Poi Lam Independent School in Ipoh, Perak, is said to have been under pressure from the government and MCA to turn down a request from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to rent its school hall for its inaugural national congress.

According to PKR congress media head Faisal Mustaffa, the final decision on the venue of the opposition party's Dec 17-19 congress will only be formalised on Dec 9 after the party's political bureau meeting.

However, Faisal said that invitation cards have already been printed indicating Tow Too Keong Hall, also in Ipoh, as the venue of the gathering.

"Poi Lam Independent School was our first choice because of the facilities available. The hall can accommodate 7,000 people but because of pressure from the Education Ministry and MCA, it will most probably be Tow Too Keong Hall," he told malaysiakini when contacted.

"Although Poi Lam is considered a private school and is more independent than national schools, it also receives financial support from the government," added Faisal.

8,000 to attend

According to Faisal, more than 3,000 representatives have confirmed their attendance at the gathering, the party's first since the merger of Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia last year.

"Up to last Monday, 1,500 members are confirmed to be coming as congress delegates while another 1,000 delegates will be from the youth wing. The remaining 500 are from the party's women's wing. In addition, 5,000 people are estimated to participate as observors," he said.

Fiasal added that PKR youth wing will hold their assembly on Friday, Dec 17 followed by the women's wing the next day.

The party's national congress proper will be on Dec 19. It will see an address by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim as well as the election of 29 PKR leaders into the party's supreme council.

Although PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Dr Syed Husin Ali are expected to be endorsed in their positions at the upcoming congress, Faisal said the party has also recieved nominations for vice-president Azmin Ali and secretary-general Abdul Rahman Othman for the post of deputy president.