PKR a stumbling block for Pakatan in NS
The delay in Pakatan Rakyat announcing its candidates list for the state is largely due to PKR state chief Kamarul Baharin Abbas’s incompetency, claim party insiders.
(FMT) – Party infighting in causing a major headache for PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Negeri Sembilan.
The rift is so bad that it is causing unnecessary and potentially harmful distraction as the party aims to do well in the state for the coming general election.
Pakatan Rakyat is confident of winning this state and PKR’s two other partners – DAP and PAS – have finalised their candidates and are ready for battle.
However the scenario in PKR is very different. PKR is still undecided on who to field in their alloted three parliamentary and 13 state seats in Negeri Sembilan.
Speculation is that Anwar is unhappy with Negeri Sembilan PKR chairman Kamarul Baharin Abbas on the party’s final candidates list for the state.
Kamarul is said to have dropped “super candidates” like former Port Dickson state assemblyman, M Ravi and Seremban PKR deputy chief, Dr Mohamad Rafie Abdul Malek for the Ampangan state seat.
Instead Kamarul had listed state PKR vice-chairman V Aridass for Port Dickson to replace the popular and hardworking Ravi, and has named himself for Ampangan by sidelining Rafie.
Rafie has been slated to fight for the Rembau parliamentary seat, which will be contested by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
The move has set off alarm bells in the state PKR as supporters of both Ravi and Rafie are upset with the move which is aimed to kill off their political careers.
“If Rafie goes to Rembau, he would definitely lose. He would go up against Khairy, who is no pushover in Rembau. Rafie is not familiar with the voters there.
“As far as Ravi is concerned, he is the best candidate for Port Dickson. Everyone knows him. Even if Ravi is given the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat, he can win it as he is that strong here. Everyone knows him,” said a Pakatan Rakyat source, who declined to be named.
Rafie on the other hand, the source said, stepped into Ampangan sometime in 2009 after the incumbent state assemblymen, Rashid Latiff fell sick and underwent a by-pass heart surgery. He has managed to connect with voters in Ampangan.
Kamarul’s MB ambition
A PKR source meanwhile said the move to “kill off” Rafie was because of Kamarul’s ambition to be the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar should Pakatan wins the state.
“But Kamarul does not realise that even if he contests in Ampangan, he would lose, His track record in Teluk Kemang is poor. The voters know it, the whole state knows it,” said the source.
While state PKR leaders are haggling over seats, PAS and DAP agree that Ravi and Rafie are the best candidates for Port Dickson and Ampangan respectively.
“Without doubt Ravi and Rafie should cruise to easy victory in Port Dickson and Ampangan”, said the PAS leader when contacted by FMT.
“If you going to field a different candidate in Port Dickson and Ampangan other than Ravi and Rafie, I think PKR would be handing over both seats in silver plater to the BN. If this is the case, we are not going to form the next state government,” said an agitated DAP leader.
However, the two component parties are not about to get involved in the PKR internal squabble.
“This is PKR’s internal matter. We can’t interfere. We have to respect each party. We know the problem in Negeri Sembilan PKR, but there is nothing much we can do about it,” said a state DAP leader, who declined to be named.
