Latheefa slams leadership for cronyism in PKR appointments

PKR member Latheefa Koya has chided the appointments of the party's state chiefs as being in favour of one of the two main factions in PKR.

Such appointments, which she likened to cronyism, are "disturbing and a cause for grave concern."

"Except for Sarawak and Selangor, the state chiefs who have been appointed are known to be aligned to one of the two main factions in PKR.

"Why the heavy imbalance favouring one faction? Appointments favouring one particular faction are tantamount to cronyism, which is anathema to any reform party," the Lawyers for Liberty executive director said in a statement today.

The factions she referred to are those of deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and former vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

In Pahang and Sabah, the chosen candidates did not even hold majority support among state division chiefs, she added.

"However, after being summoned to meet the president (Anwar Ibrahim), the division chiefs changed their support.

"Why did they shift support to the opposition faction after meeting the president? What did he say to them?" she asked.

In three other states, namely Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor, the president went on to choose candidates aligned to one faction, despite the majority of division chiefs supporting different candidates, Latheefa further claimed.

"I have copies of written memoranda of the state division chiefs supporting candidates who were inexplicably not appointed.

"While the president is given the power to choose the respective state chief in consultation with the division chiefs, it is highly unusual and contrary to the spirit of the party constitution for the president to ignore the majority preference. In a reformist and democratic organisation, the party president cannot simply brush aside majority opinion.

'Nurul Izzah's appointment inappropriate'

"Thirdly, the appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as Penang state chief by the party president, who is her father, is highly inappropriate and open to the charge of nepotism. It is needless to say that the practice of appointing close relatives to important positions should have no place in a reformist party."

According to Latheefa, the newly appointed Kelantan state chief was also, as recently as September 2018, an Umno member with the Tanah Merah division and he is currently under suspension for money politics allegation.

"PKR needs to realise that it is now part of the federal government, charged with no less a task than instituting reforms and properly governing the nation. Hence, it must uphold the highest and best democratic practices.

"After a scandal-ridden and disgraceful party election process, these appointments only further erode public regard and confidence in PKR.

“PKR cannot preach democracy to the country while continuing to run the party on the basis of coteries or factions, and ignoring basic democratic norms," Latheefa said, adding that it is imperative for the party leadership to explain to the public the "dubious and disturbing" appointments.  - Msiakini