With September 16 passed without a change of government despite the promise of Anwar Ibrahim, members of Barisan Nasional wasted no time to point out how the promise is merely hot air. The Barisan Nasional government still stands on the day after despite Pakatan Rakyat’s threat. In the media aligned to the ruling coalition, there is a clear hint of celebration and contempt against Pakatan Rakyat.
Anwar’s credibility is on the line at the moment and with the influence Barisan Nasional over the mainstream media, it is not hard to encourage the public to question Anwar’s credibility. Anwar has only himself to blame for allowing him to be openly attacked in such manner.
Even the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi openly challenged Anwar’s reputation. I do not think I have seen the Prime Minister using so harsh a tone one national television. Given the grandfatherly nature of the Prime Minister, I found myself almost at a state of shock watching and listening how the Prime Minister was directly undermining Anwar’s credibility and the words which he used.
The Prime Minister was referring to a letter which Anwar sent to him early. Anwar stated that he mentioned about power transfer and request for refrain from declaring emergency rule but the Prime Minister revealed to the media that Anwar’s statement is untrue.[1]
As the Prime Minister continued speaking, I began to feel how ironic the whole situation is. Here is the Prime Minister and the President of Barisan Nasional, who has repeatedly damaged his own reputation through inconsistent policies and flip-flopping, questioning another person’s credibility.
A colleague shared his opinion with me earlier in the morning at work on how Anwar has more credibility than the Prime Minister. I cannot help but nod in agreement with him. I have no doubt that Anwar’s credibility suffers from his failure to stick to the promise of September 16. Yet, for me personally, Anwar still have more credibility than Prime Minister Abdullah.
After the Prime Minister was no more on the television, I concluded that he should be the last person on television to talk about credibility.
[1] — PUTRAJAYA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s letter to the Prime Minister only mentioned national security, the leadership and problems on morality and politics and had not touched on the transfer of power to the Opposition. [‘Anwar’s letter didn’t mention transfer of power’. V.P. Sujata. The Star. Accessed September 17 2008]
One reply on “[1781] Of the battle of credibility”
[…] by blaming others, is running away from his. That, will only hurt his and Pakatan Rakyat’s credibility further to reduce the gap — which are in Pakatan Rakyat’s favor at the moment — between him and […]