PKR has re-jigged the role and functions of several senior council members, to improve the party’s strength and machinery in order to upgrade services to the people.

anwar ibrahim wan azizah pkr congress 2008 Party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will, for example, monitor media coverage and immediately respond to any pressing matters.

"She has to make her presence felt more," said de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in a statement isued after the party's monthly meeting today.

Deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali will concentrate on policy issues involving politics, economy, education and culture. He will also supervise matters pertaining to the Malays and the bumiputera community.

Vice-president Azmin Ali will relinquish his post as director of the election machinery, and head a task force with the other vice-presidents - Dr Lee Boon Chye, R Sivarasa, Mustafa Kamil Ayub and Jeffrey Kitingan - along with Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Wanita chief Zuraidah Kamaruddin.

"Their task will be to strengthen the party in the various divisions and states,” said Anwar.

“They will also look at creating a positive atmosphere and instilling party discipline among the state and division leaders including MPs and state assemblypersons."

Secretary-general, Sallehuddin Hashim will manage the daily operations of the headquarters and the party machinery, including the management committee and membership recruitment drive.

Party machinery reorganised

Anwar also announced the reorganisation of the party machinery.

Saifuddin Nasution is the new party election director, Fauziah Salleh heads the training committee, and Johari Abdul leads the new membership committee.

Tian Chua is the strategic affairs director, and Mustafa Kamil Ayob chairs the International Relations committee with Dr Tan Kee Kwong as his deputy.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya is the new information chief, while Johnson Chong is the communications chief.

The disciplinary committee is headed by Yeop Adlan Che Rose while Abdul Halim Yusof has been retained as a deputy secretary-general. Paul Gadang, S Raveentharan and Sharifah Shahidah are three newly appointed secretaries-general.

16 sacked for anti-party behaviour

In a separate statement, the party announced the immediate sacking of 16 members for acting against its interests in the Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai by-elections on April 7.

Syed Husin said the decision was made at the party's supreme council meeting last night.

The 16 were dismissed for criticising the party or for declaring themselves to have quit the party. One stood as an independent candidate in the Bukit Selambau by-election.

kalaivanar blasting pkr manikumar pc 030409 02 Twelve of the sacked party members were from Kedah, and the rest were from Sarawak.

Among those sacked from Kedah were B Kalaivanar ( right ) who had quit the party in anger after being overlooked as a candidate for the by-election.

Kalaivanar had then openly lobbied voters not to vote for PKR's S Manikumar, who eventually won the by-election.