Analysts: Ex-members could boost party but may spark tensions
PETALING JAYA: The call for former PKR leaders and members to return to the fold can help consolidate the party ahead of GE16 but may create fresh tensions over positions and electoral seats, say political analysts.
Prof Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya said party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s invitation reflected efforts to rebuild PKR’s Reformasi roots, strengthen its machinery and address recent departures but the immediate consideration was likely to prepare the party for the next general election.
He said PKR had gone through several phases of internal divisions, leadership departures and electoral setbacks, making it important for Anwar to bring different generations and factions back together.
“The party must combine the experience of the old guard with a new generation of leaders. Politically, the most effective formula will be reconciliation without reversing leadership renewal,” he said.
Prof Mohammad Tawfik said returning veterans such as Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Tian Chua would bring three important assets – experience, grassroots networks and institutional memory.
“Their return could also help reconnect PKR with older Reformasi supporters who have become less engaged with the party,” he added.
However, he cautioned that reconciliation might come with a price and turn complicated if those returning sought party positions or parliamentary and state seats currently held by younger leaders.
“Younger leaders who have remained loyal to PKR during difficult periods may understandably feel uncomfortable if returning veterans are immediately given influential positions or safe electoral seats.
“This could create perceptions that loyalty and internal succession are being overlooked in favour of political expediency,” he pointed out.
Prof Mohammad Tawfik said the old guard should ideally serve as bridge-builders and mentors, complementing rather than replacing the current leadership.
He said Anwar’s outreach showed both confidence and political necessity, but added that the returnees’ impact would also depend on how voters perceived the move.
“If voters see it as genuine reconciliation, renewal and an effort to strengthen the party, it could be positive. But if it appears to be merely recycling old personalities ahead of an election, its impact may be limited,” he said.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan, however, said Anwar could be too nostalgic about the Reformasi era which he felt was irrelevant to younger voters.
He said the return of party veterans would not necessarily help PKR win over the younger generation.
“The younger generation will not be able to attach itself to it, just like they cannot relate to the Malayan independence era. Although the Reformasi era is more recent, the younger generation cannot see its relevance today,” he said.
Azmi said PKR was currently weak and bringing back figures associated with its past would not make a significant difference to the country’s political situation.
Meanwhile, Tian Chua said he wanted the party to revert the termination of his membership, instead of him having submit a new application to rejoin PKR.
“I am not doing a new application. It is up to the party to revert my membership,” said the former PKR vice-president and ex-Batu MP who added that he has not contacted anyone in the party regarding his status.
Tian Chua attended the recent PKR National Congress in Ayer Keroh and expressed his readiness to return.
He was sacked from PKR in 2023 after contesting as an Independent candidate in Batu in the last general election.
