PKR man on leaders who forget the grassroots after rising to power

Free Malaysia Today

09-05-2025

PKR deputy information chief R Ramanan said all PKR members, regardless of stripe, have party president Anwar Ibrahim's back.
PERAI : There is a growing sentiment in PKR that many grassroot members are let down by certain top leaders who have become 'inaccessible' after gaining power, according to PKR's deputy information chief R Ramanan.
Without naming anyone, Ramanan said these leaders were readily available before they came to hold big posts, and were previously always contactable.
'But after becoming top leaders, getting a driver, bodyguards, a house, a car, aides and officers, it is hard to reach them. This has caused many members to be disappointed,' he told reporters at a PKR grassroots meeting at a hotel here.
'That is why I say, when you are promoted, you must remain grounded. Of course there are differing views on this, but this is the feedback I received from party members,' he said.
Ramanan's comments came amid nominations for the elections to the party's central leadership, which close at midnight tonight.
He had been asked about the grassroot members' wishlist for the PKR election campaigns.
'No factions' in PKR
Ramanan dismissed claims of growing factionalism in the party ahead of the central leadership elections. He said all members regardless of stripe have party president Anwar Ibrahim's back.
Ramanan said he is aware of certain groups trying to create a 'second team' within PKR, and accused these people to be behind the perceived rift within the party.
'There is no team (Nurul Izzah) Anwar or team Rafizi Ramli, there is only team president,' said Ramanan.
Separately, Ramanan said Nurul Izzah's candidacy for the deputy presidency was a long time coming, as 201 out of 220 divisions of the party had made a call for her to contest the post.
'Anwar didn't know'
He dismissed claims of nepotism, especially when nearly 90% of the grassroots were solidly backing Nurul Izzah to contest the number two post.
'If this is what the grassroots want, then it is a no brainer (for Nurul Izzah) to contest. For your information, even Anwar did not know his daughter would be contesting,' he said.
Numerous party leaders, both at the top leadership and divisional levels, had expressed their support for the bid by Nurul Izzah, the former Permatang Pauh MP, for the deputy presidency.
The post is currently held by Rafizi, who is economy minister. He won the post in 2022 after defeating former party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.