Respect PKR grassroots in appointments, says delegate

PKR CONGRESS | A Malacca PKR delegate has reminded top party leaders holding positions in government to respect the grassroots structure in deciding political appointments.

Malacca PKR vice-chief Ginie Lim said top party leaders should coordinate appointments both at the grassroots levels in Pakatan Harapan-held seats as well as in opposition-led areas.

“This is to ensure work at the grassroots level can move in a more structured and efficient manner,” said the former Machap assemblyperson when debating PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s policy speech in Putrajaya today.

“Secondly, the top leaders should respect the party’s power structure, just as how the division and branch leaders do.

“It must be remembered, when it floods, or when there are fires, storms, accidents, illnesses, and deaths, it is the divisions and branches who are the frontliners who will go down to the ground with assistance,” Lim (above) said.

As such, the role played by grassroots members is akin to the party’s official administrators, she added.

“If the top leaders make decisions on political appointments without involving the branches, ultimately, the people’s problems will not be solved.”

‘Difficult to approach PKR ministers’

Sharing a similar sentiment, Terengganu PKR information chief Alias Ahmad said the state chapter had faced difficulties in approaching “some friends who are now ministers”.

“While there are those willing to listen, there are others who appear unwilling to see our existence; given we are poor, naive, living in a rural area.

“There are those who came to Terengganu without visiting us, and this is not just said by party veterans but also ordinary members and state leaders. That is the reality,” said the former civil servant.

Alias, who lost the Hulu Terengganu parliament seat for Harapan in the last 15th general election, noted that the reality has posed difficulties for Terengganu PKR to warn their “friends in ministers’ shirts”.

“Some of them do not realise they are being surrounded by wolves in sheep’s clothing when we know the ‘wolves’ are building their influences for the sustainability of our opponents,” he said.

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