Indicating a slide in support among the Malay community, PKR Youth today said Malay voters will be a key focus for its upcoming congress.

Speaking to reporters at its headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya today, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said that this congress will discuss ways to win support from the voter bloc.

amk pkr youth leaflet pamplet at congress “We will make an important announcement at the congress on AMK’s plans to ensure that Malay voters have more renewed confidence to join the reform movement,” he said, referring to the youth wing by its Malay acronym.

According to the youth chief, the congress on Nov 25, themed ‘In the Care of Justice’ is a particularly important one as it likely the last before the 13th general election.

As such, the congress will also focus on recommendations for electoral reform, with delegates from all states expected to present input which will later be submitted to a public hearing of the parliamentary select committee on the matter.

The congress in Johor will also be attended by observer delegations from Germany, Singapore, Palestine, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines and local student groups.

All seven groups will be given time to present “solidarity speeches”.

amk pkr youth leaflet pamplet at congress 3 Shamsul Iskandar said that the youth wing will also up the ante of the ‘Meet the People’ programme which began mid-November in 63 selected parliamentary constituencies nationwide.

“It’s a two pronged attack. Through the programme AMK meets with party machinery in the 63 focus constituencies, while also meeting with and assisting needy voters and conducting ad-hoc local events to attract the young,” he said.

He added that a ceramah will also be held at each constituency, where attendees will receive a 16-page booklet detailing Pakatan Rakyat’s policies, election promises and the shadow budget.

“We will also provide information on the ongoing case faced by (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim,” he said, adding that the speakers will be guiding the attendees through the booklet at the ceramah.

“This is so the attendees can know the issue and spread the message through the booklet.”

100,000 copies of the booklet have been printed for the purpose and will be distributed throughout December.

‘PM can’t fulfill promises’

Meanwhile, Shamsul took a swipe against Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein who earlier today said that it was “irresponsible” for the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to ask for the 13 people arrested under the Internal Security Act to be charged and tried in open court.

According to the youth chief, the arrests fly in the face of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s eve of Malaysia Day announcement that the government will repeal the Internal Security Act.

“Najib had said a clear lie...We are in a dangerous situation where the PM cannot fulfill his promises,” he said.

He added that the arrest and claims that the 13 are militants appear to be a tactic to scare the rakyat into supporting detention without trial.

“There are many other laws under which they can be charged,” said the lawyer.