PKR leader concedes not all is well with party

In a frank admission, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail conceded that the country’s leading opposition party is facing internal problems amid a spate of resignations from key leaders.

“The frustrations which have been expressed by some colleagues within the party and by some supporters are valid...,” said Wan Azizah in a statement today.

Over the past two days, PKR has been hit by the resignations of vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan and Sabah Wanita deputy chief Christina Liew as well as talks that secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim would quit the party.

Salehuddin has since denied he was stepping down.

Both Jeffrey and Liew have expressed their unhappiness over the decision of the top PKR leadership on a string of issues, the latest being the appointment of Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as the party's new Sabah state leader.

“Recent changes to the leadership in Keadilan have caused confusion and consternation among some. I recognise that not everyone will be pleased with decisions made by the party’s leadership and not everyone will appreciate the difficulty we face in seeking to accommodate all views, including those of the divisions and branches which make up the backbone of the party, while striving to guide our party towards achieving its goals,” said Wan Azizah.

“I acknowledge the setbacks that we have faced since the March elections. Political parties are complex organisms and political coalitions are neither crystallised overnight nor even in a fortnight.”

Appeal to supporters

She said that PKR had struggled at times to “identify the right strategy and mix of leadership” as the party grew and sought to transform itself into a national organisation.

“Along the way we have encountered great challenges and have also uncovered promising new talent. Our task remains a work in progress...,” she added.

While Wan Azizah did not go into details on the nature of the problems, there is undercurrents within the party over the role to be played by newcomer Zaid Ibrahim , the former Umno minister who joined PKR four months ago.

With PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali ready to bow out of the party soon, vice-president Azmin Ali - a confidant of de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim - and Zaid are both seen to be potential candidates to fill the post.

In the statement today, Wan Azizah went out of her way to reassure party supporters that PKR was working to resolve its internal problems.

“The future of the nation does not lie in the hands of any one individual, nor does our party, nor does this (Pakatan Rakyat) coalition. I continue to ask the ongoing faith and patience of the people in supporting the mission of PKR and of Pakatan.”