Lee's resignation a wake-up call for PKR, says Selangor party strategist

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of Petaling Jaya member of parliament Lee Chean Chung should serve as a wake-up call for PKR to strengthen its organisation, improve communication and better manage differences within the party, said Selangor PKR strategy director Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri.

However, he said Lee's departure should not be viewed as a failure of the Madani government or Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"This should serve as a wake-up call to the entire PKR family to strengthen organisational discipline, improve communication, manage differences of opinion better and ensure the reform agenda remains the party and government's pulse," he said.

Yahya said Lee's resignation, along with the departure of other PKR MPs, should not automatically be interpreted as meaning the Madani government had lost its majority or the people's mandate.

"The government's position is determined by majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, while the people's overall mandate will continue to be determined through the democratic process and elections.

"Therefore, any claim that the Madani government has lost its mandate based solely on this development is a premature conclusion," he said.

He said criticism of the government should not be feared, but allegations concerning weaknesses in administration, governance or policy should be addressed with facts.

Yahya said PKR should ensure internal differences did not develop into wider divisions, adding that party members should be given space to express their views while respecting decisions reached through the party's internal democratic processes.

He also urged Anwar to remain focused on the government's broader priorities, including the economy, cost of living, employment, institutional reform, governance, investment, education and public welfare.

"Political differences within a party can happen, but we must not allow differences within the party to become a distraction to the stability of the government and the interests of the people," he said.

Lee, who was suspended by PKR for three years on Sept 30, announced his resignation as Petaling Jaya MP effective Oct 2. He said he would submit his formal letter to leave PKR on Oct 5.

His resignation makes him the fourth PKR MP to leave the party this year, following former deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in May, and Wong Chen in August.

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi vacated their Pandan and Setiawangsa seats before taking over Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama).

Rafizi described the move as a political reset and said they wanted a new platform free from the existing parties' political calculations.

Wong Chen subsequently resigned as Subang MP and left PKR before joining Bersama. He said dissatisfaction with the pace of the Madani government's reform agenda was a key factor in his decision.

Lee had previously resigned from PKR's Central Leadership Council in June but said at the time that he would remain in the party and continue serving as Petaling Jaya MP. - NST