Will Ezam be the next Zaid?
So Li Tsin published some good interviews of Ezam, and the walk on Sunday seemed to have gone pretty well (congrats!).
I’m intrigued by the content of the articles.
Zaid is the poster boy for many of those who pin some hopes on BN. Clearly the line he took on Sunday was.. less than inspiring to say the least.
Surprisingly, he hasn’t been butchered in detail online yet for the nonsense he was spouting, but I think he certainly deserves to be. If I get more time and no one else does it, it may be worth it – just to have it on record.
In short, it looks like he has to spend some energy pandering to the Umno buddies with whom he’s thrown his lot.
Anyway. So Ezam wants to go in and see how many times he can repeat the word ‘reform’ in a single interview :)
Both these guys point towards the recurring question: can Umno be reformed from within?
Historically, varied dramatic decisions were made based on how one perceived this question. I too have written about how this doesn’t seem possible, given the long term structural damage and corruption the party has endured over a very extended period of time.
These two recent events give us an opportunity to compare and contrast.
Some are convinced by Zaid’s good intentions, and he’s certainly said some of the right things in the past.
The comments he made on Sunday are shocking however, and perfectly in keeping with any typical Umno/BN stooge or lackey. Some of his criticisms may have had some foundation, but it sounded like there was a major underlying unwillingness to take responsibility and stay committed to reform.
One can only wonder if Ezam will turn out the same way.
Again, I don’t know the guy, but something I’ve always thought about his situation: people like Ezam have but one profession. Just based on my own experience and other observations, I can tell that a life in this industry generally prepares you very little for a career in anything else.
This is a tough situation for any man to be in. One perceived to have such talents needs a platform (and badly, for to be without one is to be irrelevant), and there are only so many to choose from. It seems to me Ezam chose one and now just has to readjust everything and fit his every spin to his decision.
I can’t comment on the depths of his heart, but I think the fate of many others should give some cause to make certain informed guesses as to whether good intentions get anywhere in Umno.
I thought I would quote this section, because I think there is another significant line in it:
There is a smear campaign to discredit me and I have friends in PKR, they too know that my strength is in my morality and integrity. I have no money unlike many other leaders. I still stand by what I have said previously. When I met Abdullah, we did not discuss about retraction of any reports I had made (against him). He did not ask and I did not offer. I have done my job and the reports are now with the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
Who attacked him? He is a brutus and a dirty man. He has already started to attack his former comrades in AMENO media, then he talks of “God’s fear “morality” and “integrity.” Sheesh! I’m vomiting…
You call that integrity? His explanation reeks of stink that the Almighty is offended. I want to ask him, who is he to reform UMNO? On what basis? By what law? By what justice? By which position? By which power? UMNO has many intelligent people with professions unlike marauding jobless second class honors basics like him and there is nothing they can do. I wish him well but he shouldn’t have the stupidity to attack people in AMNO media and complain that people are attacking him. If I were his wife, I would have sought divorce. Mary my words. I have nevet seen such disgusting turn-around that baffles every human being.
Selamatkan Malaysia!
Can UMNO be reformed ? Many would support the initiative if it could realistically succeed.
The alternative to save the country would be a wholesale regime change in Putra Jaya. That prospect is so radical it worries even a lot of Opposition supporters.
But really I don’t believe UMNO can reform itself. Not within a short to medium time frame, not while it still has its claws holding power. Somewhat like Taiwan’s KMT, it will need to be sent into the opposition to really drive change in the party.
Forget about them, I’m putting my money on genuine reform.
“The alternative to save the country would be a wholesale regime change in Putra Jaya. That prospect is so radical it worries even a lot of Opposition supporters.”
Put that prospect on the table in the next General Election, and then let’s see… if the offer is good, there is no reason people won’t accept it, especially since the PR would have 5 state governments worth of experience so there won’t be so much apprehension.
All I ask is that we do it the right way without setting any atrocious precedents… that is all :) so, on my part, a big hearty TAK NAK to Kataks.
Oh and btw, “regime change” implies a change of regime, not just a change of symbol or change of personalities.
Ezam sedia tentang Anwar
Written by Sinar Harian
Tuesday, 03 June 2008 17:13
MOHAMAD Ezam Mohd Noor membuat keputusan akan menentang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim jika berlaku pilihan raya kecil bagi kerusi Parlimen pada masa terdekat, sekiranya diberi peluang.
Bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu yang yakin permohonannya memasuki UMNO akan mendapat restu pemimpin Majlis Tertinggi (MT) parti, bersedia mendedahkan segala kepincangan politik Anwar demi memastikan perubahan dapat dilakukan dan kebenaran akan terserlah.
“Kebenaran adalah pendorong saya untuk terus berjuang. Saya tidak kisah jika orang yang saya tanding itu Anwar Ibrahim,” katanya pada pertemuan dengan Sinar Harian, semalam.
Menurutnya, beliau sanggup menentang bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu demi membawa perubahan, manfaat serta kebaikan kepada UMNO.
Ezam yang pernah menjadi Setiausaha Politik ketika Anwar menjadi Menteri Kewangan berkata, menang atau kalah pada pilihan raya berkenaan menjadi perkara nombor dua.
“Saya tidak kisah jika kalah dalam pertandingan itu kelak kerana kemenangan bukan suatu yang mutlak bagi diri saya. Sebaliknya apa yang saya perjuangkan ialah kebenaran, bukan hanya untuk menang sahaja,” katanya mengulas peluang pilihan raya kecil itu.
Ezam, 41, yang pernah memegang jawatan Timbalan Pengerusi Keadilan Selangor turut meluahkan rasa kecewa dan kecil hati kepada kepimpinan Anwar yang dianggapnya tidak boleh bertindak sebagai seorang pemimpin sebenar.
Kata Ezam, Anwar juga tidak pernah memujuknya untuk menyertai parti itu sejak beliau meninggalkan PKR dua tahun lalu.
“Saya tidak kesal meninggalkan PKR walaupun saya adalah antara orang yang paling setia berjuang bagi membebaskan Anwar dari penjara,” katanya.
Tambah Ezam, beliau berani untuk menandingi Anwar kerana kepercayaannya kepada Penasihat PKR itu sudah hilang.
Mengenai desas-desus bahawa beliau akan bertanding untuk jawatan Ketua Pemuda, Ezam menjelaskan perkara itu tidak pernah terlintas di fikirannya.
“Ketika saya buat keputusan berjumpa dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menyatakan hasrat untuk kembali kepada UMNO, tidak ada sebarang rundingan atau perbincangan mengenai isu jawatan atau kedudukan saya dalam parti.
“Seperti yang pernah saya jelaskan, saya masuk UMNO kerana tertarik dengan dasar yang dibawa oleh Abdullah sejak kebelakangan ini untuk memerangi rasuah secara besar-besaran.
“Keterbukaannya itu yang menarik minat saya untuk menyertai UMNO dan ia berbeza dengan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO sebelum ini yang menolak kepada perubahan,” katanya.
Menurut Ezam, beliau juga bersedia untuk menjawab lebih daripada tiga soalan yang dikemukakan Ketua Pemuda, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berhubung mengapa beliau boleh diterima menyertai UMNO.
Pada masa yang sama katanya, beliau juga ingin mengajukan beberapa soalan kepada Hishammuddin. “Saya tetap menyerahkan segalanya kepada keputusan MT untuk meluluskan permohonan menyertai UMNO. Saya akan terima apa sahaja keputusan,” katanya.
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Komen:
Nothing to say except that I and many others will never forgive Ezam if he did. :x :x :x
ezam will be a forgotten man like kuli.