PRM's youth wing gave the green light today for the party to merge with coalition partner Keadilan but sources warn there is still a 'slight' possibility that the proposal may be turned down at the party's national congress tomorrow.

Today's youth wing congress saw 58 percent of its delegates raising their hands in favour of the merger.

The merger, which was proposed early last year was opposed by a substantial number of PRM's members who feared that the 46-year-old party would lose its identity if the merger took place.

PRM youth secretary Latheefa Koya told malaysiakini that the delegates were "emotional and sentimental" because they found it difficult to accept the idea of a new party.

"However, after much deliberation, the majority understood the need for change," she added.

Meanwhile, party sources claim that 58 percent is not a very convincing figure and it is still premature to claim that the merger is 'imminent'.

Apart from proposing for the acceptance of the merger tomorrow, the youth wing will also propose that the name of the new party's youth wing be changed from Angkatan Pemuda to Angkatan Muda to reflect gender nuetrality.

Latheefa said that a third resolution to expand the number of executive committee members in the new party's youth wing from 18 to 30 will also be proposed.

"We agreed to the merger on the condition that both parties agree to our proposed amendments to the constitution drawn up by the technical committees from both parties," she said.

Joint constitution

The technical committees had agreed to a joint constitution which included the name of the new party - Parti Keadilan Rakyat Malaysia (PKRM) as well as to add red borders to Keadilan's blue flag to symbolise PRM's presence.

The amended constitution also includes a 17-point 'manifesto' agreed by the representatives of both parties.

The manifesto states, among others, the struggle for a just and democratic country, upholding the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, championing for an independent media and judiciary and freedom of speech, assembly and association, the recognition that Islam is the official religion while respecting the freedom of worship of other religions and that Bahasa Melayu is the official language of the country while respecting the mother tongues of other minority groups.

Communist party

The merger had also met with opposition from a faction within Keadilan who alleged that PRM's ideology was a "godless" one.

On June 24, during Keadilan's special annual general meeting (AGM), 63 percent of the party's delegates voted in support of the key resolution to'accept and agree to the merger'.

On the second resolution whether to accept and agree to constitutional changes that will arise from the merger", 62 percent voted in favour.

Prior to the AGM, malaysiakini learnt that a pro-Islamic faction in Keadilan was lobbying intensely against the merger claiming that PRM was a communist party.

It was also learnt that some 40 percent of the delegates failed to vote a two-third majority on the second resolution due to their unwillingness to have the name of the party changed from Parti Keadilan Nasional to Parti Keadilan Rakyat Nasional.

Some delegates were also against the adding of red borders to the party's blue flag.

Main focus

The merger will be the main focus of delegates attending the national congress tomorrow.

About 150 delegates and an equal number of observers from 30 divisions will be discussing to adopt the central committee's resolution to support the merger, which will be presented to the Congress by secretary-general Dr Sanusi Osman.

Delegates will vote in a secret ballot on four resolutions:

- to support the merger with Keadilan

- to abide by the constitution agreed by the joint technical committees

- to agree to dissolve and join the new PKRM en bloc

- to give the mandate to the leadership to implement all necessary steps to ensure success of the merger.