KUALA LUMPUR – PKR’s just-concluded annual congress for 2023 shows the party finding its feet as a ruling party amid criticism of slow reforms it has long demanded as an opposition party.
Its president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and the prime minister, has iterated his administration’s commitment to implementing policies on improving the economy and cost of living and other political as well as anti-corruption reforms.
Such vows, however, have been put up against public censure for the perceived slow pace of change, and this saw some delegates at the congress express concerns that the government must respond more swiftly and consistently when issues arise.
These challenges are compounded by persistent racist and religious rhetoric peddled by rival coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Still, the two-day congress held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, which ended yesterday, was by far smoother and more peaceful than the fractious assembly of 2018, when PKR had to deal with the aftermath of a bitter party election that saw chair-throwing, and the 2019 congress, when then party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Azmin Ali, who is now in the opposition, was already at odds with Anwar.
Here are the key subjects raised at this year’s congress, held just a day after the unity government celebrated one year in Putrajaya.
Combating religious, racial extremism
Keeping in line with the party’s identity as a multi-racial political group representing Malaysia’s plural society, top party leaders lashed out at the ongoing problem of “slander” and “misinformation” propagated by PN against PKR and its unity government partners, particularly DAP.
Leaders noted how PN has harped on religious rhetoric to further political goals and also accused its chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, of sowing the seeds of discord by claiming that the unity government is sidelining the Malay community and causing the race to lose its power.
One of the contentious topics mentioned in Anwar’s opening speech for the congress was the recent legal challenge by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter against the PAS-led Kelantan state government’s competency to enact shariah criminal laws.
The prime minister said that it is vital for unity government leaders to explain the facts behind the matter, as certain sectors are riding on the issue in an attempt to claim that Islam is being threatened.
Anwar also pointed out that if such allegations are tolerated without any counter-efforts, Malaysia will head down a dark path where its people are divided along religious lines, thus weakening the nation.
Besides that, a Melaka PKR delegate also referenced the incident where PAS’ Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad claimed that key DAP leaders have family ties with former Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng and ex-Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Asserting that the allegation contains racial sentiments to “scare” the people, Datuk Ginie Lim said Siti Mastura had intentionally twisted facts to gain support for the party in the upcoming Kemaman by-election on December 2.
Political stability achieved, time to embark on reforms
A survey in October by Merdeka Centre, which recorded that the federal unity government’s approval rating was at 41% as compared to 54% in December last year, also appeared to linger on PKR leaders’ minds.
In responding to the findings, deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who is also economy minister, assured that Anwar’s unity government is stable and support for the prime minister is at status quo, following a slight dip due to the ringgit’s weakening value between May and August this year.
During a press conference at the party’s Youth and Women congress, the Pandan MP noted that approval ratings for Anwar’s administration are better than those of his predecessors.
Rafizi warned that the opposition would nevertheless use the ratings as political fodder in its attacks, as its claims that the unity government would collapse have yet to materialise.
Rafizi added later in his winding-up speech that PN was using the views of political analysts or surveys that were not based on credible data or analysis to attack Anwar.
Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang said in his winding-up speech that one of the unity government’s key achievements is how it managed to stabilise the government.
Chang, who is also science, technology and innovation minister, said that the current federal government is the most stable administration over the past five years, which has seen a total of three prime ministers before Anwar took over the post and established the unity government after the 15th general election in November last year resulted in a hung parliament.
Remembering party’s roots to move forward
The congress also reflected on its roots as the ‘Reformasi’ movement that started on the streets after Anwar’s politically charged arrest in 1998 and subsequent trial and imprisonment. This was a reminder that PKR is no stranger to hardship as an opposition party.
PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil told reporters that the party has a tendency to prove naysayers wrong and urged members not to take to heart the opinions voiced by those who doubt the party.
Fahmi, who is also communications and digital minister, described this year’s congress as being different from past assemblies held as an opposition party before 2018, when it had its first sting in federal power.
Describing the 2023 congress as “surreal”, Fahmi said it was also a sobering experience as party leaders repeatedly reminded members that winning federal power is not the end but the start of a journey to fulfil voters’ mandate.
Rafizi also reminded delegates of PKR’s early days, when analysts predicted that a multi-racial party would not make much headway in Malaysia’s race-based political landscape.
He said PKR has made decisions that went against the tide and were sometimes ahead of their time – a reminder to press on for the people, the analysts said. – November 27, 2023