PKR to mobilise party's experts to assist ministers, says sec-gen

INTERVIEW | PKR will soon mobilise the party’s brains and volunteers to provide backing for its cabinet ministers in carrying their respective portfolios, according to Fuziah Salleh.

This is among several initiatives the newly minted PKR secretary-general has in the pipeline aimed at ramping up the party’s services to the rakyat.

“I intend to assist our ministers from PKR by mobilising all party resources from among our members to help them in their respective portfolios.

“Perhaps they can serve as think tanks or research (workers) because we have many subject matter experts who can give extra input on top of what the government machinery already provides,” 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.

Besides Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister, seven PKR leaders are serving as cabinet ministers, namely Rafizi Ramli, Chang Lih Kang, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Fahmi Fadzil, Fadhlina Sidek, Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Saifuddin.

It also has six deputy ministers, including Fuziah who holds the domestic trade and cost of living portfolio.

Vast human potential

According to Fuziah, PKR has a vast amount of human resources that she believes should be utilised to their utmost potential, including providing valuable input that can assist members of the Anwar-led federal administration in their decision-making process.

This was especially given the high expectations that the prime minister has put on all his cabinet members, she added.

“This party should provide backing to its ministers (in serving their official capacity), and as the secretary-general, I believe I can pool all the experts we have to do this.

“They can help out in works such as doing research, advise the ministers on best practices, and also make suggestions on reform initiatives.”

However, the senator stressed that any input that the party channels to the ministers would only serve as advice and not binding.

It would serve to provide the country’s leaders with more perspectives especially when it comes to the reform agenda, she added.

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