Three PKR leaders issue warnings to PKR-PH while Iswardy Morni expects 10 safe seats for Anwar's party

Focus Malaysia

4 days ago

WHAT began as a promising week for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has quickly unraveled, with three PKR leaders sounding the alarm over looming political turmoil and issuing stark warnings to the party and its leadership.
It began with Former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad cautioning government leaders against making dismissive remarks about the recent 'Turun Anwar' rally, warning that such comments could backfire by generating sympathy for the opposition.
He was responding to Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming's claim that 20 tonnes of rubbish were left after the protest.
Nik Nazmi said focusing on minor issues like rubbish could appear to trivialise public grievances and potentially carry unintended racial undertones, shifting public perception in favour of the rally organisers and distracting from the government's openness and the opposition's weak arguments.
'When you make an issue out of something small like the amount of rubbish left behind, it can be interpreted as trivialising the genuine grievances felt by the rakyat.
'Plus, it could also be interpreted as giving a racial twist to the matter indirectly,' he said on X.
The government of Anwar Ibrahim was again warned on Friday by former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli that poorly managed negotiations between Petronas and Sarawak's state oil firm Petros could cost the national oil company RM15–20 bil annually, potentially destabilising Malaysia's economy.
Speaking on his podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri, Rafizi stressed that Petronas contributes RM30–35 bil yearly to the federal government. 'It is not a paltry sum,' he said.
Any sharp revenue decline could impact public services and trigger a credit rating downgrade, increasing national debt servicing costs from RM48 billion to as high as RM60 billion.
'If this sum drops, it would have an impact on the nation's ability to fund basic services,' he said.
'So, if Petronas loses RM20 bil, the company will be unable to pay the RM35 bil in dividends to the federal government,' he added.
The last stroke came today with Iswardy Morni issuing a warning on the electoral prospects of Anwar's party, PKR.
In a Facebook post, Iswardy casually wrote the following: 'There are only 10 safe seats for PKR in the upcoming general election. Tambun, Tasek Gelugor, and Permatang Pauh will be difficult to win.'
Although PKR did not win the Tasek Gelugor seat, which went to Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan of PN, it is significant that a prominent party figure like Iswardy predicts only 10 safe seats for PKR in the next general election, even suggesting that Anwar's own seat may be at risk.
Such remarks are bold and could later be seen by discontented party members as a direct challenge to the Prime Minister.
With the recent viral comments from three PKR leaders, questions are now being raised about whether the party will take disciplinary action. Previously, party secretary-general Fuziah Salleh declined to push for the suspension of nine MPs, including Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi, following the judicial appointments controversy.
Could the leadership revisit that approach now, as these three leaders continue to openly criticise the party's direction? —Aug 3, 2025
Main image: Utusan Borneo