PKR members allege party leader lobbying for ministerial post

Summary

• A former Sabah PKR leader alleges a party member is lobbying for a ministerial post by soliciting support from other members.

• Other sources have also confirmed the matter.

• This lobbying is seen as potentially undermining the party president's authority in choosing cabinet members.

A PKR member has urged the party leadership to ban its leaders from lobbying for cabinet posts, including soliciting support from fellow members.

Former Sabah PKR deputy communications chief Fekirie Gobet claimed that a party leader had been contacting division chiefs and other leaders to secure support for appointment as a minister, which he said could undermine the authority of the party president.

“I received a call from one of that leader’s aides. The person asked about Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi (Nik Ahmad).

“During the conversation, the person said the leader was reaching out to division chiefs and several PKR leaders to collect signatures to support his appointment as minister to replace Nik Nazmi.

“I was shocked by the leader’s actions. I contacted several division chiefs who confirmed receiving such calls. This is an inappropriate practice and diminishes the president’s and the leadership’s authority in choosing cabinet members.

“The individual lobbying for the post is using disgraceful tactics. This hunger and thirst for positions is not PKR’s culture. Now they are trying to use division chiefs for personal gain. Such behaviour tarnishes the party’s principles and must stop immediately,” Fekirie (above) told Malaysiakini.

He urged the leadership to issue an order to stop any lobbying for ministerial posts.

Malaysiakini is withholding the identity of the PKR leader pending a response.

Signatures given or not?

Two other sources also confirmed that the leader in question had sought signatures of support for a cabinet position.

“I can’t reveal my identity, but I can confirm that the leader’s aide contacted me for a signature of support,” said a source from Kedah.

However, the source did not say whether they had signed the letter.

Another source, who also requested anonymity, corroborated the account, saying: “There was indeed a call from the person. We’ve yet to decide.”

On May 28, Rafizi, who is the economy minister, tendered his resignation from the cabinet. This followed a similar move by Nik Nazmi, who is the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister.

Both cited their defeats in the party election as among the reasons for stepping down.

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