In a veiled attack, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin slammed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for signing letters of appointment for candidates in constituencies where PKR was contesting.

“We do not want a repeat of the move to issue (appointment) letters to become candidates in constituencies where there is an agreement that it would be contested by an allied party,” he said, without naming the PAS leader.

NONE “We condemn the move to slander candidates of coalition partners without concrete proof. Do we want to let the practice of accusing each other take root in Pakatan Rakyat?”

Shamsul ( left ) added that such disputes should be resolved internally, instead of airing it in the media.

Shamsul, who is also the Bukit Katil MP, was delivering his policy speech at the PKR Youth Wing congress today.

He also urged that stern disciplinary action be taken such as dismissal for “problematic” Pakatan party members, including those who has caused multi-corner fights between the coalition’s candidates.

“I wish to appeal to the Pakatan Rakyat leaders - of PAS, DAP and PKR - to take action. Fire those who fought three- or four-cornered fights and don’t let them back in to any of our parties,” he said.

He said firm discipline is necessary to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat because the people want a two-party system, as shown by the rejection of Sabah local parties in the recent election.

“(Otherwise) this (infighting) would deny the people’s desire to see BN defeated,” he said.

The last general election had seen several multi-corner fights between PKR and PAS, such as in Kota Damansara and Sungai Acheh.

In the case of Kota Damansara, the resulting vote split was sufficient for BN candidate Halimaton Saadiah Bohan to win with less votes than the combined PKR-PAS votes.

PAS candidate Ridzuan Ismail had contested and campaigned there up to polling day, despite party leaders telling him to stand down after nomination day.

'Bids to give movement a negative image'

On another issue, Shamsul said attempts to liken the ‘Malaysian Spring’ to the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2010 are malicious attempts to give the movement a negative image.

“This is a part of the ruling party’s broader strategy to create a culture of fear to tighten their grip on the people,” he said in his speech today.

He said the Malaysian Spring is peaceful has always followed the law and upheld the federal constitution since its beginnings in the 1998 Reformasi movement.

“The environment in Malaysia is different, so the approach is also different. However, we are concerned with BN’s attitude and approach which is becoming similar to autocratic and oppressive Middle East and African regimes,” he said.

He urged BN to uphold the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and free speech.

Shamsul also rebutted BN leaders’ criticism that Pakatan only make claims of electoral fraud in constituencies where it lost, while accepting electoral results in areas where it won.

He said the fraud took place nationwide including in his own constituency of Bukit Katil.

“However, a large portion of these were foiled by Pakatan Rakyat’s brave party machinery,” he said.

He urged that greater attention be paid to the party’s election machinery and ensure that each member has at least sufficient training to serve as election agents and counting agents to help curb fraud when the next general election looms.

However, when asked later tonight, Shamsul claimed his statement was not referring to anyone.

“It was just a general statement without pointing at anyone.

“But whoever eats chili, the people feel the spice,” he added.