PKR has expressed confidence in doing well in the coming general election as it has prepared suitable candidates to take on the BN.

"We are confident of success as we have good candidates and we are now finalising our line-up", party president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail told reporters after officiating at the Fourth PKR national convention in Kuala Lumpur today.

She said the confidence also stemmed from the party's good performance in the 1999 election in which PKR won five parliamentary seats. "We were new then and yet, we did very well," she recalled.

Wan Azizah also said that party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will contest in the elections if they are held after he has been released from his legal restrictions by April next year.

Anwar was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 1999 for abuse of power and has been barred from direct participation in politics for five years.

Make an impact

Wan Azizah said the main target for PKR candidates is to achieve victory in areas won by BN with just 51% of the votes at the last election.

"Generally, these areas were urban and PKR will give Chinese candidates the chance to contest those seats," she said.

Wan Azizah said that support for the party was "very encouraging" across the country, including in Sabah and Sarawak.

According to her, the upcoming elections represent the best opportunity for PKR to date, with the party enjoying strong, united leadership as well as public support.

In her speech at the convention, Wan Azizah said the signs that the general election is near are clear with the government working overtime to fragment the people, while attacking the opposition with groundless accusations.

Nevertheless, she maintained that PKR remains determined to make an impact in the elections as a strong and united political party.

There will always be casualties in every battle and there are always some who give up hope on the long road towards justice, she said.

However, she declared that she has never been disillusioned or regretful during her political career.

Reaching out to the absent

She also expressed happiness at seeing before her faces who have fought together in PKR for nine consecutive years, though she confessed that she often thought of those who had since abandoned the cause.

"Nine years is a long time. Among these people there were many like me - reluctant politicians. During the tough times, it was they who came to the fore and were willing to fight even despite great difficulty. They sacrificed time, energy and money.

"Recently, some of these faces are rarely seen and I take this opportunity to call out to them," she said.

Attending the convention were Anwar, deputy President Dr Syed Husin Ali, the party's key leaders and over 100 members and supporters from across the country.

Following Wan Azizah's speech, the convention was held behind closed doors, excluding the media from the proceedings.

According to the day's programme, Anwar is to present a paper on the National Economic Agenda, whilst PKR secretary-general Khalid Ibrahim will put forward a proposal to replace the New Economic Policy.

Parti Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia merged four years ago to become Parti Keadilan Rakyat.