6th PKR CONGRESS Selangor was a major focus in the debates at the PKR's sixth congress on May 29, as delegates echoed and urged all members to strengthen the party-run state.

NONE Rafizi Ramli, a delegate from Terengganu noted that Selangor is on the “wanted” list of the BN.

Of the four states managed by Pakatan Rakyat, Selangor is the richest, and the ruling party had openly expressed desire to reclaim the state from the hands of the opposition.

“The mandate was given (by the people for us) to rule Selangor... (therefore) it is also a sign that the mandate will also be given for us to (run) Putrajaya,” he added.  

“The people trust us, they hope we would be clean of corruption, so every policy implemented will be analysed by the voters and they will know that all that is implemented in Selangor will also be (replicated) Putrajaya.

Supporting party president Wan Azizah Ismail’s call to implement the good governance index, Rafizi said it will boost PKR’s image.

“We will be stronger at the coming general election because BN-run states cannot implement such policies. If they do, their ranking will decrease,” he roared, arousing an all-round applause from the audience. 

Kedah delegate Krishna Moorthy warned the party not to be complacent, as its failure to score the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat should serve as a reminder.

pkr bk convention khalid ibrahim broke down “We were sad when we lost Hulu Selangor. This shows that PKR’s power in Selangor has not been strong and the state’s policies are not (being fully appreciated) by the public.

“It is the responsibility of our party to also helm the state, and Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim ( right ) should not have to bear the burden alone.

It is not the ability of the state leadership that is of concern, but the party at large that has to be more pro-active in engaging the people, he said, adding that the biggest challenge was an effective communications channel.

‘Divert attention’

During the debates, a delegate suggested that the party exploit current issues to move people’s attention away from the problems that the party is alleged to be facing.

pkr congress agm kota baru 300510 crowd Abdul Yunus Jamhari from Perak said that diverting people’s focus would help manage the view being bandied by the press and the ruling party that PKR is facing “serious problems”.

“There are plenty of heated issues related to politics, for example, the case of conspiracy involving the opposition leader (Anwar Ibrahim) and also the manslaughter of Aminulrasyid (by the police),” he said.

“We ask for the strategic bureau or the information bureau to spin the issue to attract the attention of the people,” said Abdul Yunus when debating on the president’s keynote address.

“Moreover, such issues are appealing to the Malays and by shifting the focus, the party's image can be protected.

“The opposition leader's court case, for example, the people perception can bring about serious effects,” he said.

Orang Asli delegate

The Kuala Kurau assemblyperson also suggested that the party organise training to expose members to the party's ideologies.

“I suggest the party's management to set up a more efficient and organised method, to woo more to join the party.

NONE “New members should be given exposure on the party's ideology, (so) that they understand this is not a place to get rewards or projects,” he said.

“After our past victory (at the March 2008 general election), we can see that many want to join the party, but when they don't get anything (rewards or kickbacks) they walk out,” he said.

He repeated the party line that the recent defections are a “cleansing process” that will increase the maturity of the party.

The debates lightened up when PKR's first Orang Asli delegate took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia concept.

Ramli Logan from Pahang, said the prime minister’s famous slogan only “prioritised projects and neglected the Orang Asli”.

Defectors from Malacca?

Delegate Abdul Wahab Ibrahim brought some alarming news to the debates, raising warnings of party defectors in Malacca.

 

“I would like to caution Datuk Seri (Anwar) because Salehuddin (Hashim) was also a trusted compatriot, but he was a traitor,” said Abdul Wahab.

He added that ever since Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin was appointed chief state liaison, there have been “underground movements to betray him”.

Abdul Wahab said that the state leadership has submitted a report to Anwar Ibrahim and secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution's offices on the matter.