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My fear now is that the Erdogans will wilt for fear of earning the label of “tidak wala’”. The ten MPs who signed the statement protesting against the unity government have taken a very bold step to speak up. Nevertheless, the immediate response from PAS’ top brass to halt all discussions about unity government made it difficult for the Erdogans to continue their reform agenda, if they ever had one, without being seen as the enemies within. Even now the Erdogans are beginning to go quiet. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, The Malaysian Insider
The article by Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad MP (The Malaysia Insider, 30 June 2009, Gagasan pemikiran kerajaan perpaduan: Mana silapnya?) makes a very interesting read. The way he presented his ideas shows just how risky it is to speak up against the top brass in PAS. Just look at the top half of Dzulkefly’s article. Even though he is a member of PAS’ central committee, he had to write twelve paragraphs just to justify opening his mouth. It was as if in PAS, freedom of expression exists only if you can justify it. Obey, or else… But the most telling parts are paragraphs six and nine. In paragraph six, he said disagreeing with the party’s President is not disobedience (tidak wala’). This is a very important point to note about the culture of the party. Those who joined PAS in the understanding that PAS is an Islamic movement, especially would know how much effort is made to implant the concept of obedience (wala’) into our heads. If one were accused of being disobedient to the leaders (tidak wala’ kepada pimpinan), one would be sidelined very quickly. Criticising the leadership in public could easily earn you the label of “tidak wala’”. For a politician in the party, it could be a career killer. It is therefore understandable for Dzulkefly to be cautious. Just to be on the safe side, when he pens his thoughts in that article, people must know that he has a religious argument why it is not disobedient (tidak wala’). And then in paragraph nine he went on to say that Hadi is a statesman. Hadi proposed the unity government agenda out of his great wisdom and love of the country. Dzulkefly even went on in the next few paragraphs to provide a half-hearted defence of the unity government proposal. Dzulkefly’s praise of Hadi’s ‘statesmanship’ and his attempt to semi-justify the unity government proposition are painful to read. I don’t know if he even believes in what he wrote because the bottom half of the article more or less rubbished Hadi’s ideas and so-called ‘wisdom’. READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com.my
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