PKR must face reality and make stand on GHB, says Saifuddin
(The Malaysian Insider) – PKR election director Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his party cannot keep silent on where it stands regarding the New Hope Movement (GHB), a splinter group by PAS progressive leaders.
He said indecisiveness is not an option for PKR if they want to move forward. “When will the party state its stand? There will come a moment when PKR has to decide.
“The people are looking at us. We cannot stand silent and let the people interpret for themselves,” he told The Malaysian Insider after a GHB ceramah in Kangar, Perlis last night.
Yesterday, PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali said PKR had yet to discuss and come to any conclusions about the new movement. He said he considered GHB to be PAS’s “internal affair” and refused to weigh in on the matter.
Azmin’s statement came about despite PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli saying previously that he would support GHB and speak at their roadshows.
Saifuddin has also volunteered to participate in the GHB roadshows nationwide, saying that he supports the movement’s struggle. He said PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was in jail for sodomy, had sent a clear message that there must be a new initiative to bring the opposition pact together to move forward towards reform.
He added that Anwar wanted the opposition parties to also work together non-governmental organisations, civil societies and distinguished individuals in the struggle for reform.
“His message was clear and the progressive leaders from PAS have a very clear objective and target.
“They have openly said they are committed in the struggle to take over the government through the general election.
“What is there to discourage me from supporting them? Just because PKR has not made a stand, it does not mean I cannot be with them.
“Why do we have to stay quiet when there is a group openly declaring that it wants to topple Barisan Nasional (BN)? What excuse do we have?” he said.
Saifuddin, who was formerly the party’s secretary-general, said PKR leaders could choose whether to remain on the side lines or to participate but he wanted to participate to “repay a favour” rather than keep silent.
“When Keadilan (PKR) started in 1999, the late PAS president Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor gave us moral support and guidance. At the time, I was just in my early 30s, like Azmin and Ezam (Mohd Noor). We had Anwar but he was also in jail then.
“So PAS leaders helped us with their experience. Without great leaders like Fadzil, we would have gotten nowhere. To me, I am now here to pay back with my limited capacity and influence,” he said.
Fadzil’s son, Muhammad Faiz, is a member of GHB.
Saifuddin said while he was speaking in his own capacity and not stating his party’s stand, adding that everyone should accept reality that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was no longer in existence.
“If you want to say PR still exists, I give you the three principles that made up the coalition – structure, consensus and common policy. Do we still have those?
“Let us be frank, stop rhetoric and face the reality.”
