SHAH ALAM: It is crucial for party members campaigning in the upcoming PKR polls to do so on their own merit, says party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The prime minister added candidates contesting in the party polls should not be referred to as the president's or prime minister's candidates.
Anwar said party members must also choose leaders who are able to serve well, and those contesting must campaign along the party’s idealism.
"You have to remember that we are carrying a very big mandate which is being challenged at the federal level," said Anwar.
He also advised candidates contesting in the party polls against claiming they were the prime minister's or party president's candidates.
"Avoid that. Campaign on your own strength, idealism and party struggles.
"Campaign on the agenda and programmes implemented," said Anwar in his speech at the launch of the Selangor PKR division annual general meetings on Friday (March 1) night.
Anwar added that although he had suggested for the party's top two positions not to be contested, he wanted democracy to prevail in the party polls.
According to Anwar, this was in line with the party's principles of maintaining democracy.
“We discussed at length, there is a rational such as in the decision made by Umno leaders to avoid issues and concentrate on the general election.
"I think that is rational," said Anwar.
He added PKR had gone through troubled times and betrayal before rising again stronger.
Anwar said he believed PKR members were matured and given this the party polls would be lucid and strong.
