SHAH ALAM, May 22 — PKR’s national congress this year was supposed to focus on the upcoming general elections.
Even though PAS had severed ties with the party just weeks before, PKR’s leadership insisted they would concentrate on GE14 rather than their relationship — or lack of — with PAS.
Through the course of the weekend, this turned out to be true.
While former party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech — which was read out by his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar — flayed PAS and accused the Islamist party of being in cahoots with Umno long before the break-up, not too much time was spent talking about PAS.
Here are the three takeaways from the congress:
1. Anwar will always be PKR’s king
Yes, it has been two years since former PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was jailed but he continues to be very much front and centre of all things PKR.
The top leadership made references to him incessantly in their speeches and often highlighted his “sacrifice” for the country and the people.
Even the main stage at the congress featured a huge “Bebas Anwar” (Free Anwar) poster and a makeshift jail cell was placed at the hall’s exit.
And at the opening of the congress, Opposition leaders held up placards that said “Anwar PM Ke7” (Anwar as 7th PM).
Anwar’s wife and current Opposition leader Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail even said people should help Pakatan Harapan win the next general election as an act of gratitude to the former deputy prime minister.
Earlier this month, she gave an interview to Al-Jazeera where she admitted openly she was a “seat warmer” for Anwar. She said she would willingly make way for him once he is free and able to return to politics if Pakatan Harapan wins the 14th general elections.
While many from the Reformasi era in the late 90s still hold Anwar dear, younger voters are not so enamoured with him.
This insistence on Anwar being at the heart of everything they do may lead to valuable votes being lost if the general elections is called soon.
The fixation on Anwar somehow tends to overshadow the party’s own ambitions and eclipse some of its other leaders.
2. Mahathir still the man to watch
Ironically, the man many PKR supporters blame for Anwar Ibrahim being jailed way back in 1999 made an appearance at the party’s national congress.
The appearance of the 92-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad definitely set tongues wagging.
Dr Mahathir even signed a petition to free Anwar. How the times have changed.
But what really made heads turn was when all the top Opposition leaders stood up holding placards saying “Anwar PM Ke7” (Anwar as the 7th PM) and Dr Mahathir took out his phone to take pictures!
The message sent was clear: Dr Mahathir might be there to support the proceedings but he was not on board with everything.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu chairman’s actions yesterday spoke louder than words. While forging an alliance with PKR and DAP, supporting Anwar to take the nation’s top post might be a bridge too far.
3. Big ambitions, small plans
War drums were supposed to be heard at this year’s congress with PKR gearing up for a potential general election to be called either late this year or early next year.
That, however, wasn’t the case. While many of the leaders called for the grassroots to shore up support and close ranks within the party, little was shared on how this ought to be done.
The objective is to take over Putrajaya, form a Pakatan Harapan government and name Anwar as PM but how this would be possible was a question that no one seemed to have a real answer to. A more detailed playbook has to be produced.
