PKR and its sweet dreams

Capturing Putrajaya may just turn out to be nothing more than a pipedream for the PKR general called Anwar, and his lieutenants.

By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR: For PKR, sweet dreams are probably made of these…

While the PKR may fly high, its retreat in Kuantan, Pahang, beginning today, may or may not awaken it to the harsh reality that it is losing support as the 13th general election draws near.

Led by Anwar Ibrahim, who is also opposition leader, the 200 over PKR leaders may be inclined to believe they are just a step away from Putrajaya, much to the chagrin of many political observers who believe otherwise.

After all, Anwar’s claim to take control of Putrajaya on Sept 16, 2008, fell flat, and that debacle continues to be a joke among many of his opponents on the other side of the political divide, and maybe, even among PKR members, alike.

The retreat, said to serve as the party’s platform to finalise strategies for its mammoth task in the coming general election, may just see the PKR leaders – once again – hatching a plan to capture Putrajaya.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli appears to be one of the most ardent believers of Anwar.

He has been reported as saying that apart from allowing its central leadership to hatch sure-fire action plans, the retreat would also discuss the party’s response to any scenario in the aftermath of the polls.

Contrary to what PKR leaders may want to believe, many political observers point out that the party leadership must first settle core issues and address the declining support, as the party is still perceived as the weakest link in the PKR-DAP-PAS opposition pact.

Tough for PKR

“They have to realise it will be tough for them in the coming election. Their days of winning 31 parliamentary seats are over. In the coming election, their support is likely to decline. The question now is, how they can minimise the impact,” political analyst Cheah See Kian told Bernama when contacted recently.

Penang-based Cheah said many people still could not accept the “betrayal” of some elected PKR representatives, while at the same time, they were also disappointed with the performance of their elected representatives in Kedah, Selangor and Perak.

Six PKR-elected representatives defected after the 2008 general election. They include Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai), Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu), Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru), N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju).

This does not include some elected state assemblymen in Selangor and Perak, who also defected.

“I think they have to work hard. It will not be a problem for DAP to maintain Penang but it will be tough for PKR to maintain Selangor,” Cheah, adding PKR still needed to address the issue that the party had centred too much around Anwar’s personality.

“They have to put forward more of their leaders, not just Anwar. It is time for them to put up more young and able candidates. DAP and PAS do not have an issue – but PKR, yes,” he said.

PKR contested 97 seats and won 31 to become the biggest opposition party in Parliament in the last general election. Together with DAP (28 seats) and PAS (23 seats), the opposition pact won a total of 82 parliamentary seats.

Spurred on by the number of seats which, for once, denied BN a two-thirds majority, now PKR-DAP-PAS aim to take over Putrajaya. But, political observers note the parties still continue to be plagued by infighting.

PKR representation in Parliament has reduced from the biggest 31 seats to only 24, after losing six members who defected, and through the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election. This makes them less powerful than DAP (29) and equal to PAS (24). Both DAP and PAS gained an additional one parliamentary seat each through the Sibu and Kuala Terengganu by-elections after the 2008 general election.

“The pact still fails to stand united over matters such as Islamic law and affirmative action policies in a multi-religious, multicultural nation. The most damaging issue for PKR is their differences with PAS over the state of Israel.

“Anwar seems to be late in countering the issue, which has had significant impact on its relationship with PAS,” said a political observer.

Biggest challenge

Prof James Chin, a political analyst at Sunway Monash University, said PKR should select the right candidates for the general election, as it needed to be cautious so as not to see a repeat of elected representatives quiting the party.

“The biggest challenge to Anwar and PKR is to find high-calibre candidates, apart from the need to sort out their campaign strategies with other partners,” he told Bernama.

Dr Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst at UCSI University, also believed that PKR needed to firm up its candidates and set priorities on seat allocation with the other pact members, while they work out their campaign strategies.

“How do you want to change the perception that PKR is the weakest link in Pakatan (opposition pact)? You need to put in credible candidates, as it will help to dispel such perception. It would be helpful if PKR has a few candidates to focus on,” he noted.

He agreed with the notion that the Israel state issue had somehow impacted the cooperation between the PKR and PAS.

“Anwar has to treat this issue carefully. Even if the electorate may not emphasise on it much, it would create uneasiness among PAS members,” he said.

Ong said he was sceptical PKR could repeat its achievement in the last national polls, as up to this moment, many still wondered over its choice of candidates for the seats it won, before the elected representatives decided to quit the party.

“Except Bayan Baru and Wangsa Maju, other seats such as Nibong Tebal, Padang Serai and Bagan Serai have yet to be firmed up. The major challenge is that they have not identified someone credible enough (to put up for these seats),” he added.

The people have clearly accepted Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his policies, judging by their endorsement of the 1Malaysia concept; People First, Peformance Now; RM500 BR1M people’s aid; RM100 aid each for schoolchildren and many other pleasant surprises benefiting Malaysians.

Perhaps, capturing Putrajaya in the coming general election may just turn out to be nothing more than a pipedream for the PKR general called Anwar, and his lieutenants.

If sweet dreams are made of these, who are we to disagree?

- Bernama