Moving forward: Anwar (right) talking to (from left) Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau, PKR Advisory Council chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke at PKR’s 16th National Congress at IDCC Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star
SHAH ALAM: PKR and Pakatan Harapan have failed to woo the Malay heartland, and this weakness must be addressed, says PKR president and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Presenting his policy speech at PKR’s 16th national congress here, Anwar said both PKR and Pakatan Harapan had not put in enough effort to penetrate rural areas and engage the people there.
“I am certain that in the first meeting of the new leadership, we will give this priority and discuss it in-depth,” he said yesterday.
The Port Dickson MP also said what had happened in recent times was a lesson to all and cautioned party members not to fall prey to unbridled ambitions.
“There were some people who were reformists with us before, but when given a bit of power and wealth, the glitter blinded them and eroded their idealism,” he added.
The party president also urged PKR members to rid themselves of the internal animosity that took root during the recent party polls.
He added that those who continued to bicker even after the party polls were over could expect not to be fielded in the next general election.
“As the party president, I will not forgive anyone in branches, divisions, AMK (youth), or Wanita (women’s wing) who choose to continue the pre-election rivalry. Rest assured, there won’t be any watikah (candidacy letter) that will reach you.”
Anwar also reiterated his refusal to compromise on graft as the reason why he did not become the prime minister.
He lambasted those saying that he had “failed and failed and failed” (to become the prime minister).
“Hey, listen here, you want me to succeed by supporting graft, then choose another president,” he added.
He said both DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu knew of the majority support he had received.
In an immediate response to Anwar’s speech, political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the leader appeared to be focusing on strengthening party unity and reminding members of PKR’s ideology.
“He has strongly conveyed that he does not want those who do not subscribe to the PKR ideology,” said Prof Sivamurugan.
He was, however, surprised that Anwar did not bring up the “big tent” proposal to unite all opposition parties to face Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
“Not mentioning it could be Anwar’s way of coming to a compromise with newly-elected deputy president Rafizi Ramli,” he said.
Rafizi has said that members elected and appointed to the party’s new central leadership council must agree to reject the “big tent” approach.
Yesterday, PKR delegates voted to pick the council members. The results will be announced today.
