CEO, helped by Exco members or state ministers. So what is most important is decision-making. He or she could be decisive or consultative, depending on his or her style of leadership or personality. Even with a perceived weak leadership, any decision which is for the benefit of the people, fair and unaffected by corruption will be welcome by the people. So unless someone is given the chance, how can we tell whether she is capable?
As to being remote-controlled, there is no way we can stop anyone from being secretly influenced by others. We can only judge from her actions and decisions, and again, unless given a chance, how can we tell?
After all the shadow play in the current MB imbroglio, I think it boils down to pride. PAS was unhappy because the choice of MB had been decided by PKR and DAP and merely expected their confirmation. This was further complicated by HRH Sultan of Selangor's insistence on more than one name. By insisting on one name, PKR and DAP seem to go against Sultan's wish. But if more than one name had been submitted, it would be awkward if Sultan chose the one without majority endorsement.
From Perak's experience and now Selangor, it would appear both Sultans were not in favour of Pakatan. In Perak, the late Sultan accepted BN's claim of majority (31 vs 28); now in Selangor, Dr Wan Azizah's endorsement by 30 ADUNs's SDs (effectively 30 vs 26) seems not good enough.
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Since then, she went on to form PKR and had been party president, MP and Madam Opposition in Parliament. More recently, she was elected as ADUN of Kajang in Selangor. Prior to her entry into politics, she was already a doctor (even gold medallist) and eye specialist.
Even with such credentials, her attempt to become MB of Selangor had been resisted by many, who described her as a puppet of her husband, remote-controlled and more recently, as unqualified to be MB by none other than President of PAS, Hadi Awang! That it came from a fellow president of a coalition partner makes it more hurtful, especially after much delay and confusing statements on her appointment.
Hadi Awang himself had been Mr Opposition, MB of Trengganu after GE12 (and lost it at the next election) and mainly responsible for having lost Kedah too. Already, for his statement that Dr Wan Azizah is not qualified to be MB, his own performance had been questioned and criticised.
What then should be the qualifications of an MB? By today's standard, people expect someone with a university degree or a professional, with several years of working experience. So far, we have had examples of MB without university education, a dentist fresh from dental practice, and Najib who was MB of Pahang at age of 29! There were no complaints or objections which could match those against Dr Wan Azizah, simply because those were Umno appointments. The only factor which most critics refuse to admit is her gender.
As to whether someone is a puppet of her spouse, how could we tell how much influence a husband or wife has over his or her spouse? There were many who criticised Rosmah as the de facto PM, but did anyone object to Najib being PM? There is no direct election on premiership and since independence in 1957, it was traditionally reserved for the President of Umno.
If spousal influence is such an important factor, should we choose only those who are unmarried? Even with married couples, we cannot rule out the influence of mistress or lover which might have far greater impact by way of pillow talk.
A state's administration should already be working smoothly, helmed by experienced civil servants. An MB's job is like that of CEO, helped by Exco members or state ministers. So what is most important is decision-making. He or she could be decisive or consultative, depending on his or her style of leadership or personality. Even with a perceived weak leadership, any decision which is for the benefit of the people, fair and unaffected by corruption will be welcome by the people. So unless someone is given the chance, how can we tell whether she is capable?
As to being remote-controlled, there is no way we can stop anyone from being secretly influenced by others. We can only judge from her actions and decisions, and again, unless given a chance, how can we tell?
After all the shadow play in the current MB imbroglio, I think it boils down to pride. PAS was unhappy because the choice of MB had been decided by PKR and DAP and merely expected their confirmation. This was further complicated by HRH Sultan of Selangor's insistence on more than one name. By insisting on one name, PKR and DAP seem to go against Sultan's wish. But if more than one name had been submitted, it would be awkward if Sultan chose the one without majority endorsement.
From Perak's experience and now Selangor, it would appear both Sultans were not in favour of Pakatan. In Perak, the late Sultan accepted BN's claim of majority (31 vs 28); now in Selangor, Dr Wan Azizah's endorsement by 30 ADUNs's SDs (effectively 30 vs 26) seems not good enough.
1 comment:
I couldn't agree more with your comment. It is indeed comical for a leader like Hadi Awang who has been a failure all his life to humiliate Wan Azizah like that when he himself was a TOTAL DISASTER in T'ganu. And off course in Kedah too. May be he should look at himsef in the mirror to see his beard. Or he is just a joker with turban.
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