PKR intends to contest turncoat seats
PKR says it intends to continue to contest all the seats where its former elected representative had jumped ship since the last general election.
PKR says it intends to continue to contest all the seats where its former elected representative had jumped ship since the last general election.
"The votes from the electorate are for PKR, not the individuals involved," said party deputy president Azmin Ali (right).
He was speaking to reporters at a press conference after PKR’s election convention in Shah Alam today.
Azmin said the defections of several MPs or state assemblypersons have not dampened the constituents’ belief in the alternative that PKR offers to the ruling party.
He also gave his assurance as election director that future candidates will be vetted more thoroughly for quality.
Quizzed on PAS and DAP’s claims that the seats lost through defections should in future be given to them instead, Azmin, who is Gombak MP, said the matter will be discussed with Pakatan parrtners.
"This is our stand and we will make this clear to our partners in Pakatan," Azmin reiterated.
The matter had surfaced at the recent PAS muktamar when certain quarters in suggested that seats that PKR had lost to turncoats should be given to parties with more solid candidates, in order to restore the rakyat's faith in Pakatan representatives.
DAP has also been vocal in asking for ethnically mixed seats that were once the domain of the more broadly multiracial PKR.
'Winnability to decide'
The PKR deputy president however admitted that they may swap some seats with fellow Pakatan component parties after discussions on overall "winnability".
"It is about winning the seats for Pakatan; who can win the seat will be placed there," said Azmin.
He added that the PKR line-up for the upcoming general election, that will be tabled to the party president and the political bureau for approval sometime in the next two weeks, will feature both old faces and new blood.
"We have retained many of our parliamentarians and state assemblypersons who have won seats, but there will be new faces as well; those who have proven themselves with their service and commitment," he said.
Azmin also did not deny news that some of their former line-up will be dropped, adding that feedback from the ground has revealed members guilty of not properly serving the party and their electorate.
However, the many who have proven themselves will continue to soldier on, he said.
The quality of elected representatives has been the bane of PKR, with rampant criticisms of errant YBs who had failed to serve their constituents and others who had turned out to be disloyal party hoppers like Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.
Most pundits blame the sudden need for candidates during the 2008 general election for the then fledgling party that saw it taking in candidates indiscriminately.
De facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has openly apologised for the serious lapse in judgement and has promised a far more stringent vetting process for the present batch of candidates.
