Wan Azizah as alternative to Rosmah

PKR is moving full steam forward with its Demi Rakyat campaign and its president Dr Wan Azizah is being presented as a role model to Malaysian women.

PETALING JAYA: PKR today unveiled its party president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as an alternative role model to self-declared first lady, Rosmah Mansor.

PKR Wanita chief, Zuraida Kamaruddin, launched a six-part series of stories entitled “Cerita Kak Wan” as part of the opposition’s new campaign strategy ahead of the upcoming general election.

The stories chronicle the life and career path of a housewife who took on the role of parliamentary member and raised six children while her husband languished in prison.
Zuraida told a media conference today that the stories were meant to expose Malaysian women to an alternative and better role model than “the one we have right now”.

The first print run will consist of 35,000 copies which will be personally distributed by the PKR women’s wing nationwide.

“We will especially target women in the rural areas who don’t have access to stories on Wan Azizah and PKR,” Zuraida said.

“We want these women to know that Wan Azizah is an ordinary woman who has also faced a bittersweet life. That she isn’t like other women who can spend millions of ringgit on a ring, handbags and shoes.”

This was a thinly veiled dig at Rosmah who recently made headlines for allegedly purchasing a RM72 million diamond ring from luxury jeweller, Jacob & Co. Rosmah and husband Najib Tun Razak both denied the allegation.

Zuraida however clarified that the Kak Wan stories were not intended to counter Rosmah’s image but to divert attention away from her.

“Lately there have been lots of debates and discussions revolving around Wan Azizah and Rosmah,” she said. “But there is a vast contrast between the two and we want Malaysian women to know that.”

Election strategy

The Ampang MP added that the stories and exclusive interviews can also be downloaded on Wan Azizah’s personal website.

“Cerita Kak Wan’ is just the tip of PKR’s new election campaign strategy which party communications director, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said is aimed at changing the manner of electioneering.

The campaign, dubbed “Demi Raykat” will reach out to voters through fewer ceramahs and more internative video presentations.

Two DVDs have already been screened as part of the trial run which Nik Nazmi deemed a success. The DVDs’ contents cover a wide range of national issues including the rising price of essential goods and police violence.

“We have always been at a disadvantage compared to BN as they have access to national TV and we only had ceramahs,” he said. “But now our online videos have been viewed by over ten thousand people.”

PKR strategic director, Rafizi Ramli, stated that PKR is now leading in national issues which has put BN on the defensive.

“Our central theme is to have a contrasting message to that of BN,” he said. “And we’re confident that once we get this message across the people will subscribe to it.”

Each PKR branch now has a Demi Rakyat director and is required to have a big screen and projector to run the DVDs.

According to Zuraida, BN and Umno with their outdated tactics are now having a hard time catcing up to PKR.

“We are ready for the general election no matter when it is held,” she said. “Our young leaders are taking the party forward and we will keep BN and Umno breathless.”