What next, Zaid?

PETALING JAYA: The dissolution of Parti Keadilan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) has sounded the death knell for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s political career.

This is the opinion of political observers and politicians who spoke to The Malay Mail yesterday and attributed Zaid’s impatience and shoot-from-the-hip character as a political disadvantage.

The lawyer-turned-politician had announced yesterday via the party’s website that Kita would be dissolved through an extraordinary general meeting and reasoned it was necessary to “remove any and all doubts that we indeed do support the opposition”.

It cited lack of funding and support among reasons for its dissolution. While Kita is perceived as a one-man show, some disgruntled party members are against its dissolution (see page 2).

Zaid had left PKR to form and become Kita’s president after condemning Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

However, the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department recently apologised to the PKR de facto leader for his “malicious attacks” before the sodomy trial verdict.

Umno Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Zaid should reconsider his political career.

"Pity the guy, he chose the wrong profession. He has no stomach for politics. When I heard the news, I was absolutely disappointed. So many mistakes have made him a spent force."

He suggested Zaid should return to his law practice.

"He could go back to law or the corporate world. With due respect, I do not think he is made for politics.

"He left Umno to join PKR to provide a new platform and then left PKR to form Kita for the same reason. He never really started his political career." Abdul Rahman also rubbished rumours that Zaid would return to PKR.

"As long as (PKR deputy president) Azmin Ali is around, he won't go back to PKR. There's too much bad blood there and I don't think Anwar Ibrahim would allow it."

Zaid was appointed de facto law minister in Tun Abdullah Badawi's Cabinet after the 2008 general election, tasked to oversee the country's judicial reform.

He resigned from government, a few months later, following the arrests of DAP's Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoong Cheng under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Meanwhile, both PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Fuziah Salleh, remained coy over the disbanding of the year-old party, stressing only the public could judge Zaid's political credibility.

Said Nurul Izzah: "It is best that he is judged by the people. I don't like to dwell on the past and I have not seen him since the end of 2010. Will PKR accept him? We will cross the bridge once we get there."

Former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said Kita's end was a surprise, while pointing out that Zaid was synonymous with abrupt decisions.

"He has made sudden moves before, such as leaving PKR to form Kita and these changes are quite abrupt. However, everybody is at liberty to determine his destiny.

"Politicians need not reveal all to the public. I am not sure he will stay in politics."

Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst and lecturer at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, was more scathing, saying Zaid's reputation and credibility "were near zero".

"I see Zaid's political career as a comedy of errors. As a politician, what does he hope to be now? Does he hope to return to PKR and contest for a seat to become politically relevant? That is wishful thinking.

"Yes, most definitely he is a spent force. His credibility is very close to zero. He would lose his deposit if he decides to stand for any of the urban seats."

Zaid did not answer or return our calls and text messages yesterday.

See full statement by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim on Pg 2