Plot thickens against Azizan
Some Pas leaders and their allies want the Kedah menteri besar out
Many of Azizan’s so-called friends, especially those from his own party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, shied away, either by design or otherwise, from him when he was accused of invoking the Universities and University Colleges Act to punish five students of the state-owned Kolej Universiti Insaniah for protesting against the authorities.
By Noor Adzman Baharuddin, New Straits Times
BY now, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak must have realised that it is lonely at the top.
A popular meaning of the expression suggests that when a person is in a position of power, they don’t have many close friends.
People are either afraid of them or are using them, or the person in question is afraid of losing power by having friends.
However, it is quite difficult to put a finger on which of the meanings applies to Azizan.
Are people afraid of him? Well, his friends and political foes know he never minces his words.
Is Azizan, a former head of the Syariah Department at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a four-term assemblyman for Sungai Limau, using others for personal and political gains?
Is he, as Kedah Pas commissioner and at the age of 72, afraid of losing power and position by having friends?
So, which of the meanings of the expression applies to him?
He had a lot of friends, both from his party and its partners in the opposition pact, when he was catapulted to his present position. (Note: operative word is “had”).
However, judging from the series of events of late, especially the unrelenting attacks by his foes — and mind you, they are not from Barisan Nasional — Azizan is definitely lonely at the top.
Many of Azizan’s so-called friends, especially those from his own party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, shied away, either by design or otherwise, from him when he was accused of invoking the Universities and University Colleges Act to punish five students of the state-owned Kolej Universiti Insaniah for protesting against the authorities.
Until today, none of his accusers, who included his very own party deputy president Mohamad Sabu and Pas Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, have come out in the open to apologise to him for criticising him over the matter.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, too, has not come to Azizan’s aid in his time of need, especially after his party’s communications director, greenhorn politician Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, demanded for Azizan’s head for the alleged crime.
The DAP, Pas’ other ally in the opposition pact, seemed to be washing its hands of the issue.
As if Azizan does not already have enough troubles on his hands, the rumour mill suggested that he was in the process of drafting his resignation letter as menteri besar. However, Azizan was quick to deny it and suggested that it was child’s play and expected of his political foes, considering that the general election was around the corner.
Kedah Pas has offered a conspiracy theory for Azizan’s woes.
Azizan’s men in the state claimed that it was a concerted effort by members of a party belonging to the opposition pact to cast aspersions on Azizan with the ultimate aim of booting him out as menteri besar.
Azizan was said to be stubborn and unyielding to their demands for favours and key posts in some state government-linked companies.
The case for Azizan looks gloomy as his men had also charged that some Pas leaders were also in cahoots with those out to topple him.
Azizan’s state executive councillors from Pas were also seen as lame, preferring to bury their heads in the sand when their leader needed them most.
Azizan, as in past incidents which have marred his administration, ranging from the boo-boos his men made over the no-karaoke ruling during the fasting month and turning Kulim into a no-alcohol district, is alone to fight his battles.
It is little wonder that he has not been able to deliver his promises of substantial socio-economic development for the people since they gave him and Pas the mandate to run the state in 2008.
