ONE maelstrom after another in PKR has left the grassroots members exhausted and appealing to the party leadership to stop the internal squabbling, be more consultative and put a lid on debate over Anwar Ibrahim’s succession to the prime minister’s office.

They believe recent episodes over Anwar exercising his prerogative to appoint the party state leaders and the central leadership have harmed the party.

The voices of dissent arising over his decisions give the appearance that the president is unable to control his party, said political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

“Several leaders such as Khalid Jaafar, Latheefa Koya have made open statements criticising Anwar.

“It looks systematic with a particular motive and agenda to belittle Anwar as party president,” said the Universiti Malaya lecturer.

Anwar, he said, should do more to consolidate the factions in PKR and and take his critics firmly in hand.

Party members have recently endured party elections that were fraught with technical problems and bitter rivalry between the incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and vice-president Rafizi Ramli and their supporters.

Then came Anwar’s appointment of state chiefs and other leadership posts that included his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar as Penang PKR head. He also appointed Rafizi, who lost his bid for the deputy presidency in the party polls, vice-president.

Just two days later, Nurul Izzah shocked the party by resigning all her party posts, due to what sources said was a wish to end talk of nepotism. 

The appointment saw a flurry of protests from Azmin and key party figures in his camp, such as  Khalid Jaafar, who is the Economic Affairs Minister’s adviser, and outspoken former PKR central leadership committee member Latheefa Koya.

Azmin issued a strong statement saying the choices were biased and did not reflect the wishes of the party.

PKR needs to end its factionalism and focus on its objectives of reforms and governance, said Awang Azman.

“When they are too obsessed with groups, PKR is split even before doing anything because there are those who are impatient to obtain power,” the analyst said. 

Hulu Selangor Youth chief Saifudin Shafi said much of the current discontent stemmed from the recent leadership appointments.

“I hope the president and deputy president can immediately solve the mess stemmed from the appointment of main posts to the party’s leadership and focus on the changes promised to the people instead.

“PKR as the biggest component in the Pakatan Harapan coalition must ensure that the promised changes materialise. PKR must display strength and inclusivity,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Now the timeline of Anwar’s succession of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has become an issue, following a proposal at the recent Bersatu annual general meeting for the 93-year-old Pakatan Harapan chairman to lead the country for a full term.

Otai Reformasi, a group of veteran PKR supporters, are against it and want the handover to be done in two years.

PH secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah, however, said recently that the coalition’s presidential council comprising the leadership of all component parties had never fixed a timeline for the succession.

The issue has dogged both Dr Mahathir and Anwar ever since PH took over the federal government and both leaders have reiterated several times that the transfer of power will be honoured.

The more the issue is raised, however, the more grassroots members feel their leaders are focusing on the wrong things.

Fuad Karim, a former PKR division chief from Perak, said members actually did not mind who was prime minister as they are more concerned about cost of living issues.

“Normal members who voted for PH in GE14 are still looking to see what they have gained since changing the government eight months ago. We criticised Najib Razak’s government for high costs but it’s still the same now.

“There has been a transfer of power but we still fight among ourselves. The party has no direction. Those at the bottom are confused. They do not care who becomes the next prime minister because the cost of living is a priority,” he said. 

Azman Awang said Anwar, who has pledged support for Dr Mahathir’s leadership and asked supporters to let the nonagenarian lead, should instil disciple in party members who continue provoking the succession issue.

“Respect the promise regarding the prime minister’s power transfer and those who provoke it should be brought to the disciplinary board.”

It’s time PKR and its commander in chief Anwar heed these warnings, as even loyal veteran supporters are sounding alarm bells.

Anwar’s former chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob took to Facebook to pen a lengthy post warning PKR to stop its infighting as voters would not hesitate to vote it out in the next general election.

He also laid blame squarely on the leadership for failing to bring things under control.

“From being a die-hard supporter of the ‘leadership’, I’ve lost total respect for them. Total rubbish. I really feel for the Party, but “leadership” is leading it to road of destruction. Good luck PKR,” he wrote. – January 6, 2019.