SUNGAI SIPUT, April 20 — More complications are surfacing in the hotly-contested Sungai Siput parliamentary seat, as internal problems appear to be putting PKR’s campaign in jeopardy.
A group of disgruntled Sungai Siput division members have today voiced their unhappiness with a senior party leader in the division.
They alleged that the leader has mismanaged the division and abused his power, causing him to lose support among the party and voters.
The group’s representative Aminuddin Mohd Shukri said the chief has allegedly been making decisions without discussing them with the party’s division committee.
“He treated the division like it belonged to his parents,” Aminuddin told a press conference at a hotel here today.
“We, the members, are the ones who worked hard putting up posters and banners and he has done nothing but lobby for his people. We don’t support him.”
Around 30 PKR members and Pakatan Harapan supporters were present at today’s press conference.
Aminuddin said the group was further incensed by news that the leader was one of the potential PKR candidates in Sungai Siput.
Aminuddin claimed a majority of committee members in the division would not back the leader if he were to become the candidate.
However, he stopped short of threatening to sabotage the leader.
“Sabotage is unethical. But I do believe that there will be a lot of dissatisfaction in the party and among the voters,” said Aminuddin.
“In fact, I dare say 80 per cent of the people in Sungai Siput will not support him because they know his character.”
Aminuddin, who was a former PKR Youth chief in Sungai Siput over the last two election cycles, claimed many in the division wanted Kampung Muhibbah branch chairman Syed Ahmad Putra Syed Isa as the party’s candidate.
He said the matter had been brought to the attention of the party leadership before, and hoped that this would open their eyes to the problems with the leader.
“For the last two terms, the people here have not seen much progress,” said Aminuddin, referring to the tenure of Sungai Siput MP Dr Micheal Jeyakumar from the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).
“It is time for change and we believe Syed Putra is the best candidate for the job.”
Aminuddin said he also planned to lodge reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission regarding a lack of transparency in the financial management of the division.
This fraction further complicates the Sungai Siput contest, as PSM and PKR are already arguing over the seat.
The seat, which has been held by Dr Jeyakumar for two terms, could be a four-cornered fight between PKR, PAS, PSM and Barisan Nasional.
