Strive for reformasi, not positions, new PKR sec-gen reminds members

INTERVIEW | PKR members should not lose their reformist mindset, said its newly minted secretary-general Fuziah Salleh, stressing that it is even more crucial now that the party is leading the federal government.

Admitting that some PKR members had different expectations following the 2022 general election, Fuziah spoke of the need to address “perceptions” that have strayed from the party’s principles.

“Perhaps some are expecting that since now we are the government, everybody should have a position.

“Perhaps there are also expectations that being in the government means gone are the days where party members have to sacrifice... that the party should have been taken care of.

“There are many kinds of expectations. So we have to address these different perceptions or expectations by reaffirming our reformasi agenda among our members,” she said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini.

The interview was held in conjunction with her appointment as the new PKR secretary-general last month. She succeeded Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who resigned to focus his efforts as Pakatan Harapan secretary-general instead.

Struggle continues

Fuziah, who is the deputy domestic trade and cost of living minister, was responding to a question about how PKR members have been handling the party’s success since it became part of the ruling government again.

To drive home her point, Fuziah cited PKR’s “Deklarasi Permatang Pauh” (Permatang Pauh Declaration), a set of reform agendas PKR president Anwar Ibrahim first announced in September 1998, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the party.

The declaration, among other things, promised to struggle for justice for all and to fight against corruption and abuse of power.

Those who joined PKR in the hope of positions, she said, “are in the wrong party”.

“This is a party that was set up to fight for reform agendas. We should not think that things are different now that we are the government. Such perception ought to be corrected,” Fuziah emphasised.

The senator reminisced about PKR’s early days when she said party members did not even have enough funding to buy bus tickets to attend its annual congress.

Some even had to bring salted fish to sell at the side of party meetings.

“I do not wish for party members to go through such difficulties again. We are a bit more comfortable today, and we have some budget for our party congress.

“But it is inappropriate to compare us with other parties and hoping for extraordinary treatment. That is not PKR,” she said.

Party’s contributions

On this year’s PKR Congress set to be held in Johor in December, Fuziah said it will be centred around reflecting on the party’s contributions.

The party, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, has to make sure it can stay relevant for the next 25 years, she added.

“The main theme for this congress is to find out how we can continue the Madani agenda. Because the party is already 25 years old, how can we make sure the party will exist for the next 25 years?

“(We must establish) how we can ensure the party continues to be the main strength for our PM. This is our main focus - we have to reflect on everything we can contribute through the party and whether they are enough to make sure our party president can uphold the reform agendas.

“Because reformasi is the objective for all PKR members, and now we have reached the stage where we are working on national reform.”

Party polls

When asked about the party polls, the secretary-general said a special committee is studying whether it is viable for PKR to continue with its party election next year, or to postpone it until after the next general election.

Fuziah elaborated that the committee has conducted engagement sessions with various levels of the party leadership to identify options and weigh the pros and cons of each choice.

They are also looking into whether it needs to introduce changes to its polling system.

She said the committee is expected to submit its report to the party soon, as the PKR central leadership has to decide on this December’s party congress.

“We have to decide soon because, if we want to go ahead with party polls or otherwise, the congress has to decide.

“That is why the committee that is looking into the options are working hard, and they will report to me soon.

“Let’s say, in the event we are going for party polls, but we want to introduce some changes in how the polls are carried out, it would require a constitutional amendment which has to be decided by a special congress,” she added.

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