PKR’s young leaders optimistic despite defections
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani (Malaysian Insider)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Nurul Izzah Anwar stepped into the forefront last night, stressing that the future of a PKR wracked with resignations lies in the younger generation.
The Lembah Pantai MP said the voice of the young is being lost in the aftermath of three resignations that have rocked the party which is led by her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“I believe it is important that the public at large realize or know the voices or aspirations of the younger leadership in the party which sometimes can be left behind and forgotten in the calamity that has ensued,” the first-term MP told a forum here.
Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri yesterday became the third MP to quit PKR and turn independent after the resignations of Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.
“I think of all us here has differences of opinion and that the fact we are here and still committed to the struggle is basically testament that there are sufficient avenues to air opinions especially from the younger generation. If you are truly a reformist then you will do the best to address the differences and work together to come out with a workable solution.
“People who decide to leave the party should just be labelled opportunists because you are leaving the struggle,” she said.
Dubbed “Puteri Reformasi” when leading the movement to free her father years ago, she said the party needed the young to succeed.
“When you talk about the future direction of the party, you cannot succeed without the support and the younger generation coming together,” she told her audience.
Nurul Izzah said the country’s political landscape had been shaped by Barisan Nasional with many of the institutions getting young people to be involved in money politics.
“You have to understand the realities of being involved in opposition politics. You are facing real trials and tribulations even a harsh future without financial renumeration so how do you educate the younger generation to be part of the political process. You should be incorruptible when you are young and should not be together with those people who are willing to sell their souls to do anything so that you can the rich or to be very successful.
“So this is very important struggle for me which is beyond the struggle of Pakatan Rakyat,” she added.
Seri Setia assemblyman, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, added that the party defectors were not used the party’s new politics.
“We want to show that we are defection proof unlike the mentality of the old guards that have tried to play with the media.
“PKR as a new party is bringing a new culture of politics which maybe stranger for those used to old politics. It is difficult for certain people so we have to go through this process,” said the political secretary to the Selangor Mentri Besar.
He noted that Anwar had apologised for the quality of candidates following other spate of resignations in the past.
“Of course, we have to improve certain things but I think we just have to bite the bullet and face it,” said Nik Nazmi.
Since the 12th General Election, PKR has lost six assemblymen beginning with the Perak “frogs” Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, and followed by Lunas assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh, Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah and former Penanti assemblyman and former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.
Another PKR assemblyman, V. Arumugam (Bukit Selambau) had also quit the party in April last year due to personal marital issues. He had contested as an independent in March 2008 but subsequently joined PKR.
