KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — PKR strategist Tian Chua today shrugged off reports that former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will helm Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should it be allowed to register as a formal coalition, saying it was just a formality for the registration process.
The Batu MP, who was quoted as naming Zaid in the AFP report yesterday, said the opposition bloc has yet to discuss the post and explicitly maintained that Zaid’s nomination as chairman of PR is mere formality.
“So this is purely like registering a company, we just get a name and submit..the most important thing for the purpose of getting to be recognised as legal entity,” he told reporters at the parliament lobby.
“It’s not the issue of putting who up as the chairman... at the moment, the whole procedure is to register the party and then the leadership of PR will deliver on the actual manifesto (as to who) will hold what position,” said Chua, adding the decision will be made at a much later stage.
The Registrar of Society (RoS) requires political parties applying for legal recognition as a coalition to name one person as the chairman to lead the coalition just like Barisan Nasional where Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak is its chairman.
The Malaysian Insider understands lawyers representing the opposition bloc had submitted their application earlier this week.
According to government sources, some 10 names each from DAP, PAS and PKR were listed in the registration form, together with a list of common objectives, which are expected to be laid out when the alliance holds its first convention next month.
A logo bearing a “rising sun” was also tendered — signalling a “new dawn” for the country — as the fledgling opposition front’s symbol against BN’s dacing, or weighing scales.
When asked if the convention will discuss on the appointment of leaders to key posts in the formal PR structure, Chua refused to answer saying only that the meet will focus on laying out the much needed common platform for the bloc which have been suffering from the lack of cohesion.
But it remains to be seen if PKR, PAS and DAP will be able to settle their various spats within their respective parties as well as with each other and present a force capable of challenging BN.
Until now, leaders from the bloc have only promises of progress in terms of drafting a common policy but have yet to give any concrete details on the progress. Zaid leads the group drafting the common policy framework. He joined PKR this year after quitting Umno.
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