The Malaysian Insider
by Shannon Teoh
SUNGAI PETANI, March 30 - Cronyism and power plays within PKR Kedah is fuelling dissatisfaction among its Indian members that has led to a large field of candidates in the Bukit Selambau by-election.
Independent candidate A. Jayagopal made this accusation today, saying the party was not serious in selecting credible people for the state seat.
The 57-year-old, who has been suspended by the party, seconded what Jerai division chief B. Kalaivanar said today when resigning his entire division from the party - that PKR Kedah are merely interested in votes but not service to the Indian community here.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, he explained how he was one of 21 candidates interviewed to run on PKR's ticket.
"But the interview did not seem serious. They just asked who you are, why you should be the candidate and whether you have a clean record," he said.
"But what is a clean record? Even Anwar has a sodomy charge," he said of de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He claimed that Anwar was in fact, never part of the selection process but that local leaders had installed S. Manikumar, a political novice that would still appeal to the Indians here but still be under their control.
"They are looking for a crony to take instructions from them," he claimed.
To explain who these leaders were, Jayagopal showed documents from the party establishing that he had founded and led the Pokok Sena division in 2004.
But then in 2007, the party claimed the division was irregular and that he was not a member. In 2008, he was suspended for bringing PKR to court over the 2007 declaration.
He said the move was started by Kedah PKR strongmen Datuk Johari Abdul and Senator Zamri Yusuf, who was then the state chief and that the duo are also pulling the strings behind Manikumar's bid to enter the Kedah executive council as its only Indian representative.
But just like Kalaivanar, he admitted to having ambitions of wanting to be in Manikumar's position.
"I would have run no matter who PKR picked," he said.
A PKR ticket would have given his chances a huge boost. But as it stands now, he is one of many trying to make a point to PKR.
For Jayagopal however, it is likely to come at the cost of his RM5,000 deposit.
"But the interview did not seem serious. They just asked who you are, why you should be the candidate and whether you have a clean record," he said.
"But what is a clean record? Even Anwar has a sodomy charge," he said of de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He claimed that Anwar was in fact, never part of the selection process but that local leaders had installed S. Manikumar, a political novice that would still appeal to the Indians here but still be under their control.
"They are looking for a crony to take instructions from them," he claimed.
To explain who these leaders were, Jayagopal showed documents from the party establishing that he had founded and led the Pokok Sena division in 2004.
But then in 2007, the party claimed the division was irregular and that he was not a member. In 2008, he was suspended for bringing PKR to court over the 2007 declaration.
He said the move was started by Kedah PKR strongmen Datuk Johari Abdul and Senator Zamri Yusuf, who was then the state chief and that the duo are also pulling the strings behind Manikumar's bid to enter the Kedah executive council as its only Indian representative.
But just like Kalaivanar, he admitted to having ambitions of wanting to be in Manikumar's position.
"I would have run no matter who PKR picked," he said.
A PKR ticket would have given his chances a huge boost. But as it stands now, he is one of many trying to make a point to PKR.
For Jayagopal however, it is likely to come at the cost of his RM5,000 deposit.
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