PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail explained that the party could not delay its leadership elections until the next general election is over because the party president needs lieutenants.
Speaking at the Tanjung Karang PKR division annual general meeting yesterday, Saifuddin said PKR currently does not have a deputy president.
He said only three out of what was supposed to be seven vice-presidents are currently active.
Saifuddin said this had led to himself and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim taking up roles that would otherwise have been delegated.
Among others, Saifuddin said he was currently taking on the role of Pakatan Harapan secretary, being a member of the Parliamentary Selection Committee and also a member of the joint committee on the confidence-and-supply agreement with the government.
"Imagine a car that was supposed to have eight pistons but is currently running with four.
"How fast can the car go?" asked Saifuddin.
Anwar can’t lead the party without help
PKR elects four vice-presidents during the party election. Of the four elected in 2018, only Tian Chua remains active. Two elected vice-presidents - Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and Zuraida Kamaruddin - left PKR in 2020 and 2021, respectively. As for Nurul Izzah Anwar, she resigned as PKR vice-president in December 2018.
Party rules allow for the president to appoint three vice-presidents, of which only Chang Lih Kang and Michael Teo are active.
Saifuddin said party rules do not allow Anwar to appoint more vice-presidents or a deputy president as those positions must be filled through an election.
He said it was unfair to expect Anwar to lead the party without enough help at the top.
"We expect him to lead the party, lead the coalition, serve as opposition leader, repair the party and tour the country.
"You want him to do that alone?" asked Saifuddin.
PKR was supposed to hold its leadership election last November, but it was postponed until May 2023.
The decision was made in June last year, coinciding with the start of the Covid-19 Delta variant wave.
Nominations for the PKR election will be held on April 9 and voting will take place beginning May 13. - Mkini
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