“Of course there is disappointment because of Sept 16 but I think the support for Datuk Seri Anwar remains high,” said PKR deputy youth chief Fariz Musa on the party members’ sentiment after Anwar failed to make good his promise.
But PKR is now trying to ride on the economic uncertainty to restore the people’s interest in the party.
During the Pas annual muktamar (annual general meeting) last August, the Islamist party leaders escaped criticism for secretly meeting Umno leaders, as members felt the need to close ranks in order to ensure Anwar’s return to Parliament. PKR is hoping the financial crisis will have the same affect.
“If the Pas muktamar was set against the backdrop of the Permatang Pauh by-election, the PKR congress convenes amid economic uncertainty. It opens up the space for us to attract the attention of our members to the issue,” said PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution, adding the Sept 16 issue would be also be addressed by the party leadership.
Just after the last general election, the de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim promised to take over the federal government through mass defection of BN lawmakers.
In August, the former Deputy Prime Minister made a dramatic return to Parliament after winning the Permatang Pauh by-election with a convincing majority, despite the Sodomy II drama.
After his victory Anwar, repeated his claim that he had enough MPs to lead a new federal government by Sept 16 but the day passed as a non event and Anwar later admitted that toppling the government was no longer high on his to-do list.
Saifuddin, the Machang MP, is certainly not alone in looking at the slower growth, declining commodity prices and weakening Ringgit as opportunities to rejuvenate the party to its pre-Sept 16 stage.
Just recently, a PKR leader who was defeated in the last general election, privately expressed his relief at the declining prices of crude palm oil, which has lost two-thirds of its value, from about RM4,000 per tonne in March.
His reason - smallholders and Felda settlers in rural constituencies may now be more inclined to side with the federal opposition.
But the party that controlled largely urban, mixed seats in the Peninsular will also try to bring a celebratory mood to its members.
“We want the members to leverage on our success, from one seat in 2004 to 31 seats in 2008. This is a quantum leap,” Saifuddin told The Malaysian Insider.
He added that with increase representation in Parliament, party members and grassroots leaders must take the opportunity to improve PKR’s relationships with NGOs and its internal working mechanisms.
However, the party is also facing another problem.
Ties with Pas, its partner in Pakatan Rakyat, is perceived to be at the lowest point, after the Islamist party shifted to a more aggressive stance as a member of the Selangor coalition government by attempting to impose strict Islamic rules.
Saifuddin did not rule out the possibility that the party’s relationship with other PR partners would be brought up by the delegates, but said it is not strange for a new coalition.
“We acknowledge there are problems but it is still manageable,” said Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari, who believes that delegates would not focus on the issue saying members are now more interested in improving the relationship between state government and party grassroots.
“Members want to have more of a say in the government, so the problems with coordination and communication with the grassroots will have to be addressed at the congress,” said Amiruddin.
Silver Lining is much better then UMNO lining it's pockets with "Peruntukan Melayu" money