Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders probably heaved a sigh of relief when the party congress ended last Saturday. Despite criticism in the run-up to the event, no major hitches were experienced during the three-day meeting.

Key resolutions were passed to criticise the government's policies on issues including education and economic development, but more significant was the willingness of members to examine internal weaknesses and to seek improvement.

Deputy president Syed Husin Ali must have thought hard when he prepared his speech which exposed 13 weaknesses that could weaken PKR if not addressed.

Being the experienced politician that he is, he was well aware of the risk he was taking and the negative responses to be expected, but he soldiered on.

"I said it because this needed to be said. Many people thought that others (leaders) would come after me for it, but that has not happen," he said later.

Question of credibility

Murmurs of disagreement against his 'bare all' speech died when Syed Husin's advice was accepted by delegates including Youth vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin who urged the supreme council to consider establishing an internal court to address these weaknesses.

"If the party like Umno whose credibility we question can act against its vice- president for corruption, Keadilan - as a party with high moral standing - should be prepared to do the same, if not more," he said to thunderous applause from some 1,000 delegates.

A journalist at the event said he was impressed with the party's maturity and "honesty".

"The delegates were honest enough to admit that the party is not in such a fabulous state. And they were bold enough to bare all in the hope of finding solutions. I'd say that's worth commending," he said.

They were so bold that one had openly expressed worries on the weak responses of PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim, over speculation that he would re-join Umno.

"Maybe the president (Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) can speak to our adviser and tell him that he needs to clarify his stand very clearly," said a delegate from Terengganu during a debate on the president's policy speech.

Wan Azizah must have taken heed because Anwar , in a special address that evening, charmed some 1,500 supporters with a lively speech on his commitment to the reform agenda and insistence that he will never rejoin Umno. But was his statement sufficient to allay niggling doubts on his commitment to the party?

Shamsul said delegates went home with a clear mind on Anwar's stand, and that this had made it easier for them to focus on the party's direction as it prepares for the next general election due in 2008.

It did not put to rest all doubts, though. A senior party worker, who requested anonymity, was left wondering whether the statement could be translated into action.

"Yes a lot of people are happy with his clear statement. Now he has to convince his supporters that he can rise to the occasion. We can only see that after he settles down here (in Malaysia) which he has promised will happen from March onwards."

Dependency created

As the party looks outward, it has also sent a strong signal to PAS - through the president's policy speech - to reconsider the contentious Islamic state agenda which can only create problems in a multi-racial Malaysia.

Despite PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa's diplomatic reaction to the message, many wonder if PKR has touched a raw nerve over an issue that is deemed sensitive.

"We all know that the old guard is still very protective of the Islamic state agenda. Of course the young Turks within PAS would agree with Anwar but it's the senior ones that worry me," said a PAS member who was an observer at the congress.

But Anwar is confident that the speech will not be interpreted wrongly by PAS - he also thinks the party should be given more credit for its understanding of the issue.

"PAS has not, over the last year, continued to espouse its Islamic state agenda. (It has) not (brought it up at) its muktamar (annual assembly), not (mentioned it) in speeches and (it) was not as issue during the Pengkalan Pasir (by-election)," he told the press.

"Malaysians, both Muslims and non-Muslims, should view this development positively."

What was also apparent at the congress is how dependent the party is on Anwar. This could have positive or negative ramifications.

For instance, with one speech, he was able put to rest many contentious issues raised by delegates who had refused to accept the views of other office-bearers.

Soon after Anwar's speech, congress permanent chairperson was heard saying: "I'm so relieved! Everything is settled. It looked complicated before but now everything is settled!"

While each party must have a leader who is authoritative, this could also do harm in the long run. It is a worry to some that members only accept explanations from Anwar.

The end of the congress marked the start of the party's real battle to play a major role in the opposition coalition in the penisula and in Sarawak ahead of the next general election.

It remains to be seen whether the theme of the congress - Time for Change - will indeed be translated into reality and whether all the resolutions and commitments made will be translated into policies.

As Syed Husin said: "Now that the congress has ended, the remaining question and challenge is whether we can rise to the expectations."