Go for power, don’t settle for being opposition, says Saifuddin

 

Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is contesting the PKR deputy president’s post, says the party must work to win the support of undecided voters, or “fence-sitters”.

PETALING JAYA: PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has urged the party to seize power at the next general election (GE15) “by any means necessary” and not settle for being an opposition “with dignity” as some colleagues have stated.

He said he was disappointed with recent statements by party comrades that the party and Pakatan Harapan should not be overconfident of election victory and should be prepared to wait for two election cycles before regaining power.

Saifuddin, speaking at a breaking of fast event yesterday, said that PKR had never given up and would continue to keep fighting.

“If the kleptocrats from Barisan Nasional are in power for the next five years, who can guarantee that there will be no corruption, embezzlement (of government funds), wastage (of government funds), or abuse of executive power against the opposition?

“That is why we need to seize political power in GE15 by any means necessary,” he said.

Saifuddin’s comments came in the wake of recent statements made by vice-president Rafizi Ramli and former vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on the PKR and PH’s general election prospects.

He said it would be impossible for PKR to lure fence-sitters to support the party at the general election if the party does not aim for victory and instead merely campaigned to become an opposition “with dignity” – a phrase used by Rafizi in a recent speech.

Saifuddin said: “Fence-sitters will only support those who have the chance of winning elections. If the party has the chance of winning and forming the government, then they will shift towards PKR.

“That is why, no matter what we feel and analyse (about prospects of winning general elections), we need to keep it within the party so that we will work harder.

“Out there, we should be instilling the mood of confidence and victory to the voters. That would be the right strategy.”

Earlier this month, Rafizi said the opposition coalition should be realistic about its chances and should not be overconfident of victory. It would be better for PKR and PH to settle for remaining in opposition “with dignity”. At a separate event, Nurul Izzah said that PH would need at least 10 more years or two general elections before it can retake Putrajaya.

Saifuddin and Rafizi are rivals challenging for the deputy president’s post at the PKR elections next month. - FMT