PKR prepared for sabotage

By FMT Staff

KOTA BARU: The organisers of the PKR national convention which begins on Friday have fortified themselves against any possible sabotage following rumours of ill-intent by former members and Umno.
Kelantan state deputy chairman Abdul Aziz Kadir said: “We’ve heard rumours that there are attempts to sabotage the convention by our former PKR members.
“We have taken note of the rumours. Our convention administrators and facilitators are also aware of this. We have taken the necessary precautions and are prepared.”
Defections have marred PKR’s rise as an opposition party since the March 2008 general election when the party led the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of DAP and PAS to wrest four states from Barisan Nasional.
Since then Pakatan lost Perak in a reverse takeover by BN when two Perak PKR state assemblymen - Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) – and one DAP assemblywoman crossed over.
Following this, eight more PKR assemblymen and parliamentarians have quit the party. More than anything else the party now faces a credibility issue.
According to Abdul Aziz, this weekend’s convention was aimed at addressing the issue and consolidating the party spirit.
“The congress in Kelantan will be beneficial to the party, especially in kindling solidarity among grassroots supporters in view of the defections.
“These incidents (defections) have not weakened our resolve or the party. We will be using the weekend to show members this,” said the Ketereh MP.
Some 2,500 delegates and observers are expected to converge here beginning Friday.
Themed “Harapan Baru Selamatkan Malaysia’, Friday will see the Women and Youth congress taking place while the main event – the national convention – will be held on Saturday.
Abdul Aziz said the congress is also expected to discuss preparations for the 13th general election.
Yesterday FMT reported party’s secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as saying that the party would use the weekend gathering to strengthen its organisation structure and consider ways to reaffirm its bonds with the PAS and DAP.
"We will also discuss the performances of states under Pakatan control," he said, referring to Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Kelantan.