Abolish PKR President's special power to grant candidacy exemptions – Rafizi

JOHOR BAHRU – Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president candidate Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has called for the complete abolition of the PKR President’s authority to grant exemptions that allow new members to contest in elections and party polls.

The demand was raised to prevent the party from being flooded with individuals solely seeking positions of power.

He stressed that no individual, including those from other parties, should be granted special exemptions by the party president if their PKR membership has not reached at least five years.

“It may sound harsh, but I want to raise this matter with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because all this while, there has been power given to the PKR President.

“Under that power, if a member’s membership is not even one year old, the President can still allow them to contest. I am asking for that exemption to be completely abolished.

“How can a former MIC Treasurer, just six months after joining the party, be allowed to contest in a general election for a safe parliamentary seat?

"Then that person is appointed Deputy Minister, and not even two years later, is now contesting for the Vice President post in the party elections,” he said during the Jelajah Hiruk event at a hotel on Tuesday night.

Also present were PKR Vice Presidents Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad; PKR Strategy Director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, who is also Johor Bahru Member of Parliament; and PKR Women’s Chief candidate Rodziah Ismail, who is also Ampang MP.

The Economy Minister went on to explain the emergence of what he termed “professional party hoppers”, individuals who switch loyalties according to the current power dynamics, with the aim of securing top positions as soon as they join a party.

He alleged that this has resulted in PKR being flooded with opportunists seeking political rewards and high office.

“After this, as I am unlikely to be in the leadership line-up, I want to speak openly about those who fish in troubled waters.

“Others have struggled and fought for the party during its hardships, but when the party is in a position of strength and victory, these people suddenly appear.

“PKR is truly a party of hardship, but many who join do not share in that hardship. Never allow such individuals to take over the party, because from the looks of it, that is where we are headed,” he said.