War drums at PKR congress
The weakest link in the opposition grouping has seen its support falling since the 2008 polls
The public’s perception of PKR’s ketua umum is not all that promising. A survey conducted by International Islamic Universiti concluded that Anwar, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had declined in popularity.
PARTI Keadilan Rakyat convenes its annual meeting from today with a focus on the 13th general election. Its eighth national congress at Pulai Springs Resort, near Johor Baru, will show if PKR, an adolescent among the country’s much older mainstream parties, is ready to face the national polls.
De facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not miss the opportunity to rally his troops.
His wife and party president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will delve into election issues in her presidential speech tomorrow, steeling delegates and party members to face opponents.
Other senior leaders are expected to sing the same tune during the congress, themed “Demi Rakyat”, or “For the people”.
Besides the need for proper screening of election candidates to avoid a repeat of defections later, speakers will focus on issues relating to the young, the working class and cost of living that had won the party votes in 2008.
If people are expecting the congress to make an official stand on Anwar’s position in the event he is found guilty of sodomy, they will be disappointed.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the party would remain silent on a scenario without Anwar, although he did not rule out debaters raising the issue.
No motion will be tabled on this, he said, as the mood was more about the impending general election. The congress would be on the future of PKR, election preparations and seat allocation among the party’s allies, Pas and DAP, he added.
The congress is where the sound of war drums is to be notched up since it is likely to be the last before the general election.
But PKR’s setback is its sliding support since the last general election. Anwar’s aura as prime-minister-to-be has been reduced by his sodomy trial and video clips of alleged sexual impropriety.
The public’s perception of PKR’s ketua umum is not all that promising.
A survey conducted by International Islamic Universiti concluded that Anwar, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had declined in popularity.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, on the other hand, were on the up.
The poll asked 1,500 Malay, Chinese and Indian registered voters how satisfied they were with the leadership qualities of the five.
In October 2008, 35 per cent of Malays, 33 per cent of Chinese and 41 per cent of Indian respondents expressed satisfaction with Najib. In July, the three ethnic groups’ approval of him had increased to 59 per cent, 45 per cent and 62 per cent.
PKR may have won 31 of the 97 parliamentary seats in 2008, but this was mostly because of sentiment against the ruling Barisan Nasional at that time.
Looking at the many controversies in PKR, which seem never-ending, it is no wonder that voters who had once turned their backs on BN are returning to the coalition.
There have been fissures in the party, resulting in elected representatives jumping ship, leaders leaving and factions jostling over party posts.
Last year’s stormy internal election, which was capped by the party’s annual congress in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, was embarrassing.
The conflicts in PKR have weakened the party. The spate of resignations has led to its relegation to the second largest opposition party in Parliament with 24 seats to DAP’s 29 and Pas’ 23.
Open disputes between PKR representatives and those from the party’s allies have also tarnished the opposition grouping.
Pakatan Rakyat’s image as a united front has taken a beating, with a rising number questioning the opposition’s ability to rule.
Many from the group of 2008 supporters have also become unpredictable.
They might stick to PKR if the party is more convincing, particularly in its ability to govern its crown jewel, Selangor.
It is for this reason that the congress, which kicks off with the Youth and Wanita meetings, followed by the main congress tomorrow and Sunday, will showcase anecdotal evidence of Selangor’s success under the leadership of PKR’s Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
PKR is the weakest link in the opposition pact and the party leaders themselves have admitted to this.
The party is being kept alive by loyalists, with almost 500,000 registered members.
But party leaders know that support from members alone will not guarantee victory for PKR candidates. Party loyalists think PKR is special, in that its members are from diverse communities united in the pursuit of “justice, truth, equality and fundamental rights”.
Others see the party as struggling to reach the masses, seeking to topple the BN government for its own advantage and fighting one man’s political ambitions, that is, Anwar’s.
PKR has not made any effort to move away from Anwar’s shadow. Despite the emergence of young leaders, the party is still very much Anwar-centric.
