PKR's newly minted director of strategy Sim Tze Tzin was issued his appointment letter only two days ago, but he is already aware that he has big shoes to fill.
 
Sim's main task is to bridge the gap among Pakatan Rakyat component parties, so that the coalition can reclaim the middle ground in the country that has been "hijacked by extremists and racists".
 
"After the 13th general election in May last year, we felt a sense of loss, we lost focus due to various issues but now we have to go back to the people," Sim told Malaysiakini.
 
"We need to talk about people's issues, such as economy, education and challenge race and religious issues that have disrupted harmony among the different communities.
 
"We cannot allow the likes of right wing groups like Umno, Perkasa and Isma (Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia) to continue to divide the society," stressed the Bayan Baru parliamentarian.
 
"We have to reclaim ‘Middle Malaysia’, the centre and moderate space. For far too long these groups have hijacked the middle ground".

'Don't dance to the tune'
 
Race and religious issues have recently been tugging at Malaysia's mixed social fabric, although the different communities largely live in harmony, even after a major racial riot in May 1969.
 
In recent times, pro-government forces seem bent on clamping down on dissenting and alternative voices.
 
For example, last Sunday, a bunch of rowdy youths - diehard supporters of Umno - chased out several activists from Penang's Speakers Square before they could hold an anti-Sedition Act rally.
 
In Selangor and Malacca, PAS leaders kicked up a storm over a 40-year-old popular German cultural event, the festival known as 'Oktoberfest', where beer is served to non-Muslims.
 
Sim conceded that Pakatan has also contributed to the situation as some of its coalition members are "dancing to the tune" of these conservative groups.
 
There is a trend among many up-and-coming leaders to take the easy route by becoming "extremists", to champion racial and religious issues for their own personal agenda, he noted.
 
The same model has been used by BN leaders like former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and current Prime Minister Najib Razak to retain power.
 
"Some of the conservative elements in Pakatan are doing this for political mileage, with the agenda to rise to popularity by being a firebrand," he said.
 
"These elements put Pakatan in a very difficult position," Sim admitted.
 
"So part of my job is to get more people together, especially members and voters, to confront  such irresponsible elements, to say we have to stay together and stay focused on our struggle for change," he stressed.
 
Sim left for Australia last night for a one week lecture tour to launch "Progressive Malaysia", one of PKR's strategies to bring Malaysians together - whether in the country or overseas - to counter extremism and racism.
 
Sim takes over the post of strategic director from the party's vice-president Rafizi Ramli who has also been given the task of party secretary-general.

Capturing the young ground
 
Before they can warm their seats, PKR national deputy Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin called on Rafizi and Sim to strategise ways to gain inroads into the Malay rural heartland and capture the young voters, for this remains a challenge for Pakatan during elections.
 
"Indeed, capturing the Malay ground and young voters is crucial as in the next general election, 60 percent of the voters will be young voters, aged 40 years and below.
 
"Malaysia's population is also young, at an average age of 28 years old.
 
"It is most likely that the young Malays, especially the first time voters, will be the kingmakers," Sim said.
 
He said the BN has lost the game of addressing the needs of the youths, especially with the implementation of the much dreaded goods and services tax, which the federal government will implement on April 1 next year despite facing massive opposition.
 
Pakatan, in its alternative budget, has at least tried to address the needs of the people, he said, and arguing that GST is not the answer to bridge the widening economic gap.
 
"We say this policy is regressive and not helping the young, the lower income group and elderly.
 
"We have various measures to help these groups face the current economic situation, for example, we try to address the increase in petrol price by relaunching our cheaper car campaign," Sim added.


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