“This time around there were no factions. The factions will only surface during the central leadership council and vice-presidency elections,” the senior assemblyman told FMT on condition of anonymity.
He said the deputy ministers, MPs, assemblymen, and even one minister who lost in the divisional polls were not weak leaders, but had grown too comfortable in their positions.
“Holding these positions gave them a false sense of security. They assumed victory would come easy, and in the process, they lost touch with the ground,” he said.
A senior PKR MP also allayed talk of power struggles, saying there were no factions in the party led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presently.
“There is no Anwar faction or Rafizi Ramli faction. Anwar doesn’t lead a faction. He represents PKR as a whole. For him, there are no factions,” the MP said.
However, he pointed out that many bigwigs who lost in the divisional polls were leaders who had aligned themselves with Rafizi’s “Ayuh Malaysia” platform during the last party election three years ago.
“Those who won this time around are members who reject factionalism. What Anwar said is true – PKR is no longer factional.
“But the ‘Ayuh Malaysia’ faction which used to be led by Rafizi did exist and held significant influence. So, in this PKR election, its leaders were punished by the grassroots for starting that faction then,” he said.
He reiterated that no new camps have emerged, as ordinary PKR members and “responsible leaders” do not support having factions in the party.
A slew of prominent incumbent divisional leaders were knocked out over the past two weekends as members elected lesser-known figures in the party’s divisional polls.
PKR vice-presidents Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and K Saraswathy, PKR Youth chief Adam Adli, and several MPs were among those who lost.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim claimed that PKR grassroots voted overwhelmingly against “elites” and “cartels” in the party, specifically citing the “Ayuh Malaysia” platform which he said tried to sideline Anwar.
Hassan, who opted not to defend his post as Pasir Gudang PKR chief, said certain leaders who went on to become ministers, deputy ministers and MPs became disconnected with the grassroots and even ignored their messages and calls.
The anonymous PKR assemblyman said everyone wanted to be “part of the action” now that the party is in government, with the divisional polls expected to affect candidates to be fielded for the next general election.
“Those who were ‘hungry’ in the party elections worked hard, built strong grassroots, and connected with members. That momentum will carry into the general election.
“Nothing is permanent. If members are unhappy, if expectations aren’t met, no title or position will save you. The people decide your future. You have to earn it, every step of the way,” he said.
The elections for PKR’s central leadership council, as well as women and youth wing leaders at the national level, will be held on May 24. Nominations will take place on May 3 and 4.