No permanent enemies or friends

In politics, it is said, and here's a case study, with Desi looking askance harbouring interesting thoughts.

Two interesting personalities -- Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Anwar Ibrahim.

At a recent dialogue between former DPM Anwar and the National Alliance of Bloggers led by Ahirudin Attan aka Rockybru, I had the cheeky opportunity to ask of Anwar something that had been on my mind:

What is the situation that led to cooling-off of relations between you and Raja Petra -- who was Director of freeanwarcampaign -- but now as host of malaysia-today.net, is not so supportive of him in his polical struggle, and in fact, had shown much in common territory with fomer PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had been his "target" before Anwar's release from prison on allegedly "trumped up" corruption charges.

Anwar answered to the effect that tey remained "friends" as in the sense they are still meeting and talking, but agreed things were not as "warm" as before when Raja Petra head the movement that contributed much to his (Anwar's) eventual release. Anwar intimated that he could not "fulfill" some of the expectations on Raja Petra's part.

I titled my Post thus because I believe that Raja Petra --whose weblog enjoys the highest number of visitors/hits among Malaysian blogs -- plays an important and influential role in Malaysian politics; so like it or not, he cannot escape much political spotlighting. Hence, I believe his "position" is akin to a politician with respect to his relations with Anwar and Dr Mahathir. Raja Petra evolves, Anwar changes, so also Mahathir transforms, and surpris of surprises, sometimes THEIR OBJECTIVES COINCIDE!

I cite two recennt incidents.

Ijok By-election

Dr Mahathir in fact caled on the Ijok electors not to cast votes for ad administration considered largely "incompetent". THat call indirectly would mean the voters had to vote for PKR candidate, and not the BN-MIC candidate.

bum2007 Bloggers Gathering

It was with some frankness and ironic wit that Raja Petra disclosed at a Bloggers' Gathring on May 19, 2007 night that his primary objective is contribute his efforts in kicking out the Administration under Pak Lah (Desi is not too sure it Raja Petra also means over-throwing the Barisan Nasional led by UMNO government if Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was not leading it, but that's another separate issue possibly arising in future?)

PKR CONGRESS IN SEREMBAN MAY 25-27, 2007

Happily, yesterday May 26, 2007 I "bumped" into Raja Petra again in my home territory -- Seremban, which is hosting the PKR Congress, elections year some more! -- I believe we were the two "bloggers" present. Raja knottuily asked what in capacity I was attending the function, and I cheekily said as "observer" to make sure the otrhers present would behave themselves! The princely Blogger did not give Desi to ask in what capacity he was there/dare!

I believe whatever it's the true relations between them, Anwar and Raja Petra are well aware of the adage:
THERE ARE NO PERMANENT ENEMIES OR FRIENDS IN POLITICS.
Only the "interests" are parmanent, and this includes self-interest too, IMHO-lah!

LATER:

I surfed over to his famous Blog for an update, so here is a belated Quotable Quote dated May 22 from a Post titled:

The circus is in town
Category: General
Posted by: Raja Petra

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin


_________________________ QUOTE _______________

"Politics is about perception, not reality. It is what people perceive you to be that matters. And if you can successfully create this right perception then you have it made. And Anwar has been able to create the perception which people would like to see in their leaders. That is Anwar’s forte which other politicians, even the likes of Mahathir Mohamad, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Najib Tun Razak, have not been able to emulate how much they may try.

People either support Mahathir, Ku Li, Abdullah and Najib for what they are, or oppose them for what they are not. This, they are very clear of.

In Anwar’s case though, people support him or oppose him for what they think he is or is not, as the case may be. It is the perception of what they like or dislike about him that they either resent or love. For all intents and purposes, people support Anwar or oppose him for imaginary reasons.

That is what makes Anwar a cut above the rest. (NB: Emphasis in BOLD is Desi's)

But now that game can no longer be played. It is time for Anwar to rid himself of this charade and to discard all those many masks that he dons -- different ones which he pulls out at different times depending on the audience at that particular point of time. Krakatoa is on the boil."

_________________ Ends Quote ________________

DESIDERATA: I suggest the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat should spend sometime reading Raja Petra's -- this Blogger makes a lot of sense. I will remember to remind paid macai Nik Nazmi that he has his homework made easier for him -- Thanks to Blogsworld.

Q1 to Nik:

"Can we now make for claims for re-imbursements, Nik?"

Q2 to Eli (is she also a paid macai? I must get detail from her next we meet, please remind Desi!):

"Or can I have roast lamb chop for our next meal, mGf, for I did not really have more than 3 small bytes that night at LVC. You and BigDog got there/dare first!"