WITH PKR deciding to use its own banner to contest in the upcoming Johor state election, a former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader reminded the party that it was candidates that matter, not party logo.
“The thing that ensures victory is not PKR’s logo but the people’s confidence in the party’s leadership and the candidates contesting.
“Just remember that in 2018, Pakatan Harapan won because everyone used the PKR logo. Voters chose Pakatan candidates who contested using PKR’s banner,” A Kadir Jasin said in a Facebook post.
Recently, Pakatan presidential council announced that while the DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) would be using the coalition’s banner to contest in the upcoming polls, PKR would be using its own logo instead.
The matter got even more confusing when later, DAP and Amanah reiterated its commitment towards the coalition and urged PKR to reconsider its decision, in a veiled comment.
PKR organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the party decided to use its own banner claiming the Pakatan logo “carries too much baggage”.
“Our party grassroots and supporters overwhelmingly requested for this. We keep hearing that the (Harapan) logo is, for better or worse, associated with the Pakatan administration of 2018-2020.
“It had its achievements but also many shortcomings. This included the empowerment of a faction in PKR, that eventually took part in the Sheraton Move, which led to the downfall of the elected Harapan government.
“Fairly or unfairly, the Harapan logo has become a symbol of that era,” Malaysiakini reported him as saying two days ago.
Pakatan fell due to betrayal, not logo
Touching on the matter, Kadir said that while it was PKR’s prerogative to use whatever methods necessary to secure an electoral win, he reminded the party that Pakatan fell from Putrajaya due to treachery.
“Pakatan fell because Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s faction from Bersatu and ex-PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s team decided to work with the opportunistic UMNO and PAS.
“Bear in mind, PKR is not as strong as what it used to be in 2018. In fact, the Melaka and Sarawak state elections proved the party was on shaky grounds,” he mentioned.
Kadir remarked: “There is no point for anyone to blame former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Pakatan’s weaknesses as Anwar is the one leading the coalition since 2020.
“Besides, the Mahathir-led Parti Pejuang Tanah Air is too small to dent’s PKR standing, what more of derailing Anwar’s ambitions of becoming prime minister.” – Jan 29, 2022
