KUALA LUMPUR: PKR must use its coming national congress for reflection in the wake of successive electoral defeats, an exodus from its ranks and its deputy president's taking leave.
Treasurer-general William Leong said the party, led by president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, must provide clarity over the issues that have plagued PKR since it came to power in Putrajaya and its plans to turn things around.
"There has been unhappiness, but it has now been translated into votes — or rather, no votes.
"It is time for members to get the party to reflect on the shortcomings," he told the New Straits Times.
PKR has been on the losing end in Sabah, Johor and Negri Sembilan, where the party has seen its seats in the three states diminish from 19 to just three.
At the same time, the departure of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli in May has seen the party undergoing its biggest split since Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and his followers left during the Sheraton Move in 2020.
The exit of Rafizi comes after his failure to defend his PKR deputy presidency in a divisive party election in May last year. Another casualty of the polls was former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The duo have gone on to form Parti Bersama Malaysia, which has drawn a number of grassroots leaders.
Complicating matters is Nurul Izzah Anwar's decision to step down as deputy president to continue her studies. The resignation was rejected, with the party instead granting her temporary leave from her duties.
Leong said PKR grassroots must remain steadfast and united.
"The party is more than individuals, the party is more than leaders.
"Leaders will come and go, and the party will have to remain, and the members will have to stand together.
"Members must reflect on why they joined the party. It is for a cause, for reform, and for the betterment of the country."
Leaders, meanwhile, must listen to what the grassroots are saying, he said, adding that this was what the congress is about.
Pasir Gudang member of parliament Hassan Abdul Karim said PKR faced an existential threat following its electoral defeats and the exit of key reformist figures.
"PKR members are divided at this juncture. Many remain in the party out of continued faith in Anwar's leadership, but support and respect are slowly diminishing as capable leaders like Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi have left, and now Nurul Izzah appears dissatisfied with the current situation in PKR and the government."
He said Anwar's best bet to revive support for PKR lay in translating macroeconomic policies into microeconomic benefits on the ground.
Analyst Asrul Sani of the Asia Group said the Aug 15-16 congress must serve as a "wake-up call" for the party.
"Being in the federal government has not automatically translated into stronger support on the ground, and the leadership cannot afford to treat these results as isolated setbacks," he said.
"Members want to know whether the party understands the scale of the problem and whether it has a credible plan to reverse it."
Amid Rafizi's faction's departure and Nurul Izzah's leave of absence, Asrul said Anwar and PKR needed more than loyalists.
"Institutionally, PKR has never been more powerful, with its president serving as prime minister and the party at the centre of the federal government. Politically, however, it risks appearing weaker and less energetic than it did when it was in opposition."
To remain relevant, Asrul said PKR must allow internal debate, strengthen grassroots engagement and decouple its political identity from Anwar.
"The major change has to be institutional.
"PKR needs to demonstrate that it can produce leaders, ideas and a political identity independent of Anwar," Asrul said.
He added that PKR needed to communicate better with members and supporters.
"PKR and Pakatan Harapan now need to define what they stand for as governing political movements rather than continuing to rely on the narratives that sustained them in opposition." - FMT
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