GE14 | About 50 PKR members today staged a protest in front of the PKR headquarters here against the decision of the party leadership allowing Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to use the PKR logo in the coming general election.

Their spokesperson, Bukit Gantang PKR Youth deputy chief Muhamad Faisal Zainal, claimed that 60 percent of the 200,000 PKR members were disappointed with the decision and strongly objected to the use of the logo by the former prime minister.

“We do not agree but the party leadership does not want to listen to the voice of the grassroots. It must be remembered that PKR was set up in 1999 as a result of Dr Mahathir’s cruelty against (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim.

“Allowing Dr Mahathir to use the PKR logo and then wanting to make him the prime minister again is not in accordance with principles,” he said after the peaceful demonstration.

Muhamad Faisal handed over a protest memorandum to the staff at the PKR headquarters and called on the party top leadership to review the decision on the use of the logo by Bersatu (of which Mahathir is chairperson) over the next six days from today.

The Harapan opposition pact, which comprises PKR, Bersatu, DAP and Amanah, decided to use the PKR logo for all candidates in the coming general election after the Registrar of Societies issued a 30-day provisional dissolution order to Bersatu on April 5 for having failed to submit the relevant party information and documents.

The provisional dissolution order against Bersatu also put in jeopardy the registration of Harapan.

Meanwhile, Sabak Bernam PKR member M Veerappan said the decision of the PKR leadership allowing Mahathir to use the party logo was an insult to all PKR members who had fought for justice since the party was set up on April 4, 1999.

“We grassroots members are most disappointed that Dr Mahathir will contest in the 14th general election under the PKR banner. It is difficult for us to accept that. I challenge him to stand as an independent candidate,” he said.

- Bernama