FIT IN... get out!
SHAH ALAM: Newly installed PKR party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made it clear he will not tolerate dissent and bad discipline among party members.
“You either accept party discipline or we kick you out,” Anwar said in his inaugural speech as PKR president before more than 2,000 party delegates and leaders at the PKR National Congress here yesterday.
He said while PKR adheres to the values of a democracy and different views are acceptable, condemnation of the party and its leaders and ulterior motives, are unacceptable.
“I’m a democrat. You can oppose viewpoints inside the party, but if you’re shouting outside the party, you will be kicked out,” he said without mincing his words.
“Don’t spread untruths and lies! Don’t condemn your leaders!” he thundered, adding that anyone who divides the party does not deserve to be in it.
“I want discipline. I want a tight circle of unity in the party. Don’t give space to anyone from outside to break us up,” said Anwar, who pledged to solve disciplinary problems within the party.
He added that he was not concerned if members or top leaders disagree with his firm stance as party discipline is more important.
Addressing allegations that he was weak and had not intervened over problems that manifested during the recent party elections, Anwar said he could not act earlier because he had not assumed the role of leader yet.
“They accused me of being weak when I did not do anything about the electoral process, but how could I interfere with central election committee?
They are supposed to be independent and function without interference from leaders,” he said.
“Now, I will interfere and find out what happened as the elections are over.”
“If there are party leaders who won because of bribes or giving out projects, they are not fit to be members.
“Usually, when they get big posts, they forget those who sacrificed to get them there.”
In calling on all members to support re-elected party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Anwar said defeated deputy presidential candidate Mohd Rafizi Ramli should also be given a position in the top leadership because of his contributions to the party in the run up to 14th general election.
“Who can deny both their contributions?
Like it or not, we must support both of them. We can say one is better than the other, but condemning them ... that’s not OK.”
“Look at Rafizi’s record in Invoke and his exposes on Barisan Nasional-Umno scandals.
We should bring him into the top leadership,” Anwar said.