Snap polls or not, PKR is not taking chances and is already laying the groundwork for the next general election by going to the ground specifically in marginal seats.

Heading the nationwide roadshow is none other than ultimate crowd-puller Anwar Ibrahim.

Party secretary general Saifuddin Nasution said that the party is already on a sort of 'election campaign mode' for the next three to four months.

"We have thoroughly analysed the general election (and by-election) results, and have identified seats based on their 'winnability factor', and we are sending Anwar to these seats to drum up support," he said.

NONE Among those areas earmarked in the 'Selamatkan Malaysia' roadshow is Tanjung Karang in Perak, which like its surrounding areas is considered a BN stronghold until recently.

Tanjong Karang, a state seat, is held by Selangor Umno deputy chief Noh Omar, who garnered 16,073 votes in the 2008 general election to defeat Hanipa Maidin from PAS (12,253) by a margin of 3,820.

On Thursday, Anwar delivered speeches, preceded by a day-long programme where Selangor Pakatan assemblypersons and MPs went door-to-door to meet the people.

"The people were surprised to see us, but we got to listen to their complaints and were able to interact with them," said PKR state assemblyperson and Selangor exco Xavier Jeyakumar.

Regaining Malay support

This formula of reaching out to the constituents ahead of campaign periods, said Saifuddin, will be replicated in all areas earmarked for the roadshow.

Other areas already visited were Gelang Patah in Johor, Permatang Pauh in Penang, while Malacca is on the itinerary today.

Former PKR MP Zulkifli Noordin's constituency Kulim Bandar Bharu is scheduled for first week of June.

"The format of the programme for each area is the same. We will go door-to-door, host a banquet and Anwar will speak to local leaders and (the) people," he said.

pkr pas tian chua saifuddin nasution manikavasagam permatang pauh pc 220808 03 The party is aware of polarised support along ethnic lines, and is working hard to regain dwindling Malay support, said Saifuddin. ( right )

"We enjoy quite high support from the Chinese, but we have not done as well with the Malays.

"We are identifying (the issues) to rectify to bring them back. In each area Anwar always attends a programme with the Malay community, and another with the non-Malays," he said.

He was, however, quick to point out that this roadshow is not an attempt to patch up the holes in the party's reputation left by the string of defections from MPs and state assemblypersons.

"I can't say that the leadership and the grassroots are completely unconcerned (about the defections).

"But of the 25 grassroots leaders I met in Kedah recently, only two raised the defection issue.

"We must move on, and we are doing this by continuing with our activities (like this roadshow) which include a voter registration drive," he said.

Anwar ‘alive and kicking’

The defection issue has not featured significantly in Anwar’s speeches so far, with the opposition leader going on the offensive against the BN administration and Prime Minister Najib Razak on matters of governance and current issues like the legalisation of sports betting.

NONE Saifuddin says that the speeches work around a central theme: ‘Pakatan is here to stay.’

PKR information chief Latheefa Koya adds that the roadshow also serves to show that Anwar ( right ) - despite the attacks against him - is still alive, kicking and more importantly making waves.

"Anwar doesn't get much airtime in the mainstream media, and many people in the rural areas have no access to new media, so he needs to go to the ground to show people he's still around and active," she said.