Penang PKR Youth has come out strongly to support their national chief Mohd Shamsul Iskandar for his recent criticism against the conduct of the party's ally, PAS, in the just-concluded general election.

State PKR Youth chief Amir Ghazali said that party leaders and supporters should learn a lesson from the result and process of the recent general election.

He added that Pakatan Rakyat's formula of cooperation remains the best approach for the country's political future.

"It is proven when this cooperation was accepted by the majority of the voters who gave Pakatan 51 percent of the popular vote," he said in a press conference.

"No party can stand alone without support from their allies," he added.

"We, the PKR Youths, will continue the struggle for a new form of politics. Our strength is that we accept differences, and agree to disagree," he stressed.

NONE Shamsul made the comment during the party's national congress in Petaling Jaya where he took PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to task for fielding candidates where PKR was contesting, resulting in several multi-cornered contests.

The Bukit Katil MP received brickbats from his PAS comrades over his speech, where he had been told to use internal party channels to air his views instead.

Amir ( left ) denied that Shamsul was specifically blaming anyone in particular, describing the latter's speech as a "constructive" reminder to all.

He urged all parties to be "positive" in accepting criticisms, saying that such attitude would help enhance cooperation between the Pakatan allies.

He cited an example in Islam, where leaders are said to be open to criticisms from their friends.

"The 14th general election is the litmus there where we all have to face together, and we urge all our leaders and comrades to start working towards garnering the support of the rakyat," he said.

'Cooperation the best formula'

"The best formula to reach Putrajaya is still by cooperation between the three parties in Pakatan," he added.

NONE When asked about PKR's relationship with PAS in Penang - since the latter sent its candidate to contest the Sungai Acheh state seat although it had been given to PKR - Amir denied that candidate Yusni Mat Piah was to be blamed.

"We leave the selection of seats to the parties' central leadership. We act according to our leadership, the same goes to PAS," he said.

Commenting on what PKR Youth's efforts are to ensure that the overlapping of seats do not recur in GE14, PKR national youth information chief Lee Khai Loon ( right ) noted that the past incidents have motivated some internal discussion.

"There was much disappointment on the ground while the people's expectation was very high," he said.

"We also regret that this issue was played up in the mainstream media, where it had been used to portray us as being disunited," he added.

To prove that the relationship with its allies are in order, state PKR Youth secretary Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid announced that the wing would be organising a thanksgiving event in Penanti, where PKR supremo and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim - together with the party's allies - would be present.

NONE In another development, state PKR Youth vice-chief Dr Afif Bahardin ( left ) urged all their members and supporters to lodge police reports over the unreliability of the indelible ink to keep voters from voting twice in the May 5 polls.

He noted that so far, about 500 from the 13 local divisions have lodged such reports via the party.

He said reports were being lodged without any difficulties or intimidation, as alleged in some states.

"The police here have so far been professional and gave us their full cooperation," said the state executive councillor.

"Please bring along any evidence - whether photos or videos - that you have about the indelible ink, it would help the police to probe the matter," he added.