Discontent continues to simmer in PKR Youth towards Muda

JOHOR POLLS | Several PKR youth leaders have added to the chorus of discontent towards Muda as the two parties continue tense seat negotiations for the forthcoming Johor state election.

In a statement yesterday, Sabah PKR Youth information chief Razeef Rakimin (above) described Muda as arrogant and insolent and said PKR should cease cooperating with them.

“I am not confident DAP Youth and Amanah Youth would respond to Muda’s insolence, but for PKR Youth, it is better to cancel the cooperation with Muda.

“If they can have this attitude while seat negotiations are still going on, what about when they get the seats? What other slander would they hurl at PKR and Pakatan Harapan next?” he said in a statement last night.

Razeef highlighted several incidents between PKR and Muda to press his point, such as Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s swipe at PKR’s incumbent Tiram assemblyperson Gopalakrishnan Subramaniam. Syed Saddiq has since deleted the offending social media posts and apologised.

Another incident was a poster from Muda that depicted four figures representing BN, Harapan, PKR and Perikatan Nasional holding hands, along with the caption “Don’t let corruption destroy national institutions”. This, too, has since been deleted, with an apology from Muda information chief Luqman Long.

Puteri Wangsa seat

Razeef also took issue with the Puteri Wangsa seat, which he said is a “winnable seat” that the party had given to Amanah in a spirit of camaraderie, only for Amanah to then hand it to Muda despite the earlier ‘insult’ towards Harapan.

“With Muda’s insolence and arrogance, Harapan is better off strengthening its machinery and contesting the seats distributed between its component parties.

“For PKR Youth, we have dignity and there is no need to hand over seats to a party that insults PKR,” he said.

Johor's Wanita PKR chief Napsiah Khamis

The statement came after Johor's Wanita PKR chief Napsiah Khamis expressed annoyance with a Muda candidate allegedly constantly messaging her for guidance after the Puteri Wangsa seat that she was reportedly preparing to contest was handed over to Muda instead.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Terengganu PKR Youth Wanita wing chief Yuslaini Azmi challenged Syed Saddiq to accept whatever seat PKR offers and not to demand seats from PKR that Harapan previously won.

“If he truly wants to cooperate, he should realise that victory by an opposition partner is a victory for us all,” she said.

Citing the incident with Gopalakrishnan as an example, Yuslaini said Muda’s ‘provocative’ behaviour raises questions about its sincerity in helping to unite the opposition bloc.

“We in PKR are of course gracious to receive a new strategic partner to face the coming Johor election, but Muda’s actions are akin to an enemy within (gunting dalam lipatan).

“If Syed Saddiq truly desires a united opposition, I think small mistakes like this can be avoided. However, Muda’s deliberately repeated mistakes cause unease among Harapan’s own grassroots,” Yuslaini said last night. - Mkini