Anwar: PKR will regain strength

Overwhelming support: Anwar speaking at the PKR convention in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star

SHAH ALAM: Those who had expected the PKR election convention 2022 to be fiery must have been disappointed.

Though both were given 45 minutes each, party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Rafizi Ramli only spoke a little.

The event turned out to be just another gathering instead of a meeting to reignite the broken spirit of party members.

The turnout, though, was overwhelming. More than the anticipated 3,000 grassroots members attended.

After it concluded, Anwar revealed to reporters that although Pakatan Harapan would be using the same common logo in the polls, there would be clear lines defining the different approaches that would be taken.

He said this was to prevent the people from assuming that because they shared the same common logo, all the coalition’s component parties would use the same previous strategies.

“For PKR, with the current election director (Rafizi), the strategy is (very) different. He will explain soon,” said Anwar.

He said Rafizi had outlined several strategies and PKR was ready and prepared to face the general election even if it was to be held next month.

“We are ready. And this can be seen by the spirit shown by our friends to go to the ground and work,” he added.

Anwar said PKR would regain its strength and this was evident in the fighting spirit that had returned to the party members.

He said the party leadership acknowledged that there were weaknesses such as when the Melaka and Johor state elections were held.

PKR fared rather poorly in both the polls.

“We are now formulating a strategy looking at that reality and can see that the situation is changing,” he said.

He pointed to Pakatan’s 22 months as the government.

“There were contributions and there were also weaknesses,” he said, reiterating that the motion was already in place.

This, Anwar said, would be ready by October to face GE15.

Meanwhile, Rafizi said the situation on the ground was fluid and changing quickly for the party to identify other states – besides Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang – that may have the potential to come under Pakatan control.

“We have to look at the data, which we get at the end of every month, to know this,” he said.

“We may get a clearer picture in a month or two.”

Earlier in his speech, Rafizi said Pakatan was well prepared to face the upcoming polls and that the list of candidates would be known in a month’s time.

“We will then conclude negotiations over the seats,” Rafizi added.

He said PKR was not a party that could be easily be beaten as it possessed the strength of rising up each time it fell.

Rafizi reminded the attendees that participating in the polls should not be for position or power.

“The future generation deserves a better life,” he said.

He said this intent should be clear.

“Leadership is about duty and sacrifice.”

According to Rafizi, PKR was already “winning the war”.

He added that not only would they defend Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang but would also forge ahead to form the next Federal Government.