PETALING JAYA — After 10 years
in the shadow of the United
Malays National Organisation
(Umno), opposition Parti
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is taking
steps to correct the widespread
impression that it is just another
breakaway faction of the
ruling party.
PKR vice-president Sivarasa
Rasiah announced at a press
conference yesterday that a
special national congress will
be held this Saturday to pass
several changes to the party
Constitution — including giving
the party’s 300,000 members
the chance to vote directly
for top central party leaders,
including the president.
“If this amendment is
approved, PKR will be the first
large political party in Malaysia
to allow its members to decide
the national leadership,”
Malaysiakini quoted him as
saying.
Mr Sivarasa added that direct
voting through secret ballots
would also set an example
on how free and fair elections
can be run properly.
“We are also taking the opportunity
to rebrand the terms
used in the party structure to
reflect terms that are progressive
and more egalitarian, and
to move away from terms associated
with traditional party
structures and feudal connotations,”
said Mr Sivarasa.
He st re s s e d t h a t t h e
party was rebranding itself
to mirror its multiracial and
mu l t i r e l i g i o u s memb e r s
like those from Sarawak and
Sabah.
Information chief Latheefa
Koya said some older members
were still stuck with the Umno
way of thinking and needed
to be reminded that the party
needs to be more inclusive if
it is to be serious about taking
over the national government
one day.
As many as 1,500 delegates
are expected to turn up for
the meet.
in the shadow of the United
Malays National Organisation
(Umno), opposition Parti
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is taking
steps to correct the widespread
impression that it is just another
breakaway faction of the
ruling party.
PKR vice-president Sivarasa
Rasiah announced at a press
conference yesterday that a
special national congress will
be held this Saturday to pass
several changes to the party
Constitution — including giving
the party’s 300,000 members
the chance to vote directly
for top central party leaders,
including the president.
“If this amendment is
approved, PKR will be the first
large political party in Malaysia
to allow its members to decide
the national leadership,”
Malaysiakini quoted him as
saying.
Mr Sivarasa added that direct
voting through secret ballots
would also set an example
on how free and fair elections
can be run properly.
“We are also taking the opportunity
to rebrand the terms
used in the party structure to
reflect terms that are progressive
and more egalitarian, and
to move away from terms associated
with traditional party
structures and feudal connotations,”
said Mr Sivarasa.
He st re s s e d t h a t t h e
party was rebranding itself
to mirror its multiracial and
mu l t i r e l i g i o u s memb e r s
like those from Sarawak and
Sabah.
Information chief Latheefa
Koya said some older members
were still stuck with the Umno
way of thinking and needed
to be reminded that the party
needs to be more inclusive if
it is to be serious about taking
over the national government
one day.
As many as 1,500 delegates
are expected to turn up for
the meet.
