Voter relations, counter-narrative will win the day for PKR

KUALA LUMPUR – PKR is all geared up for polls whenever they are held. However, its success will be based on two factors: a relationship with voters, and countering the current narrative that the party is weak or does not champion the welfare of certain communities.

“We need to know our voters, and we need to establish a good database. One needs to know current issues to prepare a script and narrative,” PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told The Vibes.

“We need to prepare a counter-narrative as well. As such, we are ever ready. Throughout my experience helping Keadilan (PKR) during elections, I believe we are almost there. But this is on Keadilan,” he said in response to questions on the party and Pakatan Harapan’s preparations for the 15th general election.

He said PKR is “85% ready” to face the next polls.

“Throughout our 20 years’ experience participating in general elections, firstly in 1999, (and then) 2004, 2008, 2013, and (most) recently, 2018, the party has developed quite a solid system, solid training modules, and good experience with logistical preparations.

“Based on that, (we apply it) as one of the criteria to select candidates.”

He said PKR conducts weekly training sessions with party leaders nationwide in a concerted effort to gear up and win the mandate once again.

“We got the training ongoing. Prior to this interview, I was at the party headquarters conducting election training alongside (Youth chief) Akmal Nasir and (Wanita head) Fuziah Salleh.

“We have weekly programmes conducted throughout Malaysia, and we are gearing towards that because elections in Malaysia are pretty much constituency-based.”

However, the Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP, who is also PH secretary-general, said seat negotiations are ongoing.

“I recently chaired a meeting with all PH leaders from each state to give them orders and instructions on how to work for this election, and preparations.

“PH is a registered coalition under the Registrar of Societies Act 1964, alongside the state structure as well. If you look at those parameters, PH is pretty much intact and compact in all states, except one or two with some leadership problems. But overall, we are moving very well and are functioning.”

Don't read too much into cancellation of presidential council meeting

Saifuddin Nasution sought to clarify the sudden cancellation of a PH presidential council meeting, and dismissed speculation that it was due to a joint statement issued on Thursday morning by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

“In the PH presidential council, we have frequent meetings. The meeting on Thursday was called off, though. But when we met last week, it was to discuss the Perak issue. That meeting was held immediately after the parliamentary session ended.

“But on Thursday, we thought the (Dewan Rakyat) session would end around 2pm. So, I issued a notice that the meeting would be held around 2.30pm.

“What happened was, the session dragged on until almost 5pm.

“On Thursday, most of the party leaders would go back to their constituencies, but people speculated (that the meeting was called off) because of the Guan Eng and Mat Sabu joint statement,” he said, adding that he cannot stop people from speculating.

He said the media started to call him, to ask when the next meeting would be.

“As the chief secretariat of PH, I will first discuss with Mat Sabu, Guan Eng and (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) because I need to accommodate their dates.

“That is the process, and the system is working very well. We used to cancel meetings before, but there were no issues.”

Speculation was rife about PH’s stability following the meeting’s cancellation after Lim and Mohamad said the pact must stop wasting time on “opportunistic” Perikatan Nasional backbenchers who are exploiting it.

Both PH component party leaders said following the failure to block the passage of Budget 2021, it is now time for the opposition to face the reality that it needs a reset.

Last Tuesday, the Budget was passed 111-108 on its third reading in the Dewan Rakyat. With this, the allocations for all 27 ministries cleared the committee stage.

It came after PH failed to oppose the supply bill at the policy stage due to a directive by opposition leader and PKR president Anwar to stand down. – The Vibes, December 22, 2020

With additional reporting by Amar Shah Mohsen