WAN AZIZAH BOWS OUT
THE DPM, who has served as PKR president for 20 years, alternating between personal hardship and triumph, implores members to remember the sacrifices of ‘those who fought for us since 1998’. In an emotive final speech to the party faithful, she warns against forgetting the reformist agenda in favour of
‘power and positions’.
WAN AZIZAH APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF PARTY’S ADVISORY COUNCIL
SHAH ALAM: After more than two decades spearheading a reformist movement that became a political force to be reckoned with, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday bade a tearful farewell to PKR as its president.
In her last policy speech as the party’s top leader during its 13th national congress here yesterday, Dr Wan Azizah reminded members to continue holding on to PKR’s reformist ideals and to honour those who had made huge sacrifices during its early days, when the party was known as Parti Keadilan Nasional.
Among others, she recalled the day her husband, PKR presidentelect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was thrown into jail and the hardship endured by her family and friends.
PKR, also known as Keadilan, took root circa 1998 after Anwar was ousted as deputy prime minister by his former boss Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad following allegations of sodomy and abuse of power.
“This is my last speech as the party president. Now listen to what I have to say.
“Idealism and the reformist agenda must be continuously held and strengthened.
“Do not forget that we are reformists from a reformist party. We fight for the people’s rights and against falsehoods.
“We must honour and appreciate those who had fought for us since 1998.
“They were fired from their jobs, turned bankrupt for failure to service loans used to aid the party, insulted, maimed and jailed.
“But they continued to stand against a cruel government. Many have left us, too, to the hereafter.
“These reformists do not care about rewards or positions.
“Please treat them justly. Do not go astray due to power and positions,” she said to thunderous applause.
Dr Wan Azizah, overcome with emotion, teared up when she spoke about when Anwar was sent back to jail again over another round of sodomy allegations, and some party members who had deviated from PKR’s course.
“They used terse words (to describe nepotism against Dr Wan Azizah and Anwar)... such as ‘Istana Bukit Segambut’ (their home), ‘a political party held by family members’ or ‘Anwar’s time is over’.
“We were hurt. But we accepted the fate set by God, if that is the price of our struggle.”
PKR put on its best political performance after forming an alliance with Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in Pakatan Harapan.
After PH’s victory in the 14th General Election, Dr Wan Azizah was appointed as the deputy prime minister, alongside Dr Mahathir, who returned as prime minister.
Notwithstanding their acrimonious past, Dr Wan Azizah expressed her utmost support for Dr Mahathir’s leadership of PH and the government.
She expressed hope that the party’s new leadership elected by party members in the recent polls stand united and shoulder their new positions with utmost responsibility.
“PKR maintains its stand to fully support Dr Mahathir as prime minister, and Anwar as the eighth prime minister.
“PKR is at its best position. Please continue to fight for the people. We must be different from the previous regime.
“Do not let the people cast similar aspersions and say that we ‘are no different from the previous government’.”
Her speech ended with a standing ovation from the crowd, some of whom held up signs that read “Thank you, Kak Wan.”