Adam Adli: PKR is a natural choice for me

 

INTERVIEW | Activist Adam Adli said PKR had always been a “natural choice” for him since school.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Adam said PKR’s multi-ethnic approach towards politics was what he believed was the correct formula for Malaysia.

“Joining PKR was a big decision. I had a long history with them... Even when I was a university student, I would hang out with PKR people in my village.

“Young people today look to Muda. (But when I was younger) PKR was the Muda of the day. I was attracted to reformasi because I grew up in that environment.

“To me, (joining) PKR is a natural choice,” said the 33-year-old who hails from Penang.

Student activism

Adam is best known for his years as a student activist which led to several arrests and he was eventually charged for sedition. He was convicted but eventually acquitted.

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) didn’t take too kindly to his extra-curricular activities and suspended him in 2013.

Adam would go on to work for NGOs until 2018 when the suspension was lifted and thus he returned to his studies. He completed his degree in 2020 at the age of 31.

Bid for PKR Youth chief?

Adam’s name has been widely circulated as a potential candidate for PKR Youth chief. Nominations are on April 9 and voting will take place a month later.

He was accepted into PKR last September along with 19 other activists.

However, if he is to be nominated as a candidate, he will need to seek an exemption from a provision in the party constitution barring members with a tenure of less than 12 months from seeking election for a party position.

It is understood that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim is considering the application.

Such exemptions are not uncommon. Larry Sng was granted an exemption in 2018 after joining the party for barely four months. Sng went on to win a seat in PKR's central leadership council.

‘I’m ready to be back’

Adam said he was away from the public eye for a long time because he had to take care of his mother in Penang and spend a lot of time defending himself in court.

“After my father passed, my mother was living alone. My brother and I went home to take care of her. We had to rebuild. It was a difficult time in 2014 and 2015.

“After that, I got married and I had to work while juggling my studies,” he added.

While away from Kuala Lumpur, Adam said he was active in Penang through a youth organisation known as Peka.

“We ran many programmes - free tuition, inter-ethnic events in villages, welfare activities and others.

“It was a good experience. But now I’m ready to come back (to the national scene),” he added. - Mkini