Sunday September 4, 2005
Parti Keadilan Rakyat keeping a low profile
BY SHAHANAAZ HABIB
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been deliberately keeping a low profile as it is currently weak and not up to the mark yet, said one of its leaders.
Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor said its six-year struggle had taken a toll on the party and a number of people have given up due to financial and other constraints.
“Many of our people are apolitical. They are simple people who just wanted (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) out of prison.
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Ezam: ‘We want a competent machinery that will be on par with Anwar’s standing |
Ezam said although support for Anwar was still evident by the strong turnout at gatherings, “the party itself is weak.”
“We are not up to the mark to be the ruling government. Gauging our strength right now, we cannot carry the election.
“For the 2008 general election, we are going for the win. The party machinery must really be capable. We want a competent machinery that will be on par with Anwar’s standing,” he said.
Anwar was freed from prison last September after the Federal Court overturned a sodomy conviction on grounds that the prosecution had not proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Because of earlier conviction for corruption, Anwar, who spent six years in jail, will not be able to return to active politics and contest in general election until April 2008.
Ezam said since Anwar’s release, PKR has been having informal chit-chat sessions with some Umno division leaders and Youth exco members.
“Anwar still has many friends in Umno. So there have been many phone calls and friendship meetings. There’s a lot of interest now that he is out. But these are not serious discussions such as a road map for him to rejoin Umno,” he said.
He also said there was no urgency for Anwar’s wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to give up the PKR presidency since he has been released.
“She will serve as president until 2007. She’s become quite a politician now compared to seven years ago when she first started,” he said.
PKR suffered heavily in the last general election.
Dr Wan Azizah, Permatang Pauh MP, is its sole elected representative.
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