A ROADSHOW on the Shared Prosperity Vision (SPV) 2030 planned by PKR members loyal to Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali is more likely an attempt to shore up support for the group, said observers of the feud-ridden political party.

“This nationwide tour, using a government platform, to ‘explain’ government policies is aimed at strengthening Azmin’s faction,” Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali said of the PKR deputy president.

“It is strange when a minister is using the government platform to raise the image of their party. Azmin’s team needs to justify why they need to do this,” said the political science lecturer.

Some details of the SPV roadshow, to kick off in January, was revealed by Azmin supporter and fellow minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to a local newspaper last week.

The housing and local government minister said the roadshow will be a nationwide tour to explain the SPV policy to PKR grassroots members, and will be led by Azmin’s political secretary Hilman Idham. Hilman is also PKR youth deputy chief.

Tellingly, Zuraida also said that the tour will be carried out under the National Community Policy (NCP), a policy developed by her ministry to engage urban communities.

The PKR vice-president also said the roadshow will mobilise its machinery to promote government policies to the grassroots.

The first mention of the SPV roadshow was made at a dinner organised by Azmin’s faction at the Renaissance Hotel last Sunday, after the conclusion of the party’s national congress earlier in the day.

Azmin and his supporters boycotted the congress’ closing after accusing PKR president Anwar Ibrahim of breaching a pact not to launch attacks in speeches during the congress.

Anwar, in his speech when opening the congress a day earlier, used a Malay reference to brand Azmin and supporters as “traitors”.

Although, the dinner carried the SPV theme, it was used by Azmin’s supporters to criticise Anwar and their own party.

The congress had been marred by fist fights, verbal attacks and finally a boycott by Azmin, Zuraida and other leaders like R. Sivarasa, Haniza Talha and Daroyah Alwi. Only party vice-president Chua Tian Chang attended the closing, where he was booed during his speech.

The others later reappeared at the SPV dinner at the Renaissance Hotel to slam their own party.

Political analyst Mazlan said it is acceptable if Azmin’s SPV tour is used to explain government policies and to raise the image of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

But if it were used to promote a particular PKR faction, it will “make the PH government look even worse in the eyes of the public”, he said.

Another political observer, Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi, said this “tour” could be part of Azmin’s strategy to expand his influence, although success is not guaranteed.

“Azmin has access to government machinery but there’s no guarantee that he can build up support for himself.

“One reason is that many PKR grassroots members already understand the tussles inside the party and if Azmin is not careful, their tour could invite an even stronger reaction from Anwar’s supporters,” said the Malay ethnic studies professor.

Based on public remarks by those in Azmin’s camp, the feud between him and Anwar appears traceable to the party elections last year, when candidates aligned to Anwar lost but were appointed to leadership posts under the party president’s powers.

One example of this is the contest for deputy president between Azmin and former Pandan MP, Rafizi Ramli. Azmin was re-elected, but Rafizi was appointed as a vice-president.

Since then, Azmin and other leaders in his faction have not attended PKR presidential council meetings nor political bureau meetings.

A sex video implicating Azmin, which he has denied, emerged in June and added to fuel to the fire after Anwar suggested the latter resign if he was indeed involved.

Azmin has also openly supported Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve a full term as prime minister, despite an agreement between PH parties on a handover to Anwar before the next general election.

Awang Azman said Azmin’s methods to shore up his support, using the government platform, are a gamble.

“Azmin’s credibility is at stake.

“As for Anwar, he still needs to move carefully and perhaps allow his supporters, such as the Otai Reformis group, take the lead against Azmin,” said Awang Azman.

Otai Reformis, comprising PKR veterans and others in the party aligned to Anwar, have called for disciplinary action against Azmin, Zuraida and other leaders aligned with him.

This prompted Anwar to issue a statement demanding an immediate stop to the open fighting and for complaints and views to be submitted to the PKR disciplinary committee.

Anwar, however, has said he will not sack Azmin as PKR deputy president as the party allowed different views to be expressed. – December 16, 2019.