Afdlin: Reform's not over, time for PKR to 'bring sexy back'

Summary

• Afdlin Shauki, the new PKR Setiawangsa chief, says the party lost some "sexiness" after forming the government.

• Afdlin calls on party members to continue pushing for reform despite the perception that little is being done.

• Afdlin pledges his support for Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, despite recently winning against him in the party polls.

Newly minted PKR Setiawangsa chief Afdlin Shauki Aksan quipped today that the party had lost “half its sexiness” after forming the government, drawing laughter and cheers from delegates.

Debating party president Anwar Ibrahim’s policy speech at the PKR national congress in Johor Bahru, the actor-director-turned-politician called on members to embrace change and continue pushing for reform, despite perceptions that little is being done.

“Yes, people say being in the opposition is sexy, and I wanted to be sexy. So, I joined when we were in the opposition.

“I didn’t expect us to become the government. Half the sexiness disappeared,” said Afdlin (above), who spoke as a Federal Territories delegate.

“But ladies and gentlemen, we must be like what Justin Timberlake sang, ‘Bring Sexy Back’. We must bring it back because the reform isn’t over.

“It’s just that when reform is being implemented, people don’t notice because we don’t announce, ‘Hey, we’re actually doing what we said we would…’ So people oppose us because they think we’re not doing anything,” he added.

‘I’m at your service’

Afdlin was among the winners in the recently concluded party polls, unseating Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as Setiawangsa division chief.

Despite their contest, Afdlin pledged full support for Nik Nazmi, who is also the Setiawangsa MP.

“I want to say to Nik Nazmi, as the new division chief, ‘I am at your service’. We will always be here because We Are Keadilan!” he declared, drawing loud applause from the floor.

Nik Nazmi was among several PKR leaders who lodged official complaints to the party’s election committee, citing alleged irregularities in the division-level results. He also failed to retain his position as one of PKR’s vice-presidents.

In a Facebook post last night, Nik Nazmi thanked his supporters and called for unity moving forward.

“The time has come for us to set aside our differences towards a common vision,” he said.

'I'm only human': Rafizi stands with frustrated PKR supporters

'Don't repeat past mistakes,' Perlis PKR reminds members

Nurul Izzah pledges to strengthen PKR

Nothing wrong with being professional comedian, Afdlin hits back at Rafizi