I attended for the first time PKR’s party congress held on Nov 29 and 30. I believe what I have witnessed is a political party that has grown into full maturity, ready to fulfill its mission to re-shape the destiny of the nation in partnership with others in Pakatan Rakyat.

Leaders from the upper echelon of the party hierarchy have not only exhibited outstanding oratorical skills and exceptional self-confidence, but have also inspired the audience with their undoubted patriotism and dedication.

And among the grassroot leaders, speaker after speaker of all races demonstrated that they have steadfastly persisted in their belief and commitment to multi-racialism and camaraderie across racial lines, despite the recent spate of provocative maneuvers by Umno to incite religious and racial sentiments to win political support.

Against such a scenario of a multi-ethnic comradeship engrossed in discourse to bring sweeping reforms to the country, I could not help but recalled the live telecast of the Umno congress two years ago, where shrills of racial rhetoric filled the hall.

In that conference, delegates competed to outshine each other in championing Malay rights and privileges apparently trapped in a zero-sum mindset, camouflaging such racist pursuit under the ritualistic recital of ‘ugama, bangsa dan negara’ (religion, race and nation). Apart from fighting for a bigger slice of cake, the absence of national perspective and the void of ideas to advance the national fortune were painfully conspicuous.

I was also encouraged by the positive response accorded to party elder statesman Syed Husin Ali (deputy president) when he gave an inspiring pep talk on clean politics. That his advice to reformists not to look for returns for self but for the masses struck resonance with the audience is a clear manifestation that the grassroot leaders of PKR are already imbued with patriotism.

This again stands in contrast with the Umno counterparts, who reveal themselves as self-seekers through the now world renowned and ever escalating and ruinous practice of money politics (read corruption), in the run-up to the imminent party elections.

Therein lies the great divide between PKR and Umno.

As for the unrealised attempt to seize power on Sept 16, for which Anwar Ibrahim has received considerable brickbats, Tian Chua (publicity chief) explained that the concept of the move has been misunderstood. He eloquently emphasised that the whole idea is not to make Anwar the prime minister, neither is it to replace the BN government per se.

It is in truth a political struggle to bring changes to a defunct political system of corrupt institutions built on antiquated ideology. He further stressed that the party does not struggle for Anwar, but Anwar was selected by the party to spearhead the movement.

And Anwar is quietly re-assuring that Pakatan Rakyat is still on course in its quest to capture Putrajaya, though this time to coincide with its mounting challenge to the incumbent power in Sarawak – a pivotal state with the most electoral seats (parliamentary: 30 and state: 71), where the people are among the poorest despite having the biggest land mass and the most abundant natural resources of the country.

That Sarawak is ripe for the picking is made abundantly clear by the congregation of Dayak leaders in the Congress, who made passionate pleas for assistance to restore justice to their oppressed people.

Led by Nicholas Angat Bawin, a two-term state assemblyman who recently joined PKR with 12,000 other supporters, these leaders explained that the natives and other have-nots have been robbed of their ancestral land (their only possession) by a callous government that favours only the rich.

Despite such injustice, they had given electoral support to the BN government in the past out of fear and hopelessness. However, jolted by the 8 March political tsunami, they now realise that change is possible and have started the groundwork to bid for power in next state election which must be held no later than mid-2013, but speculated to be brought forward to 2009 or 2010.

In response, Anwar vowed to unleash the full might of PKR in conjunction with other Pakatan partners towards restoration of justice to the Sarawak people through a change of government.

Given that Dayak is the biggest racial group in Sarawak, and given the increasing unpopularity of the corrupt government, which is led by an aging and sick chief minister whose long reign (28 years) have been scandalised by abuse of power and amassing of fabulous wealth for his family and political cronies, there is no reason to doubt that the end of that infamous era is near, now that the political tsunami has reached its shore.

And as the conference was drawing to a close with top party leaders successively giving stirring winding-up speeches to the rapt attention of a floor that was three-quarter filled (again in stark contrast to the recently concluded MCA congress which was almost completely deserted by delegates on the concluding day), my spirit was elated and I felt comfortable that PKR together with Pakatan partners would surely reach Putrajaya.

As I was stepping away from the hall, I thought if I could peep into Anwar’s mind then, I should see a political warrior filled with a sense of satisfaction – that all the years of sacrifices and struggles have not been in vain, that he has successfully assembled and nurtured a political force equipped to soldier on with grit and determination, with or without his presence, towards the destination set forth in the hey days of reformasi 10 years ago.