Penang PKR changes to boost party strength
Athi ShankarPublished: Oct 26, 2009 7:36 AM | Updated: Oct 26, 2009 8:46 AM
Replacing Zahrain Hashim as PKR state head with Mansor Othman is part of the top leadership's plan to strengthen the party at all levels, according to a local leader.
Replacing Zahrain Hashim as PKR state head with Mansor Othman is part of the top leadership's plan to strengthen the party at all levels, according to a local leader.
In saying this, Penang PKR secretary Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff (right) dismissed suggestions that Zahrain was ‘demoted' to make way for a more reliable leadership under Mansor to tackle current internal party problems in the state.
He said Bayan Baru parliamentarian Zahrain's service was needed by the party national leadership to beef up the political strength and the working of the national political bureau.
The political bureau is considered as the party's highest decision making body.
On the other hand, Mustafa said being the Deputy Chief Minister 1 (DCM1) Mansor was the ideal choice to have the helm of the state party returned to him.
Playing that role, he said, Mansor would have the political clout and backing to work closely with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said Mansor could also be expected to carry out the PKR agenda in the state administration effectively and decisively.
Fruit of success turns sour
Mansor, the PKR Balik Pulau division chief and the party national election machinery deputy director, was the founding chairperson of Penang PKR from 1998 until 2006 before making way for Zahrain.
Under Zahrain, Penang PKR scored an unprecedented electoral success in the 12th general election in March last year.
The party scored 100 percent success in its four parliamentary contests in Permatang Pauh, Bayan Baru, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau, while winning nine of 16 state seats the party contested.
Mansor won the Penanti by-election polling on May 31 and was handpicked by party supremo Anwar Ibrahim to succeed the previous DCM1 Fairus Khairuddin.
Mansor could not be reached for comment on his re-appointment as the state PKR chief as numerous calls to him were unanswered.
Previously he had told Malaysiakini that he was happy carrying out his tasks as DCM1 while Zahrain executed his political work for the party as state chief.
"It's also unnecessary for me to take over the state party leadership.
"Not being the state chief does not stop me from carrying out my work as DCM1," he had said in an exclusive interview.
Mustafa Kamal said Zahrain could be an asset to the party by being a political bureau member as the Bayan Baru parliamentarian was a seasoned, experienced and mature politician.
Under the arrangement, Zahrain would also oversee the political development of both the PKR and Pakatan Rakyat in several states including Penang.
Despite Zahrain leading the party to greater heights in electoral politics, his leadership was also hit by internal bickering plotted by several party state elected representatives.
Several elected representatives were learnt to have held secret meetings, signature campaigns and handing over to Anwar a memorandum demanding from the national leadership the removal of Zahrain as state leader.
They were upset over recent entries of former Barisan Nasional local leaders Lim Boo Chang (MCA) and M Nyanasegaran (MIC) to the PKR state leadership.
During a closed door meeting with Zahrain, the group had retracted their demand for his removal but instead wanted Lim, Nyanasegaran and Mustafa Kamal to be dropped from the state committee.
Lim and Nyanasegaran are assistant state secretaries.
Internal politicking without influence
Claiming that "internal problems were common in any major party", Mustafa Kamal insisted the politicking by several elected representatives did not influence the top leadership to effect the change of guard in Penang.
He pointed out the change of leadership in Penang was not carried out in isolation but was part of the major revamp of state leaderships across the country.
Under the reshuffle announced by the party leadership yesterday, Libaran assemblyperson Thamrin Zaini replaced party vice-president Azmin Ali as Sabah PKR chief, while lawyer Baru Bian became Sarawak chief in place of Mustafa Kamil Ayub.
Other appointments were Abd Rahman Yusof as Terengganu PKR head, party election director Saifuddin Nasution as Kelantan head, PKR youth chief Syamsul Iskandar as Malacca chief replacing Khalid Jaafar.
"At times internal problems give an option to the leadership to reassess and comprehend the real undercurrent of sentiments and implement steps to reconcile and strengthen the party.
"A party without any problem is actually as good as dead and buried," Mustafa Kamal told Malaysiakini.
In saying this, Penang PKR secretary Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff (right) dismissed suggestions that Zahrain was ‘demoted' to make way for a more reliable leadership under Mansor to tackle current internal party problems in the state.He said Bayan Baru parliamentarian Zahrain's service was needed by the party national leadership to beef up the political strength and the working of the national political bureau.
The political bureau is considered as the party's highest decision making body.
On the other hand, Mustafa said being the Deputy Chief Minister 1 (DCM1) Mansor was the ideal choice to have the helm of the state party returned to him.
Playing that role, he said, Mansor would have the political clout and backing to work closely with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said Mansor could also be expected to carry out the PKR agenda in the state administration effectively and decisively.
Fruit of success turns sour
Mansor, the PKR Balik Pulau division chief and the party national election machinery deputy director, was the founding chairperson of Penang PKR from 1998 until 2006 before making way for Zahrain.
Under Zahrain, Penang PKR scored an unprecedented electoral success in the 12th general election in March last year.
The party scored 100 percent success in its four parliamentary contests in Permatang Pauh, Bayan Baru, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau, while winning nine of 16 state seats the party contested.Mansor won the Penanti by-election polling on May 31 and was handpicked by party supremo Anwar Ibrahim to succeed the previous DCM1 Fairus Khairuddin.
Mansor could not be reached for comment on his re-appointment as the state PKR chief as numerous calls to him were unanswered.
Previously he had told Malaysiakini that he was happy carrying out his tasks as DCM1 while Zahrain executed his political work for the party as state chief.
"It's also unnecessary for me to take over the state party leadership.
"Not being the state chief does not stop me from carrying out my work as DCM1," he had said in an exclusive interview.
Mustafa Kamal said Zahrain could be an asset to the party by being a political bureau member as the Bayan Baru parliamentarian was a seasoned, experienced and mature politician.
Under the arrangement, Zahrain would also oversee the political development of both the PKR and Pakatan Rakyat in several states including Penang.
Despite Zahrain leading the party to greater heights in electoral politics, his leadership was also hit by internal bickering plotted by several party state elected representatives.
Several elected representatives were learnt to have held secret meetings, signature campaigns and handing over to Anwar a memorandum demanding from the national leadership the removal of Zahrain as state leader.
They were upset over recent entries of former Barisan Nasional local leaders Lim Boo Chang (MCA) and M Nyanasegaran (MIC) to the PKR state leadership.
During a closed door meeting with Zahrain, the group had retracted their demand for his removal but instead wanted Lim, Nyanasegaran and Mustafa Kamal to be dropped from the state committee.
Lim and Nyanasegaran are assistant state secretaries.
Internal politicking without influence
Claiming that "internal problems were common in any major party", Mustafa Kamal insisted the politicking by several elected representatives did not influence the top leadership to effect the change of guard in Penang.
He pointed out the change of leadership in Penang was not carried out in isolation but was part of the major revamp of state leaderships across the country.
Under the reshuffle announced by the party leadership yesterday, Libaran assemblyperson Thamrin Zaini replaced party vice-president Azmin Ali as Sabah PKR chief, while lawyer Baru Bian became Sarawak chief in place of Mustafa Kamil Ayub.
Other appointments were Abd Rahman Yusof as Terengganu PKR head, party election director Saifuddin Nasution as Kelantan head, PKR youth chief Syamsul Iskandar as Malacca chief replacing Khalid Jaafar.
"At times internal problems give an option to the leadership to reassess and comprehend the real undercurrent of sentiments and implement steps to reconcile and strengthen the party.
"A party without any problem is actually as good as dead and buried," Mustafa Kamal told Malaysiakini.
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