KOTA BARU: Both the Youth and Wanita wings of PKR have rose to become the conscience of the party based on the high octane debates and recommendations made by their delegates.
This is what the party is hoping for, so it can rebound after a string of defections among its elected representatives earlier this year including two, who had pave the way for Perak to be retaken by Barisan Nasional (BN) last year.
PKR Youth affable leader Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin got the motion going with a strong speech devoted towards strengthening the party and its alliance partners of PAS and DAP.
He spoke of the importance of implementing policies, promised and preached earlier, before people lose faith following the stigma attached due to the defections and outright slander, spread by its rivals.
"We cannot win elections based on slogans and promises only. We must implement our policies, especially in the four states governed by Pakatan," Shamsul Iskandar said.
He said the wing members must be exposed to training and appreciation of the party's struggle.
His views were echoed by PKR Wanita head Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is the Ampang MP.
The iron lady spoke of the importance for PKR to act now before its public perception is eroded after a the wave of attacks launched by BN.
Both were keynote speakers at the sixth PKR Youth and Wanita congress gathering on Friday, which was held here to motivate the party towards reclaiming its political momentum.
Kedah delegate Azman Nasrudin stole the show at the Youth meeting, with a stinging criticism of policies amid applause from the audience who nodded in a show of support.
He claimed that only 50% of the scheduled number of delegates were present at the wing's congress.
Heated mood
Organisers for the wing's gathering earlier claimed that there were 500 delegates and 300 observers invited.
Azman went on a tirade, claiming that no programmes were organised for the grassroots members since 2007.
"Our members are not exposed to the party's struggles. We can always talk and condemn Umno. We can do it anytime but let us focus on ourselves for now. We are fed up to hear about Umno. My ears hurt," Azman, who is from Sungai Petani, said when debating the Shamsul Iskandar's keynote address.
He also urged the top leaders, including the Youth wing committee members, to take heed of the party's indecisiveness.
Azman also urged the delegates who supported his stance to stand up and several did in the hall.
As the next speaker, Batu Tengah assemblyman Ong Chin Wen, who represented Penang, walked to the rostrum to debate, the delegates were in a heated mood, with some crying aloud "hentam lagi" (criticised more).
Ong said Azman's fiery speech was a tough act to follow.
Among notable presentators was Federal Territory delegate Syed Hamzah Syed Zainal who called for the party to tighten the screening of members to prevent the recurrence of elected leaders defecting.
Perak delegate Meor Ahmad Isharra Ishak urged PKR to not "sweep problems under the carpet", saying such tactics are not enough to woo voters.
Sabah delegate Pajudin Nordin urged PKR to expel members who have gone on to form a new political party in the state, called Parti Cinta Sabah.
Negri Sembilan delegate Zulrisyah Noor Kalam Mois Muhammad Zulkafli called on the party to accept ideas and criticism from the young.
At the sidelines, delegates discussed various strategies to cement the Pakatan alliance with some suggesting that Pakatan allow its members to join the other partners, such as PKR members joining PAS or DAP.
This would prevent the members from joining BN or becoming independents, they claimed.
They also spoke of rumours that some PKR elected representatives may not attend the congress as a sign of protest towards how they were treated.
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