SEREMBAN: With PKR en route to a major overhaul this Sunday, several of the party's Negeri Sembilan leaders have hinted to their boss Anwar Ibrahim that perhaps he should relieve state chief Kamarul Bahrin Abas of his duties.
They urged the PKR supremo to make changes based on merit, and not favouritism.
According to one state leader, who declined to be named, there is widespread disappointment with Kamarul, who has purportedly failed to deliver.
“Since the 2008 general election, he has not done much to help us at the division level. We carry out programmes on our own initiative.
"Yes it's true that we can't depend on him alone, but as state chief, he should spend time in assisting us in the divisions to chart our course to capture more seats (in the next election),” he told FMT.
Not rising to the defence
The leader also accused Kamarul, who is the Teluk Kemang MP, of being autocratic and failing to defend his subordinates and the party.
"Any constructive suggestion or critism raised during the state leadership meetings will be thrown out without proper discussion and consideration,” he said.
"When state Umno leaders, including the menteri besar, hurled baseless allegations against the state PKR, he keeps quiet.
"We expect him to defend our party's integrity and image otherwise people will assume that the allegations against us are true," he added.
'Never showed his face'
Meanwhile, FMT learnt from several state PKR and PAS leaders that during the Bagan Pinang by-election last year, Anwar was shocked when he campaigned at Indian majority estates like Siliau and Sua Betong.
"Anwar was bombarded with criticism from the estate workers who were upset that since winning in the election, Kamarul never visited the estates. Anwar could not answer them,” said one of the leaders, who delined to be named.
According to PAS sources, Kamarul “not showing his face in the estates” was cited as one of the reasons in the by-election post-mortem following PAS candidate Zulkefly Mohamad Omar's defeat.
Another senior state leader questioned Kamarul's decision to appoint local Hindraf leader S Haridass as one of his deputies.
"If I am not mistaken, he only became a PKR member after the 2008 general election. What has he done so far in his capacity as deputy chief? He also did not attend the recent PKR congress,” he said.
The state leader, who also requested anonymity, said there were many other capable Indian leaders in Negeri Sembilan.
Anwar is expected to reshuffle the party's state leadership at a retreat in Shah Alam on Sunday.
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