KUALA LUMPUR: PKR's former deputy secretary-general P Jenapala has tossed his hat into the ring for the upcoming battle for deputy presidency.
The party veteran, who resigned from his post when he became bankrupt in 2008, announced his candidacy at a press conference held at a restaurant here today.
Currently, the top contenders for the number two slot are vice-president Azmin Ali and former law minister and supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim.
"I represent the working class, the layman's representative,” said Jenapala, who beamed with confidence.
“I believe 95% of the members are grassroots members and they will support me. Most of the party leaders are towkays and professionals who don't understand the feelings of the grassroots," added the 56-year-old security firm manager.
According to Jenapala, there is a lot of frustration in the party, evident from meetings and conventions held, that Indians and the grassroots members were not well represented in the party, and he was here to fill that void.
He spelt out four objectives for him to contest the post:
1. to have fair representation and respect for the Indian community within PKR.
2. to test the democratic process in PKR – does it truly exist?
3. to re-affirm PKR as a plural, multi-racial party.
4. to return PKR to the people, to the grassroots members.
"Our party membership data shows us that approximately 40% of PKR membership is made up of Indians. Yet we remain under-represented in this party," said the former informal national coordinating Indian committee chairman.
"Some members have questioned if Indians are treated with dignity to begin with. Some time back there was a story where a well-known senior PKR leader openly called an Indian leader 'pariah'.
“If this is true, this sort of disrespectful name-calling goes against all that the party stands for. I believe that PKR stands for respect for one another, regardless of who we are," he added.
Promotes 'ketuanan Melayu terpilih'
The former deputy division chief for Ipoh Barat said that he wanted to know if PKR was really democratic or would he be branded as a saboteur for taking this path.
Lamenting the state of the party, Jenapala said PKR was in the past seen as the new frontier, or symbol for multi-racialism in Malaysia.
“This is a party for all Malaysians. This is what the party promised prior to March 2008 when Anwar called on all Malaysians to fight for justice.
"Today it feels more like a party that promotes ‘ketuanan Melayu terpilih’ or in other words, a party for and of a few chosen Malays," he said, adding that PKR must return to the people.
"Democracy is damaged, and we are here to repair it," he stressed.
Asked about the Indian leaders in PKR, he replied: "Now tell me, which PKR leader can read and write Tamil?"
Jenapala, who claimed to be contesting due to suggestions from grassroots members, said he was prepared for the "mud slinging" and "slander" that would surely follow his announcement.
"They will surely embarrass me to the maximum. For the record my financial problems are almost resolved. I will soon be getting a certificate of discharge (from bankrupcy) and that will be done well before nominations, but I have to make this announcement now," he explained.
Asked if Kapar MP S Manickavasagam would be joining his campaign, Jenapala said it was too early for him to say but he welcomed anyone who would join hands with him.
On how much support he had, Jenapala claimed that he already had 30% and he aimed to double that.
'This is not Anwar's party'
Meanwhile, Jenapala also called on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to lead PKR as its president and not as adviser.
"I have deep respect for Anwar but this is not his personal party, nor of a few super MPs trying to be power barons. This is a party for all Malaysians," he said.
In late 2008, Jenapala had quit his deputy secretary-general post and claimed that Indians in the party were marginalised and that many had threatened to quit the party as well.
However, his claim was disputed by PKR vice-president R Sivarasa who said Jenapala was not re-appointed at the PKR national congress as he was a bankrupt and could not hold any positions.
Jenapala joined PKR after being expelled from PPP as its Ipoh Barat branch chairman in 1998 for allegedly working against the party and undermining its objectives.
He was the first batch to join PKR in 1998 and claimed that he was the 45th PKR member and first Ipoh Barat division member.
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