Trouble brewing in PKR ahead of party polls
A party insider said news of cracks within the party’s electoral machinery – said to be divided into three camps: one of Khalid’s who was hand-picked to lead the campaign; the second, of Azmin’s; while Zaid, wielded the third – was allegedly spread by Chua’s faction who are keen to maintain the rivalry between the three.
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
Rival factions led by PKR vice-president Azmin Ali and party strategic director Chua Tian Chang have begun campaigning to diminish each others’ influence ahead of this December’s party polls.
It is learned that the Sunday’s Hulu Selangor by-election was a platform for Azmin to bridge the gap with his so-called rivals, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
Zaid, who lost the Hulu Selangor seat by 1,725 votes, is tipped to contest against Azmin for the deputy presidency post in the party polls. Apart from Azmin, both Zaid and Khalid are known to have strong influence over party de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
A party insider said news of cracks within the party’s electoral machinery – said to be divided into three camps: one of Khalid’s who was hand-picked to lead the campaign; the second, of Azmin’s; while Zaid, wielded the third – was allegedly spread by Chua’s faction who are keen to maintain the rivalry between the three.
The allegations of a division is said to have become one of the major causes behind PKR’s lymphatic machinery at the crucial by-election. This was eventually one of the reasons that led to their defeat.
“The influence of Chua’s camp within PKR is not big. They don’t have the numbers and big leaders like Azmin so it is important for them to try and pull strong leaders who are close to Anwar like Zaid and Khalid to their side to push their agenda,” said the insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Those said to be in Chua’s camp are Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, appointed party vice-president R Sivarasa and Dr Lee Boon Chye and a few other mid-level leaders. It is rumored that they have the backing of Syed Husin Ali, PKR’s deputy president and the most influential left figure within the party. Syed Husin will not defend his post in the December polls.
When influential former party secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim quit the party, he cited his discontent with a “leftie faction” which is attempting to have total control over the party’s direction.
It is believed that Salehuddin, the man who brokered the deal to have Zaid join PKR, was referring to Chua’s camp.
“At first, they (Chua’s camp) had Khalid’s backing. They silently preyed on the the rivalry between Azmin and Khalid but when the news of the two patching up came out, they try to have Zaid in their camp,” added the PKR official.
Zaid, being new in PKR, was in need of support said the source and Tian Chua’s camp was quick to move in knowing well his national stature would put him on par as other stronger characters known to be in Anwar’s inner circle like Datuk Chua Jui Meng, current secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and supreme council member Datuk Kamarul Abbas.
Supporters from Azmin’s camp accused Chua, who is known for his close relations with the media particularly the Chinese press, of “sly politicking”, harping on the differences between the three leaders through the press in a bid to counter Azmin’s vast influence.
Chua’s camp suffered a severe blow when Anwar moved in to mediate and plaster the cracks between the three in a closed door meeting early this year. The result was a much improved relationship between them and this was proven during the Hulu Selangor by-election.
