According to a source, non-Malay party leaders and members have been complaining among themselves about being increasingly sidelined since Anwar’s rise to power, despite strongly backing both him and the party over many years.
In particular, they point to his administration’s supposedly conservative stance on certain issues, including empowering the Islamic development department (Jakim), ruling out the recognition of secularism and gay rights, and defending race-based affirmative action policies.
PKR’s non-Malay members’ concerns have also been compounded by the party’s decision to only nominate Malays for state exco posts in the Pakatan Harapan-run states of Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
Reassuring non-Malays in PKR
Political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said Anwar should use the congress to reaffirm PKR’s identity as a multiracial party.
“With Umno as its partner and Anwar desperately wanting to win the support of the Malay voters, PKR is at risk of giving precedence to BN’s race-based politics over PH’s promises of reforms,” he told FMT.
Asrul said PKR risks losing its non-Malay supporters to DAP if it continues to only focus on its Malay members and Malay issues.
“Without strong voices from other communities in the party, PKR risks moving to the right, especially in policy-making,” he added.
Asrul said this was why the concerns of non-Malay party leaders and members cannot be ignored.
Council of Professors senior fellow Jeniri Amir had a similar view.
“For a political party to be effective, it should be reflective of the nation’s demographics. Discussing the role of non-Malay members, in a way, addresses issues related to representation and inclusivity,” he told FMT.
Compromising with BN
Another issue the congress is expected to address is the unhappiness over the expected “surrender” of local councillor and village head positions to Umno.
Previously, it was reported that several local councillor and village head positions in Selangor would be handed over to Umno ahead of a reshuffling of these posts in the state.
Jeniri said those in PKR who were unhappy with the arrangement must remember that Anwar would not have come into power without Barisan Nasional’s help.
“It’s important to compromise. The winners can’t take it all. They need to think about how BN and Umno have given them the strength to stay in power.
“It (giving some positions to Umno) can ensure the unity government lasts until the next election,” he said.
PKR is scheduled to hold its annual congress in Putrajaya from Nov 25 to 26.