14-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Halt personal attacks, baseless claims, PKR candidates told
Delegates to PKR's national congress, which will be held in Johor Bahru, will cast their votes on May 23.
PETALING JAYA : PKR's disciplinary board has warned candidates against making open personal attacks and baseless claims against one another in campaigning for the central leadership elections.
The board's chairman, Tan Yee Kew, said every PKR member reflected the party's image and that public trust could only be won through ethical and honourable behaviour as well as transparency.
She urged candidates to preserve the party's integrity, image and unity throughout the election period, reminding them that there were guidelines they were required to adhere to.
Tan urged them to stop all forms of attacks against party members as well as the spread of baseless allegations.
'Focus your campaign on policies and ideas. Personal attacks, open quarrels and public statements that insult party members are unnecessary, unacceptable, and can threaten the party's unity.
'Any accusation made against other parties must be supported by solid evidence. Making baseless accusations is an offence under the code of ethics for PKR members,' she said in a statement.
The former Wangsa Maju MP also said the disciplinary board has zero tolerance for money politics, whether in the form of bribes, gifts or any kind of kickback in the party polls.
She said that those who commit such offences would face immediate disciplinary action.
She also said criticism on the campaign trail should be based on policies and ideas, not the personal character of candidates.
'The use of discriminative language, character assassination or rhetoric that provokes anger will tarnish the party's reputation and is an offence under the code of ethics,' she said.
Tan said the board would be keeping an eye on the behaviour of candidates as well as their supporters, with stern action, including sacking, to be taken against those who breached the PKR code of ethics.
All eyes are on the race for the PKR deputy presidency, which involves a straight fight between incumbent Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of party president Anwar Ibrahim.
There are also 12 contestants vying for the four vice-president's posts, including the four incumbents – federal ministers Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Chang Lih Kang as well as menteris besar Amirudin Shari and Aminuddin Harun.
Several candidates have traded barbs following the nominations, with Rafizi particularly coming under fire from various division leaders as they urged Nurul Izzah to challenge him for the deputy presidency.
Rafizi had also taken digs at several figures, including PKR election committee chairman Dr Zaliha Mustafa over her handling of the party's divisional elections.
Delegates to PKR's national congress, which will be held in Johor Bahru, will cast their votes on May 23.
