“PKR’s reform agenda: A promise unfulfilled amid party elections?”

 

AS PKR gears up for its internal elections in May 2025, the spotlight is once again on its leaders vying for key positions within the party.

The latest to throw her hat into the ring is Wanita PKR Chief and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, who has announced her candidacy for the Nibong Tebal division leader post.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Fadhlina expressed gratitude to her constituents and party members, emphasising her commitment to unity, diversity, and strengthening PKR from within. Her bid follows a growing list of party figures stepping forward to contest various posts, all echoing a common refrain: upholding the democratic principles that PKR has long championed.

Yet, beneath the surface of this democratic fervour lies a nagging question – where are the reforms PKR promised?

For a party that rose to prominence on the back of the Reformasi movement and secured power in the 2018 and 2022 general elections with pledges to overhaul Malaysia’s political and institutional landscape, the slow pace of tangible change has left many wondering whether PKR is truly committed to its founding ideals or merely paying lip service to them while focusing on internal power struggles.

PKR’s origins are deeply tied to the call for justice and reform, sparked by the ousting and imprisonment of its founder, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998. The party positioned itself as a multiracial, progressive force, promising to dismantle corruption, enhance democratic institutions, and promote equality.

These ideals resonated with Malaysians, propelling PKR and its Pakatan Harapan coalition to a historic victory in 2018, ending decades of Barisan Nasional rule. When Anwar assumed the premiership in 2022, expectations soared that the reform agenda would finally take flight.

Fast forward to April 2025, and the narrative has shifted. While the upcoming party elections signal a commitment to internal democracy – a stark contrast to suggestions by some leaders earlier this year that top posts like president and deputy president might go uncontested – the rhetoric from candidates like Fadhlina and others centres more on unity and party strength than on the broader reforms PKR once vowed to deliver.

The absence of reform as a central talking point in these campaigns raises eyebrows, especially given the party’s track record in government.

Critics point to a litany of unfulfilled promises: judicial and electoral reforms remain incomplete, anti-corruption efforts have been criticised as selective, and economic inequalities persist despite pledges to address them.

The unity government, led by Anwar, has leaned heavily on coalition dynamics, often compromising with former rivals like UMNO, a party PKR once vilified for its undemocratic practices.

This pragmatic approach has fuelled perceptions that PKR’s reformist zeal has been sidelined in favour of political stability and survival.

Kazi Mahmood is a journalist based in Malaysia known for covering business, politics and technology across various publications.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.