PKR's losses in recent state elections do not amount to a "total rejection" by voters, according to party youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim.
Instead, he said the defeats should prompt honest self-reflection and a commitment to address the party's internal weaknesses.
Speaking at PKR's annual congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre last night, Kamil reminded the youth wing that the party had gone through a similar cycle during the previous Johor and Malacca state elections, before bouncing back to win the 15th general election in 2022.
"Defeat is not a reason for us to give up. Defeat is the most honest political education.
"Victory without reflection can make us arrogant, but defeat accepted with courage can make us much stronger," he said.
PKR retained only two of the five seats it held in Negeri Sembilan, after fielding candidates in 16 constituencies.
This followed another poor showing in Johor, where the party lost its deposits in four seats.
In the Sabah election last year, PKR won only one of the 12 seats it contested, with its then co-election director Nurul Izzah Anwar describing the result as a "reminder" from voters.
‘Politics of confidence’
Turning to the "politics of fear" driven by the opposition, Kamil called for PKR Youth to offer an alternative he termed the "politics of confidence", built on knowledge, justice and capability.
He said claims that the Malay race is under threat or that Islamic power is being eroded must be combatted through proactive communication on fair, inclusive policies and stable economic governance that strengthen the community.
He stressed that such sentiments prey on genuine anxieties, urging PKR Youth to recognise and act on this.
“If we leave that space empty, others will fill it with fear.
"If we don't provide confidence, others will sell it with anxiety," he said.
Kamil further argued that Islam does not require hatred towards others as a source of its strength.
Drawing on the history of the Malaccan sultanate, he asserted that a society can be strongly rooted in its own identity without closing its doors to the world.
He also commented on internal friction within the federal government, describing certain political actors as "two-faced".
He described it as a form of political infidelity, causing the reform agenda to stall with corrupt politics.
"However, while our chests are being stabbed with a knife, and stabbed from behind and in front, our prime minister (PKR president Anwar Ibrahim) is still big-hearted and continues to smile in front of the people to protect their dignity and national stability," he added.
Kamil is believed to be referring to BN, which is in bed with Harapan in the federal government, following a hung parliament result in GE15 that forced an alliance between the rival coalitions.
The uneasy partnership has come under strain since BN decided to contest against Harapan in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan polls.
1MDB-Tabung Haji parallels
Kamil drew a direct parallel between past efforts to "purify" the 1MDB scandal and the recent controversy surrounding Tabung Haji.
Kamil, who is Anwar’s political secretary, referred to the royal commission of inquiry report released two weeks ago, almost two years after the commission completed its findings in July 2022.
Among its key findings, the RCI concluded that Tabung Haji had concealed the true state of its financial position for years, reporting a RM3.4 billion profit in 2017 when proper accounting standards would have required it to record a RM1.4 billion net loss - a gap of almost RM4.8 billion.
Kamil used the Tabung Haji controversy as an example of how ethnic and religious advocacy can be hypocritically used to shield corrupt practices and financial mismanagement.
"Is it appropriate for dividend funds derived from accounting manipulation to finance the journeys of Malay Muslims who have long dreamed of becoming guests of Allah?" he asked. - Mkini
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