Activist, analyst cautiously optimistic over effect of PKR’s electoral reforms

PKR’s new electoral system promises diversity and multiculturalism, but may centralise the party’s power structure, says Bridget Welsh. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

An activist and a political analyst have commended PKR for the party’s willingness to improve its electoral processes but expressed some reservations about its justification for the measures and their long-term impact on the party.

At a special congress held on Dec 15, PKR passed a series of amendments to its constitution, expanding the number of delegates eligible to vote for the party’s central leadership council, including its top six office-bearers, and setting gender and ethnic quotas for their electors.

Ooi Kok Hin.

Bersih’s executive director Ooi Kok Hin commended the Anwar Ibrahim-led party for its willingness to experiment with a new electoral system but questioned party secretary-general Fuziah Salleh’s justification for the change.

Fuziah had earlier claimed grassroots members lacked detailed knowledge of the candidates vying for top leadership positions and tended to vote in party leaders en-bloc.

Ooi said such an assumption reflected a lack of trust in the ability of members to discern and choose who should lead the party.

“It also shows distrust of the democratic political process, and that is quite worrying in my opinion,” he told FMT.

Ooi also said the changes, which will see an increase in the number of voting delegates, appeared to be a compromise solution to make up for the fact that a leader would require fewer votes to take office.

He also believes PKR will find it “quite tough” to enforce the new provisions governing the gender and ethnic compositions of delegates.

“This is because membership of a political party’s branch in a particular area may not necessarily reflect the composition of that electoral constituency,” he said, adding that the mechanisms for enforcing the new requirements, which have yet to be disclosed, may also pose a challenge.

Bridget Welsh.

Political analyst Bridget Welsh lauded the new system’s promise of diversity and multiculturalism in the party’s leadership.

She also said it would reduce the prospect of electoral manipulation by restricting the ability of division leaders to establish new branches to expand their support base.

However, Welsh, an honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham Malaysia’s Asia Research Institute, also noted that increasing the number of delegates eligible to vote for office-bearers may result in a “centralisation” of the party’s power structure.

“It is not a democratic move, but one seen as an easy solution to immediate problems.”

Welsh said the new voting system may also create difficulties in the longer term, including by giving incumbents an unfair advantage over aspiring party leaders.

She urged the party to introduce other electoral initiatives to level the playing field and pave the way for new talent. - FMT