Star Online - PKR election troubles casting a shadow on congress:
DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sensed the shift in public opinion about his party midway through the PKR polls.
But last weekend, as polling in Sarawak got underway, the critical voices had grown into a cacophony, largely because of the controversy over the Julau division and its overnight membership spike.
Anwar could no longer ignore the court of public opinion about his party.
The comments section of a popular pro-Pakatan Harapan news portal was on fire with cynical, negative and angry reactions about what was going on in PKR.
The overwhelming criticism levelled at PKR’s first family was quite unprecedented.
But last weekend, as polling in Sarawak got underway, the critical voices had grown into a cacophony, largely because of the controversy over the Julau division and its overnight membership spike.
Anwar could no longer ignore the court of public opinion about his party.
The comments section of a popular pro-Pakatan Harapan news portal was on fire with cynical, negative and angry reactions about what was going on in PKR.
The overwhelming criticism levelled at PKR’s first family was quite unprecedented.
Public opinion had also swung against PKR wonder boy Rafizi Ramli.
As one PKR politician put it: “Rafizi used to be up there in the sky, but he fell to earth.”
As one PKR politician put it: “Rafizi used to be up there in the sky, but he fell to earth.”
The messy party polls and mudslinging had given the party a black eye, so to speak.
And the fishy goings-on in Julau seemed to epitomise all that had gone wrong in the election.
Election committee chairman Datuk Rashid Din did the right thing in not allowing a re-election otherwise all hell would have broken loose.
And the fishy goings-on in Julau seemed to epitomise all that had gone wrong in the election.
Election committee chairman Datuk Rashid Din did the right thing in not allowing a re-election otherwise all hell would have broken loose.
The election results for Julau were suspended following complaints from the Rafizi camp about election tampering. Rightly or wrongly, the perception out there was that the proposed re-election was to enable a win for Rafizi.
Julau, whose membership ballooned overnight from 603 to about 13,000, has become a metaphor for election manipulation.
Moreover, Larry Sng, the man behind the membership spike, had been depicted by his opponents as part of the “towkay politics” permeating the party in Sarawak.
The state PKR Wanita chief Nurhanim Mokhsen had said, days before the Julau polls: “A vote for Rafizi is a vote for Larry Sng. We all know who he (Larry) is, he has been in so many parties. If he wins, our party will be destroyed.”
Julau, whose membership ballooned overnight from 603 to about 13,000, has become a metaphor for election manipulation.
Moreover, Larry Sng, the man behind the membership spike, had been depicted by his opponents as part of the “towkay politics” permeating the party in Sarawak.
The state PKR Wanita chief Nurhanim Mokhsen had said, days before the Julau polls: “A vote for Rafizi is a vote for Larry Sng. We all know who he (Larry) is, he has been in so many parties. If he wins, our party will be destroyed.”
Larry who joined PKR after GE14, comes from a well-known tycoon family in Sarawak. The family owns a private jet, which has been used to fly PKR leaders.
Larry’s family, including his father, uncle and brother had also contested for control of a total of four divisions.
Only Larry won in Julau but he lost the war of public opinion.
Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and his team – labelled “the cartel” by the Rafizi camp - have won big and now dominate the party’s national line-up.
It is no secret that Azmin was not only fighting Rafizi, he was also up against Istana Segambut, as the Anwar family is known.
Larry’s family, including his father, uncle and brother had also contested for control of a total of four divisions.
Only Larry won in Julau but he lost the war of public opinion.
Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and his team – labelled “the cartel” by the Rafizi camp - have won big and now dominate the party’s national line-up.
It is no secret that Azmin was not only fighting Rafizi, he was also up against Istana Segambut, as the Anwar family is known.
Istana Segambat was rooting for Rafizi whom they viewed as a loyalist.
In that sense, it was quite amazing that Azmin and his team managed to make it.
In that sense, it was quite amazing that Azmin and his team managed to make it.
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It only means one thing: Azmin has finally come into his own. He not only won against the odds, he kept his cool and soldiered on to carry his team across the finishing line.
But if the brains behind the PKR national congress this weekend have their way, the party gathering will not be about the winning or losing teams.
It will be about the grand return of Anwar to national politics – as their party president, as the new MP for Port Dickson and, of course, as the prime minister-in-waiting.
“Anwar will be the focus. This is his time after spending so many years in prison. We have been waiting so long for this moment,” said Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi, who was Anwar’s former aide.
It will be about the grand return of Anwar to national politics – as their party president, as the new MP for Port Dickson and, of course, as the prime minister-in-waiting.
“Anwar will be the focus. This is his time after spending so many years in prison. We have been waiting so long for this moment,” said Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi, who was Anwar’s former aide.
Najwan said the party would also be waiting to see how Anwar intends to balance the winners and the losers so that the winner does not take all.
“He will be dealing with a team of rivals and he needs to get the best out of everybody,” said Najwan.
KRA strategy chief Amir Fareed Rahim said the integrity of the party’s election process has to be restored and allegations of polls manipulation must be addressed instead of being swept under the carpet.
“If Anwar is to cement his status as the PM-in-waiting, he needs to quickly unite and pacify the warring factions.
“If he can’t pull together his own party, it will be difficult to convince the key stakeholders and general public of a seamless transition when Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) decides to step down,” said Amir.
Election expert and Unisel vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Redzuan Othman has advised the vanquished to accept the loss as part of the democratic process.
He also has advice for the winners: “Don’t become big-headed and arrogant.”
The atmosphere at the national congress will be tense and sensitive.
There has not been enough time for a proper cooling down period. In fact, the votes for a few divisions are still in question.
Feelings are still raw after two months of intense rivalry. Both the winning and losing teams are still angry and resentful over the hurtful and nasty things said during the campaign.
Will the rival teams maintain their decorum or will they allow their dislike for each other to boil over at the congress?
Will Azmin and Rafizi put on their best plastic smiles when they meet?
“He will be dealing with a team of rivals and he needs to get the best out of everybody,” said Najwan.
KRA strategy chief Amir Fareed Rahim said the integrity of the party’s election process has to be restored and allegations of polls manipulation must be addressed instead of being swept under the carpet.
“If Anwar is to cement his status as the PM-in-waiting, he needs to quickly unite and pacify the warring factions.
“If he can’t pull together his own party, it will be difficult to convince the key stakeholders and general public of a seamless transition when Mahathir (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) decides to step down,” said Amir.
Election expert and Unisel vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Redzuan Othman has advised the vanquished to accept the loss as part of the democratic process.
He also has advice for the winners: “Don’t become big-headed and arrogant.”
The atmosphere at the national congress will be tense and sensitive.
There has not been enough time for a proper cooling down period. In fact, the votes for a few divisions are still in question.
Feelings are still raw after two months of intense rivalry. Both the winning and losing teams are still angry and resentful over the hurtful and nasty things said during the campaign.
Will the rival teams maintain their decorum or will they allow their dislike for each other to boil over at the congress?
Will Azmin and Rafizi put on their best plastic smiles when they meet?
How will Anwar reconcile with Azmin, given that the latter had contemplated going for the presidency?
Everyone will also be watching their outgoing president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail who, in the last few days, let her mask drop about who she was supporting for deputy president.
It will be a fascinating gathering.
But post-election hangover aside, the public will be watching for signals and direction from the future prime minister.
His presidential address has to impress and inspire as he strives to convince Malaysians to continue supporting his party and him.
Everyone will also be watching their outgoing president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail who, in the last few days, let her mask drop about who she was supporting for deputy president.
It will be a fascinating gathering.
But post-election hangover aside, the public will be watching for signals and direction from the future prime minister.
His presidential address has to impress and inspire as he strives to convince Malaysians to continue supporting his party and him.
I don't think suspicions, accusations reports of alleged wrongdoing or fraud lodged with the MACC or police by PKR party members, the discovery of the 4G & WiFi jammer in Kuala Selangor, allegations of Prey anti-theft software installed on tablets used for voting, as well as the cracks within party ranks can remain papered over for long, despite Azmin's and Rafizi's public reconciliation in the "higher interest" of the party.
ReplyDeleteThese are not issues of relatively harmless name-calling against rivals and chair throwing between rival supporters, but serious allegations related to the party's election process and integrity, which can flare up and break through the superficially calm surface right now.
Also the call by Zuraida Kamaruddin that Dr. Streram not stand in the Rembau by-election but a woman stand instead is likely to cause further dissension within PKR ranks. This move, if it indeed happens, will not only be a slap in the face of Dr. Streram but also of all ethnic Indian PKR members.
Others who are anti-Mahathir, have also predicted that with Azmin's win of the Deputy-President post, it is the first step towards Anwar being denied the prime ministership after Tun Mahathir steps down.
Stay tuned.
Inidans have always been treated badly by PKR
Deletebut i rarely see indian criticize pkr, as compare to dap.
Deletei dun quite agree we can simply label azmin gang as mahathir faction n anti anwar, nurul did win handsomely. i would rather see azmin as a good check to anwar family while rafizi work as bal on azmin.
Although it looks fair that PKR should field Dr Streram again as their candidate for the Rembau by-election after his struggle against injustices by the EC and the underhand tactics of the UMNO collaborators and seeking a re-election in court, the vital element remains whether he can win the by-election after thiss.
DeleteDoes anyone think seriously that Dr. Streram can actually defeat the UMNO Dep. President in an UMNO stronghold of Rembau?
Dr. Streram has done his part and in politics there is no such thing as pity or fairness for politicians when a higher objective of the party comes into play.
It all depends on whether the PKR party has other higher objectives to achieve in this by-election just like in Port Dickson.
didn't PKR put him there in GE14?
DeleteOops. Correction Rantau and not Rembau.
DeleteThanks It.Scheiss for pointing it out.
"Inidans have always been treated badly by PKR".
ReplyDeleteWell, this treatment of Dr. Streram is especially bad. He won the court case to have the default win by the UMNO candidate invalidated and he should be allowed a fair go at winning the seat, even if Rembau has gone to UMNO/BN most times in recent elections and Streram (or any other PKR contesant) will most likely lose in this byelection.
BTW. Sivarasah appears to be rather quiet lately.
"Does anyone think seriously that Dr. Streram can actually defeat the UMNO Dep. President in an UMNO stronghold of Rembau?"
ReplyDeleteSorry! It's not Rembau a parliamentary constituency but Rantau a state constituency.
In the 2013 general elections, BN/UMNO got 10,126 votes versus PKR 5,513 votes in Rantau, so BN/UMNO won with 64.75% of the votes in a Malay vs Malay contest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rantau_(state_constituency)
So to answer your question - No! Dr. Streram will most likely lose, and I believe, so will any Malay PKR candidate.
As KTemoc asked - "didn't PKR put him there in GE14?" - Yes it did but most probably believing that Streram would lose anyway.
UMNO is still stronger south of the Klang Valley than north of the Klang Valley on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and given developments since the Pakatan won the federal government on 9th May 2018, including disappointment over promises to exempt PTPTN loan holders from repaying until they earn at least RM4,000, the growing concerns amongst the Malays over the ratification of ICERD, failure to fulfill many election promises and so forth, the extent by which UMNO likely wins Rantau will be an indication of any shift in Malay political sentiment one way or the other. In this regard, a Malay vs Malay contest will be a better indicator than a Malay vs Indian contest.
Port Dickson is a different scenario, in that it is a majority non-Malay urban constituency which had elected PKR in GE14, so Anwar had a good chance of winning and won handsomely there.
"but i rarely see indian criticize pkr, as compare to dap."
ReplyDeletePerhaps because Indians in PKR have a different perspective and expectations of PKR than Indians in DAP have of DAP.
One needs to look more deeply at class, education levels and so forth of the majority of Indians in PKR compared to the majority of Indians in DAP.
Off hand, from what I see, Indian MPs and state assemblymen in PKR tend to be educated professionals such as lawyers and doctors. Also, PKR does not advocate for a Malaysian Malaysia, whilst DAP does, so any real or perceived shortcoming of DAP to live up to the Malaysian Malaysia spirit is more glaring.
"i dun quite agree we can simply label azmin gang as mahathir faction n anti anwar, nurul did win handsomely. i would rather see azmin as a good check to anwar family while rafizi work as bal on azmin."
Perhaps Azmin is not part of a "Mahathir faction" but he appears closer to Mahathir than either Anwar or Rafizi.
However, it is known that there are rival factions within PKR, as was demonstrated quite starkly by the physical fighting between supporters of Azmin and Rafizi in its recent party elections.
That said, IMHO - Azmin looks like he would make a better prime minister than Anwar, given that Azmin appears to be more level headed.
Azmin holds a BSc in economics and mathematics from the University of Minnesota and a Masters in Education from Minnesota.
Anwar on the other hand has a degree in Malay Language (Literature) from Universiti Malaya and has a long track record of political activism since his student days.
So whilst Anwar appears to be more idealist-inclined and may be better on social and political issues, on the other hand Azmin looks like he will be better on economic and other practical issues.
i always have the impression that dap have leader but no grassroots wrt indian as compare to pkr, especially after the v david era. u r perhaps right on the expectation, similarly i hold dap on a higher std since they love to tok kok n bs.
Deleteazmin heart is with pkr, his loyalty is not necessarily towards anwar n family, i think it is not fair to accuse him closer to mahathir than to anwar, he stick to pkr regardless good or bad time. even anwar might not shown the same dedication.
i think education level n field is not that important, anwar worldview is more inclusive, his character as well. azmin is a better politician, like mahathir.