Anwar factor: All is not well with PKR

Anwar factor: All is not well with PKR

Anwar was the reason Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was born. Will the same Anwar be the reason for the reformists party to fall apart? It depends on who you talk to. The ongoing PKR Congress reveals there are several cracks within the party.

The unhappiness over Anwar was made public when a PKR Youth leader SD Johari, had decided not to contest for the wing deputy chief post as a mark of protest against the alleged interference by Anwar.

Ex-Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth Chief Ezam Mohd Nor, who had labelled the inteference as very unbecoming, however still cautious when asked about SD Johari’s claim:

“I have no hard evidence that Anwar is involved but I know for a fact that there are other party leaders behind this. We should ask them about their motive and reason for doing this,” he claimed, but declined to name those concerned.

Source: Malaysiakini

PKR Youth Acting Head Shamsul Iskandar however has different opinion:

“The issue of Anwar interfering with the wing does not arise. We are an independent entity. Any views expressed by Anwar would be a guidelines for the youth wing,”

Source : Malaysiakini

That was Johari’s story.

In another twist of fate for PKR, Datuk Nallakaruppan, Anwar’s close friend, also decided to leave the party citing unhappiness over Anwar’s interference in several issue, Ijok by-election is one of them. Nalla also claimed Anwar and PKR are not doing enough for Indians.

Nallakaruppan also expressed his disappointment over the role played by his good friend and party adviser Anwar Ibrahim in getting him (Nalla) to withdraw from contesting for the vice president’s post.

“He (Anwar) said he’s not interfering (in party matters). But he called and asked me to withdraw from the (vice-presidency) race. That is called interference.”

Anwar got himself into another controversial move yesterday. Despite saying he would defy the ruling by Registrar of Society (ROS) and would stand for party election, Anwar announced at the last minutes to withdraw from contesting for the party’s top post, a move seen by many as trying to avoid the risk of PKR being de-registered by ROS.

How much the decision by Anwar could cause the party to break further? Tian Chua’s statement can perhaps give you some clue:

“My argument is the election on the top post should be allowed to go on, those who want to take the risk can vote for Anwar, those who are not can go for Wan Azizah and for those who think Anwar shouldn’t has even started all this havoc can go for Rahman,”

Source : Malaysiakini

While PKR party leaders and members are struggling to resolve these internal issues, the real beneficiaries for all these happenings within PKR are none other the Barisan Nasional coalitions.