‘Cai’ cohort system no guarantee of winning in PKR polls: Fahmi Fadzil

KUALA LUMPUR – The use of “cai” (preferred lists or camps) during PKR’s internal election does not promise victory for those contesting, said party communications director Fahmi Fadzil ahead of the May polls.

Fahmi, who is running for vice-president, said the system is usually employed to help lesser-known candidates who will ride on the name recognition of others by being grouped in the same camp.

“We cannot deny that ‘cai’ existed during the PKR election in 2018, but it does not mean that it is really effective. So, we will wait and see whether this system is effective,” he was quoted as saying by The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister site Getaran.

“I believe in the party members’ wisdom in selecting (the leaders) because they may not necessarily vote based on the system.”

He added that the party’s grassroots will ultimately decide on the leaders, regardless of the “cai” system.

“I feel that it is a norm in any contest. People will look at the candidates who go together, which is something we always see. If we look at PKR, it is uncertain whether party members will support any particular team because they (themselves) will make the selection in the end.”

Fahmi said this today during the press conference on the debate between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Earlier, former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, who is contesting for the deputy president post against Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, announced his running mates for the polls, which are scheduled to start in the second week of May.

His list included Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Tg Malim MP Chang Lih Kang and former Kapar MP G Manivannan.

Rafizi, who is a former Pandan MP, added former Selangor PKR women’s chief Rodziah Ismail and Penang Youth chief Fahmi Zainol to his cohort. Both are contesting for the top posts of their respective wings.

Nomination for the election took place between April 8 and 10 and involved all party branches nationwide, while registration for the top posts happened on April 11.

The election will be the party’s first-ever hybrid polls that will involve in-person voting as well as online voting through its Adil app introduced on February 28.

The online polls will take place between May 18 and 20, while physical voting is between May 13 and 17. – The Vibes, April 17, 2022