Too busy golfing: Delegates slam PKR Youth leaders

PKR Youth leaders were left red-faced on stage when delegates dished out stern criticism over what they see as weak discipline among their leaders.

Not mincing his words, Selangor delegate Jafrein Mohamad said the leaders were “too busy golfing” and paid little attention to the Youth wing members, especially after being elected as lawmakers.

“Once they become elected representatives, it’ll be hard even to get a meeting with them.

“If they didn’t play golf before, they sure do now,” he said to laughter from PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Anwar Ahmad Zainuddin ( right ) and others present.

“When we speak, we talk about demi rakyat (for the people), but do we practise this?” he asked.

According to Jafrien, who is from the Gombak division, weak discipline among he PKR Youth members was evident from the many empty seats in the venue today.

Worse still, he said while debating the policy speech during the party congress in Pulai, Johor, he understood that the Youth leadership also had a “disappointing” record of attending party meetings.

“These are the ones we want to become elected representatives. I think those sitting down there (not on stage) are better. We choose them to fight for the people and this is how they repay our trust?” he asked.

Embarrassingly, when Jafrien ( left ) asked if the delegates felt those on stage qualify to be lawmakers, he received a lot of mumbles, while some yelled out “ tak layak! ” (not qualified)

“It sounds like birds down there. That’s trouble for you,” he said, addressing PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.

‘Just like Umno’

Before him, Kedah delegate Zaidi Osman cuttingly said the Youth wing leadership was “weak”, to resounding applause from the floor.

Zaidi said that while those on stage may not have garnered the votes of many in the previous party polls, they were still national party leaders and their poor performance was “embarrassing”.

Celebrated as a hero after he finished his speech, Zaidi added that the national Youth leaders had also sidelined divisions that did not vote for them in the internal polls.

“I have PAS members asking me why. This is very embarassing... and needs to be improved,” he said.

He accused the leadership of being “selfish” and “cowardly”.

“We say a lot of things about BN and Umno, but we are two times five, five times two (the same),” he said to hoots.  

The party secretariat also received knocks from delegates, who were annoyed of having been asked to debate the policy speech at the last minute.

Jafrien, for example, said he was informed at six this morning.

All appointed exco members to be suspended

Responding to the criticism, Shamsul Iskandar said that after the congress, all appointed exco members will be suspended.

“The ones who were elected, I can’t do anything, but the appointed ones will be suspended.

“I will check, and those who are distracted by golf will not be reinstated as this is election time and I need people who pay attention,” he said.

Vice-chief Azmizam Zamanhuri also berated the delegates for thinking negatively and not coming up with constructive criticism.

“I like that you can criticise us unlike in Umno assemblies where the debates are all about praising the leadership.

“(But) please understand what we’re facing. It’s easy to criticise but please give solutions and ideas for improvement,” he said.

He was echoed by chief of strategy Ahmad Zaki, who said that due credit should be given to the leadership who has managed to grow the party from one doomed for failure 12 years ago.

“What kind of party are we if after 12 years, we are still just the criticisers, without ideas for improvement?” he asked.