'Third faction' emerges within PKR - Ex-party leader

SHAH ALAM – The defeat of prominent and high-ranking figures in the recent Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) branch-level election further highlights the emergence of a third group within the party, one that is not aligned with any particular leader.

Former PKR information coordinating secretary Iswardy Morni said until now, there were two main factions often mentioned within the party — one supporting Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and the other backing Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

However, he noted that the latest election results came as a surprise to many, as candidates supposedly representing both camps also lost to individuals with no known affiliations to any major leader.

"Losses occurred not just among Rafizi’s camp but also among leaders associated with Saifuddin. So, any theory suggesting system manipulation by these groups is untrue.

"The individuals who defeated these high-profile and incumbent candidates are largely unknown outside the party, although they may be recognised internally.

"Some may ask, who is the ‘head’ behind this third group? I believe there isn’t one. These individuals are not owned by either camp but rather represent grassroots voices," he told Sinar.

Regarding the possibility of a specific agenda carried by this third group, Iswardy said the rejection of prominent names clearly reflected the genuine desires of the grassroots.

"The agenda of this group is to ensure PKR becomes stronger in the upcoming elections, with solid grassroots support. This situation also serves as a signal to all sides to fulfil their responsibilities properly," he said.

He added that this third group is expected to continue championing the true grassroots agenda, which may have been overlooked by certain leaders.