PR failings helped Isa win Bagan Pinang, concedes Anwar

Anwar (centre) concedes that shortcomings in Pakatan contributed to the Bagan Pinang defeat. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today admitted to weaknesses in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition during the recent Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri Sembilan.

“Although the post-mortem at PAS-level (regarding Bagan Pinang) is not yet complete, our election directors have given their analysis on the by-election.

“We admit there were weakness and shortcomings in Pakatan Rakyat which will be improved and we will increase efforts to approach the people to give explanations,” he told a news conference after the Pakatan Rakyat’s supreme council meeting at his office in Parliament, here today.

In the Bagan Pinang by-election on Oct 11, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate and former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad won the seat with a majority of 5,435 votes, after garnering 8,013 votes compared to PAS candidate Zulkefly Omar who only obtained 2,578 votes.

The meeting today also discussed the issue between PKR leaders Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and PKR vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali, with Anwar saying that there was no friction between the two leaders.

“We did discuss about Zaid Ibrahim (former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) and Mohamed Azmin Ali, but there are no problems between them,” he said, referring to the two individuals who were also present at the meeting.

Zaid had recently announced that he was taking six months leave effective last Friday after Anwar supposedly didn’t allow him to take part in the party’s programmes in Sabah.

Media reports also alleged that Zaid’s hopes to go to the state were not approved by Mohamed Azmin, who is also Sabah PKR chairman.

However, last Sunday, Zaid denied that he was taking leave from the party, but instead resting from PKR’s Political Bureau activities.

Regarding suggestions to register Pakatan Rakyat as a valid party, DAP Advisor and Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament Lim Kit Siang, who was also present, said they were still reviewing the matter.

“We are still discussing it and in principle we want to be registered. The Registrar of Societies (ROS) said according to current laws, we need seven parties to allow us to become a coalition and this is being studied,” he said. — Bernama