I won't let factionalism threaten PKR again, vows Fuziah

INTERVIEW | Newly minted PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh has vowed to not let factionalism destroy the party again.

She saw the “cartel” episode that divided the party as a valuable lesson that PKR had learned the hard way.

"I can accommodate diversity but I’m not tolerant of factionalism because it is divisive," Fuziah said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini.

The deputy minister was referring to the time when PKR was divided into two camps between party president Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Azmin Ali, otherwise known as the “cartel”.

Azmin and his loyalists, who had then controlled many important posts in the party, later defected en masse during the Sheraton Move in 2020, which caused the then Pakatan Harapan-led government to collapse.

The incident also left PKR in disarray, according to Fuziah, as party leaders aligned with Azmin from all party levels walked out with him.

Stressing she is "above factions", Fuziah said she had never favoured the idea of party members divided into camps and giving blind loyalty to certain leaders.

"I think this is also an advantage to me as a party secretary-general because, in my whole career in the party, I have never sided with any faction.

"Even when I won the vice-president post (in 2010), I never sided with anyone. So, I’m not seen as aligned to any camp."

While admitting that she had once appeared under PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli's “cai” when contesting for the PKR Women's chief post in the 2018 party election, Fuziah defended the move saying everyone else not aligned with Azmin had to band together against the “cartel”.

Factionalism still played a part to some extent in the 2022 PKR party elections as well, notably with Anwar's former aide Farhash Wafa Salvador trying to muster forces to fight off both Rafizi and perceived remnants of Azmin's cartel such as Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

Restructuring the party

Speaking about her plans as the new secretary-general, Fuziah said she is embarking on an administrative restructuring exercise to improve the party's operations.

It is aimed at providing a clear line of command and would see some internal reshuffling of party workers.

"Now we have reached the phase where we are doing some restructuring and reshuffling, to match the right skill sets with the job requirement.

"This will see some new faces and restructuring in the line of command, so the command can be clearer and better executed.

"After this is done, then we will go into the next phase, which is to look into actual matters like addressing complaints, membership registration issues and such," she said.

According to Fuziah, she also aimed at utilising PKR's communications arm to strengthen the party's social media presence and push through its messages.

The unit, which is directly under the secretary-general's unit, can mobilise PKR members and volunteers who are ready to contribute their expertise.

"This is among the units which I believe should be strengthened within PKR.

"I see that we have many resources and volunteers who want to contribute towards strengthening the party, but I must be able to park them in the right place.

"That is why this restructuring and reshuffling exercise is important, and once it is completed, I can mobilise them better."

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