KEADILANTELUKKEMANG.

In crisis, Pakatan moves toward a permanent partnershipBy Shannon TeohKUALA LUMPUR, July 3 - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is set to finally put togetherthe framework for a more structured and permanent political structure in thepartnership of PAS, PKR and DAP, which will see Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim putin place as chairman of a leadership council.A "rapid response unit" comprising key members from the three partners willalso be set up to counter political attacks with a uniformed message andmitigate the kind of gamesmanship and petty politicking which has seen thealliance rocked to its core in recent weeks.But any notion of the new leadership council being a quick-fix for the opensquabbling which broke out this week is likely to be tempered by the factthat wide ideological differences still exist in the alliance formed soonafter last year's general election.The problems PR is still facing in Penang and Kedah as well as the Umno-PASunity government talks suggest a lack of compromise so far between itsleaders.The Malaysian Insider understands that plans for a properly structuredleadership council have been tabled to the leaders of the three parties asDatuk Zaid Ibrahim, brought into PKR ostensibly as the man to do this,follows up on plans to formalise the coalition.In an earlier interview, he had told The Malaysian Insider that he wouldpursue a structure "that will try and find common positions on delicateissues and strengthen capacity building."The current proposal for the council will see Anwar as chairman with asecretary-general given authority to develop central policies which willthen require endorsement by members of the council from all three parties.However, it appears that while there would not be any objection to Anwar'schairmanship, the office of secretary-general will be a touchy issue for analliance grappling with the concept of power sharing.The Rapid Response Unit, on the other hand, will be tasked with being "thefirst line of defence," according to Dzulkefly Ahmad, a member of thecurrent informal PR joint secretariat.The Kuala Selangor MP for PAS told The Malaysian Insider that it would bemade up of technocrats "who are always on the ball and able to quickly meetto decide on the next course of action" if issues such as Kedah DAP's recentpullout of the state government occur.Provisionally, DAP information chief Tony Pua and PKR strategy directorSaifuddin Nasution will join Dzulkefly as unit members.But some leaders, requesting anonymity, expressed doubts over theeffectiveness of these measures.One said that as the hierarchy within the three political parties did notalways translate when it came to government roles, certain mentris besar orchief ministers would not accede if they felt their policies were right."If the council or unit decides on something, what is the guarantee thatsome leaders with strong personalities will follow?" the leader asked."We need a proper whip system. Then either you toe the line or you resign,"another suggested.However, both Pua and Dzulkelfy pointed out that in the end, nothingreplaces good governance."It is important to rule well and focus on core principles such asdelivering on the promises that PR has made," Pua said.