Twitter-savvy Anwar accepts UM findings as 'challenge'

KUALA LUMPUR - Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said his top priority at the moment was to stabilise his party following its first-ever direct elections which concluded last month.

Responding to Twitter followers, one of whom reminded Anwar that PKR should be as stable as its partners PAS and DAP, Anwar replied that it was on top of the list.

“Yes, it will be our main priority,” said the Permatang Pauh member of parliament, one of only few prominent Malaysian politicians on the micro-blogging site, who responds to his individual Twitter followers now numbering more than 25,000.

PKR, which has been hit by defections and more recently, name-calling among party leaders contesting some of its top positions during its elections, has often been criticised for what is perceived by some sympathisers as lack of discipline. Only recently, one of its more prominent members Zaid Ibrahim resign the party in protest after claiming his complaints about irregularities in party polls had not been addressed.

'Challenge'

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by University of Malaya showed that the party was fast losing voters' trust especially in the wake of its noisy election.

According to the poll, 43 percent of residents in PKR strongholds are not in favour of voting for PKR, while 33 percent said they would cast their ballot for it. Another 22 percent were indecisive.

Anwar said the party would take the findings as a challenge to work "harder, smarter" to regain voters’ confidence.

- Harakahdaily