KUALA LUMPUR – PKR heads to its main congress, today, in what will be a decisive gathering for the multiracial party going into the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).
Riding on the controversial results of the party’s recently concluded polls, the newly elected leadership comprising branches, division and central party positions is widely expected to exert its influence upon members.
On one hand, observers may view the congress, held between July 15 and 17, as a culmination of brewing discontentment among grassroots members over the election results – apart from a panacea to the poor turnout in the polls held in May.
Despite recent assurances from PKR’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil that the independent forensic auditors had gone through every vote, physical or digital, before signing it off, notable changes to the results would still leave a sour note for the losing candidate and their respective supporters.
Party members were certainly taken aback by the 11th-hour changes in results such as the Wanita PKR head’s post, which saw Dewan Negara Senator Fadhlina Sidek score an upset against three-term Batu Tiga assemblyman Rodziah Ismail.
Notably, the battle between the party’s celebrity recruits, namely rapper Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, popularly known by his stage name Altimet, as well as actor-producer Datuk Hans Isaac.
Altimet ultimately prevailed against Isaac by a mere nine votes to become Ampang PKR division chief – a position that had been in Isaac’s favour by just two votes days earlier amidst a see-saw of decisions for the division.
Big tent approach, yay or nay
On the other hand, another glaring issue concerns the apparent friction between two major camps, one that supports incoming deputy president Rafizi Ramli and the other, party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Rafizi – who opposed the “big tent” approach which is mostly supported by Anwar’s backers – defeated PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for the number two post.
Saifuddin, a long-time Anwar loyalist and party stalwart, is expected to be once again appointed as the party’s secretary-general in an effort to balance power in both camps.
Following his convincing victory, Rafizi had made no secret of his intention to impose his will and newfound power to control and dominate the party.
Earlier this month, the former Pandan MP trained his attention on party members who he alleged to have been sabotaging the political outfit by consistently disputing its election results.
He said as the party’s freshly elected number two, he will now push for disciplinary action to be taken against these individuals who are found to intentionally delay the new leadership from assuming their duties.
Additionally, he also openly criticised the big tent approach, despite it supposedly being backed by certain segments within the party.
On the campaign trail, Rafizi said such a move would require PKR to embrace politicians who were not favoured by the public, and urged the party to prioritise strengthening itself.
It is widely touted that Rafizi’s principles of not cooperating with other parties under a big tent approach in facing GE15 may have been the deciding factor in securing his landslide victory in the PKR deputy president race.
Based on the first day of PKR’s congress yesterday, a pattern has clearly been set over the party’s divisiveness regarding the big tent approach.
While Pandan MP and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail appears to be on the fence over the big tent approach, outgoing PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, a known Rafizi loyalist, came out strongly to oppose the approach.
The big tent approach requires PKR to cooperate with other parties under a big tent coalition in facing GE15.
In addition to influencing and swaying the opinion of party president Anwar on the said approach, the crucial appointments of party members into the central leadership council as well as appointing other vice-presidents are key towards either accepting or rejecting the strategy.
Central leadership council, appointed vice-presidents
Furthermore, the party – during the congress – will be selecting its central leadership council for the 2022 to 2024 term tomorrow.
However, this too has been awash with controversy as only 10 women, out of a long, male-dominated list of 70 candidates, will be vying for a seat in PKR’s central leadership council (MPP), making up just 14.2% of the overall figure.
This is according to the candidates’ list released by the party on its election website, which will among others feature party newcomer Maszlee Malik, who only officially joined the party in November last year.
Maszlee recently won the Simpang Renggam PKR division chief post in the recent polls.
Among the women figures contesting the 20 MPP positions up for grabs are Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, Merbok MP Nor Azrina Surip, Hulu Selangor lawmaker June Leow, and Tangga Batu MP Rusnah Aluai, who shot to prominence last year when she said drinking Timah-branded whiskey is like “drinking Malay women”.
Also competing are Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, former Machap Jaya representative Datuk Ginie Lim, Wanita PKR communications director Loh Ker Chean, outgoing Wanita vice-head Datin Faizah Ariffin, former senator Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail and outgoing Lembah Pantai Wanita chief Raiyan Abdul Rahim.
The measly representation for women in the MPP candidates list is a far cry from PKR’s 30% target, which the party has set for years, for women members to fill its decision-making positions.
Other prominent individuals who are vying for a seat at PKR’s high table are celebrity politicians Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan and Isaac, both recently having lost in their bid to become division chiefs, in Setiawangsa and Ampang respectively.
Former student activist Fahmi Zainol, who fell short in his quest to be the party’s new Youth chief, has also offered himself to be an MPP member.
To tip the balance in his favour, some party insiders believe Anwar will also likely appoint three party vice-presidents to complement the elected four, most of whom are said to support Rafizi’s leadership.
Among those touted to be possibly appointed by Anwar include first-term Sentosa assemblyman Gunarajah George, Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa, and former Kapar MP G. Manivannan.
It is learnt that the possible move is to ensure that the Indian members of the party will have a leader that could possibly unite the internal factionalism between them and strengthen its support from the Indian community.
Party sources have also revealed that Rafizi has expressed his openness to discuss these appointments with Anwar internally prior to tomorrow’s announcements.
Anwar, during his policy speech, is also predicted to assert his influence over the party he formed back in 1998, urging his fellow party members to close ranks.
Despite Rafizi’s victory, the Port Dickson MP is also expected to continue exerting his dominance to keep the party intact and cohesive as PKR attempts to reclaim the mandate it and its Pakatan Harapan allies won back in 2018. – The Vibes, July 16, 2022
