Digging one hole to cover another according to Syed Umar Ariff

TURNING A CHEEK: The DAP-PKR spat in Johor is still hot off the press but Pakatan Rakyat is ignoring it and hyping up other issues

IT was a rather lengthy press conference at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national headquarters in Petaling Jaya recently.

As the party leaders -- vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Fuziah Salleh, who were accompanied by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli strode onto a stage, all three etched a wide smile before a battery of flashing cameras.

The press conference was held only a day after the squabble between Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and his PKR counterpart, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, was reported in the media.

However, the meeting with the press was not to address the controversy.

Instead, the party made announcements on the setting up of its think-tank, the launching of Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto and lastly, hurling accusations against the Election Commission (EC) and Barisan Nasional for allegedly registering overseas postal voters without their knowledge.

When a reporter, during the last segment of the conference posed a question to Nurul Izzah concerning the Johor DAP-PKR row, the 32-year-old was visibly stunned for about five seconds until Fuziah interceded for the Lembah Pantai member of parliament.

It was clear that Nurul Izzah did not expect such a question to be fielded.

The vociferous approach in ramifying allegations against the EC did not divert the reporter from focusing on the pertinent issue at hand.

Being ignorant or employing diversionary tactics are the most common technique for political coalition to mask its internal rifts, says Universiti Utara Malaysia's Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman.

He concurred that Pakatan for example, had been sweeping a number of issues under the carpet, rupturing the image of unity within the opposition alliance.

Muhammad said one of the foremost examples was the contentious issue on the use of the word "Allah" among non-Muslims, which has yet to gain closure, although Pas top leaders had casually described the issue as having been resolved.

"The 'Allah' issue has clearly shown Pakatan's fragility. Saying that it had been resolved, when DAP and Pas are still at each other's throats is an attempt to shelve the controversy," said the political scientist.
A diversion compounded by sheer ignorance, as explained by Muhammad, would not last should there be a simmering undercurrent between opposing views.

"Issues that are not addressed properly will risk further exposure, when the diversion tactic employed has finally been cornered or had reached its tipping point. It won't be long," said Muhammad.

The Dr Boo and Chua episode had also been theorised by Universiti Teknologi Mara rector Associate Professor Dr Mohd Adnan Hashim as another diversion from the "Allah" issue by Pakatan, albeit not a brilliant one.

Agreeing that it had immersed the pact further into hot water, the communications media studies expert said the opposition should have better management of issues to prevent infighting, rather than allowing them to be protracted into something difficult to measure and resolve.

"Personally, I think what they are doing now is not enough to deflect the public's opinion on them.
"They should have realised that delicate issues, including the use of the word 'Allah',  could be used against them and not easily steered away.

  "Pakatan should formulate an effective strategy in addressing issues, rather than turning the other cheek," said Adnan.

  At the PKR press conference,  Fuziah and Nurul Izzah had accused the EC of  illegally registering overseas postal voters.
 
  "In just a couple of weeks, we have detected some 1,000 names being registered for postal votes from overseas according to the EC. A number did not even apply to register. The commission should provide an explanation," claimed Nurul Izzah, in an attempt to raise another issue despite the prominent conflict between Dr Boo and Chua.

  EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, heaved a sigh of frustration  during a telephone conversation later in the evening.

  Aziz said other than being unethical and law-violating, it was impossible to carry such registration since the application procedures were made individually, from where the country's potential voters were residing.
  "Malaysians who wanted to register as postal voters from overseas will need to submit their identification documents, including passports and MyKad through fax or email.

  "Ini semua karut lah (This is all nonsense). It was the opposition who wanted all Malaysians living overseas to be allowed to vote. Subsequently, we amended the Election Act to allow that," countered Aziz.
  Since 4pm on Monday only 2,600 applications  were received but none had yet to be approved, as the returning officers have yet to be appointed.

  "They (PKR) are saying very weird things. How can they say we do such things, cavorting with certain parties to increase the number of postal voters. That is just plain ludicrous," said  Aziz.
 
  An online journalist, when met two days ago had told this writer that it was typical for Pakatan  to shift the blame to BN and the mainstream media for allegedly spinning issues, whenever a controversy had left them  on the defensive.

  She cited as an  example  opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when he was conferred the sacred title of "Huguan Siou", or the paramount Kadazan chief, by the PKR Ranau division in Sabah a week ago.
"That is simply a feeble attempt by someone who is at his wits end."


Read more: Digging one hole to cover another - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/digging-one-hole-to-cover-another-1.221908#ixzz2LUqfyTKq