PKR needs to stop its internal party bickering so that it can set sight on its main agenda - to capture Putrajaya.

This is the perception of R Suresh, who announced today that he is contesting for one of the four vice-president’s posts.

        

He said the PKR would destroy itself if it does not communicate effectively with Malaysians of all races and deliver its promises of making Malaysia a fully developed nation.

R Suresh “It is crucial for the party to be in harmony since PKR is a multiracial party with Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Dayak, Melanau and others,” said Suresh, who is known as a grassroots man.

“I believe every ethnic group needs a leader to voice its grievances to the leadership in a proper manner so that results are achieved,” said Suresh.

Over the past five years, Suresh has worked behind the scenes with the party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In the cow-head incident in Shah Alam last year, Suresh was the prime mover in pacifying the Indians by bringing in the Malaysian Hindu Sangam and the temple committee to reach an understanding as well as not to make any provocative statements in the media.

As the Indians comprise of a sizable number of the estimated 400,000 PKR members, Suresh said that it was critical that this group’s voice be heard.

“For this reason, PKR needs a grassroot Indian leader who can represent the community and give their feedback so that effective solutions are found to keep the multi-racial party together,” said the businessman.

“Currently, there is a lot of internal bickering and mushrooming of dissent groups among the Indians whereby they have forgotten that the main rival is out there,” Suresh told Malaysiakini in maiden interview to announce his candidacy for top rank in the party.

May the best man win

On the Azmin Ali and Zaid Ibrahim contest for the deputy president, Suresh said: “May the best man win as it is an important position and the party was at crossroads, and as such the elected deputy president must be able to unite the entire party.

“Whether it is Azmin or Zaid, they must be able to reach out to the grassroots to resolve their problems.”

Suresh, who has been a trusted aide of Anwar to resolve Indian community problems, added that he was contesting because he had sought the advice of the party supremo, who had given his blessings.

He is currently completing the final stage of his doctorate in business administration, which he is pursuing at Open University Malaysia, and his thesis is on strategic planning.