Malaysian prime minister’s own political party is in collapse

Even Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar, once deemed the ‘princess of reformasi’ is just another source of ridicule for the people. While the party is falling apart, Nurul is off talking about native rights in Sarawak, failing to address critical party issues. Anwar, the leader of ‘reformasi’, once leading massive street protests against the government is now getting protests in the streets asking him to resign.

Most PKR members now see the party has abandoned all the reforms it once championed. Most of the ‘Otai” or old timers have become quiet, except for a few loyalists who are finding it much harder to make apologies for Anwar. There is still an army of troll on social media trying to make PKR look good, but now there are too many academics, commentators and professionals who have just walked away.

PKR secretary general Fuziah Salleh is now regularly making public statements denying the party is not losing members, renascent of the Iraqi information minister Bagdad Bob, who kept denying Bagdad was being bombed during the Iraqi war. This indicates a party in quick decline.

The tipping point appears to be the new Sales and Service Tax (SST) increases and the failure of Anwar to extend the term of Chief Justice Tungku Maimum Tuan Mat. Later this month, Anwar’s application for immunity on the case Yusoff Rawther has made against Anwar Ibrahim for sexual assault will be heard. Should Anwar win the appeal for immunity, many will say he is trying to hide the truth.

Should Anwar lose the appeal, the affidavits will reveal alleged sexual misconduct by the now prime minister, which may make his position as PM untenable. Yusoff Rawther was recently acquitted for dealing in narcotics, leading to the question of not just who planted the drugs, but who gave the order to do so?

Anwar’s brand image is badly tarnished with citizens complaining on the king’s Facebook page about him. The wave of membership resignations appears to have a ‘domino’ effect, where the party is being drastically weakened to the point there will be few people out in the hustings to help in the next general election. No one expects PKR to be able to improve upon its 31 MPs next general election. Public statements by deputy president Nurul Izzah that PKR will win 13 seats in the coming Sabah state election just has a hollow ringing.

Its was almost certain that Anwar would run a full term as prime minister, having the opportunity during his tenure as prime minister to win the hearts and minds of voters. This is beginning to look it won’t be the case. Indian, Chinese, and professional Malay voters are deserting him very quickly. There is a great possibility PKR will be decimated and hold less than 20 seats in the next general election just two years time. PKR as a party will be little more than a memory of a glorious past.