PKR must act like the dominant party it is in the coalition government, Sim Tze Tzin said.
The new political secretary at the party's presidential office said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the PKR chief.
There are more than 10 parties in the unity federal government.
"We need to galvanise our party at all levels to be a leader in all aspects of governance. We need to empower PKR from the top to the grassroots.”
Sim, who is the Bayan Baru MP, cited examples such as in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey where the prime minister's party leads in governance and in policy-making.
On Monday, PKR announced the formation of a presidential office political secretariat, composed of five appointed leaders, which would steer the party towards understanding its role in government better and to serve the needs of the party grassroots.
The secretariat will also offer input in the review of the party constitution, chart new directions and provide feedback to the top leadership.
The five members are senior political secretary Datuk Romli Ishak and political secretaries Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar, Sim Tze Tzin, Manivanan Gowin, and Juwairiya Zulkifli.
Sim said PKR needs stronger leadership in its political machinery and must reduce the gap in support between urban and rural voters.
"PKR is renowned as an urban party but now we are in government. We need to feature predominantly in both the urban and rural areas. We need to be a centrist for all people."
Sim said the party will disseminate factual information about the state of the economy while championing moderation in racial and religious polemics.
"We need our fellow Malaysians to understand that the rising living costs is a global phenomenon. The world, including the likes of US and China as well as Southeast Asia, is struggling in the face of pent-up demand which has driven up inflation to record levels."
Economics aside, Sim said PKR is confident that the populist policies advocated by the racial- and religious-centric opposition Perikatan Nasional are unsustainable because they are unrealistic.
Over time, reality will bite as the country struggles to stay competitive after decades of misgovernance, said Sim.
"This not only takes time, it takes a huge level of patience and political willpower." – April 11, 2024.
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