PKR Youth leader quits party, says it has strayed from reform ideals

 Former Batu PKR chief Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi says he is stepping down from all party posts with immediate effect.

Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi said he joined PKR shortly after PH fell in the 2020 Sheraton Move becuse he believed the party needed the energy and idealism of young people. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

PKR Youth leader Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi has quit the party, saying it has moved away from the reform ideals he once believed in.

Asheeq said he was resigning as Batu PKR chief and Federal Territories PKR Youth chief with immediate effect.

In a statement, he said he joined PKR shortly after the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled through the Sheraton Move in 2020 as he believed the party needed the energy and idealism of young people.

After more than half a term in government, he felt the party had drifted from the principles he believed in.

Asheeq, a lawyer and former student activist, also said he had become increasingly torn between his personal ideals and what he described as a growing culture of “political pragmatism” within the party.

He said he would also give two weeks’ notice to the federal territories minister regarding his resignation as chairman of the Batu parliamentary federal territories residents’ representative council.

Asheeq won the Batu PKR chief’s post in the party election last year after defeating Batu MP P Prabakaran by 153 votes.

Before contesting for the division chief’s post, he was PKR Youth’s legal and law bureau chief.

He was known as a student leader who spoke out on student issues between 2013 and 2015 and led several rallies during the Najib Razak administration.

In a statement, federal territories PKR chief Azman Abidin acknowledged Asheeq’s decision to resign as Batu division chief, federal territories Youth chief, and from the party with immediate effect.

Azman said he respected Asheeq’s decision and thanked him for his contributions and service.

He said discussions with the Batu division leadership have begun to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in party operations.

He also said leadership changes are normal in a democratic political party, and PKR’s strength has always been rooted in its reform agenda and grassroots support.

“We will continue moving forward with members committed to the principles and ideals of the reform movement,” he said. - FMT