Citing disarray and lack of leadership, more exodus from PKR

Kuala Lumpur, 22 June – In recent months, PKR has seen its members, including MPs, assemblyman, and councilors exiting and resigning from the party en masse, all citing the lack of confidence in the party’s leadership. 

In the latest of a string of exodus, committee members of the PKR Cabang Saratok aligned to Yb Ali Biju, tendered their resignation, and withdrew their membership from the party with immediate effect. 

In a statement sighted by NMT, 25 members of Cabang Seratok claimed that they have lost faith in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the president of the party. They claim that PKR has lost its way and is rudderless, existing merely to fulfill the private aspiration of Datuk Seri Anwar to become Malaysia’s Prime Minister. 

The statement also stated that the 25 individuals are staunch supporters of Yb Ali Biju, who had his membership with PKR terminated, saying that they support him in his personal capacity and not because of the party. 

The statement further adds that the grassroots members became aware and observed that the internal strife within the party has caused it to lose focus and direction.

It stressed that those leaving the party are disappointed with the apparent notion that PKR prioritizes Datuk Seri Anwar on becoming PM and not fronting the struggles of the reform agenda as was constantly proclaimed as the party’s clarion call. 

According to sources within PKR, in accordance with the party’s constitution, if two-thirds of the committee members resigned concurrently, then that branch of the party ceases to exist and is considered dissolved. 

Further signs of discontent emerged after around 50 Johor PKR women leaders, including those from the national, state, and divisions, quit the party yesterday, claiming they have lost confidence in the party.

Johor PKR women’s vice-chief Nor Ashidah Ibrahim said they made the decision willingly and without pressure after being disgruntled with the party’s leadership, and are now supporting the Perikatan Nasional.

“Our decision was made because we have lost faith in the party’s leadership. An example is the unfair reasons given by the party’s leadership by suspending PKR women’s wing chief Haniza Talha.

Nor Ashidah, who is also the PKR central women’s wing executive council member, said that Johor PKR women’s wing treasurer Siti Noraini Md Jani and 18 of the wing’s division leaders have also declared that they have quit the party today.

Nor Ashidah said all 18 women leaders were from PKR divisions from Tenggara, Mersing, Sembrong, Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang, Pulai, Muar, Pontian, Tanjung Piai, Sri Gading, Selijang, Simpang Renggam, Batu Pahat, Ayer Hitam, Ledang, Pagoh, Labis and Tebrau.

She claimed that in PKR, the leadership’s direction has led to a witch-hunt for those aligned to previous PKR leaders such as Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin.

“This has led to more fragmentation and the leadership’s failure to trust members who have chosen the party.

“This clearly shows that the leadership is bent on destroying the strong unity that was built in the past,” said Nor Ashidah, claiming that the leadership’s action was an unfair move, especially for those that have served the party for many years.

According to political analyst Azmi Hassan of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the mass departures of party members would not only dampen Anwar’s chances of wresting the federal government from Perikatan Nasional (PN) but more importantly, there will be questions about his capability in controlling PKR, let alone in governing the nation.