LETTER | Much has been said of the “tussle” within PKR. I am surprised its leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is now being “challenged” from within his own party.

I have thought that Anwar has contributed enormously to the formation and growth of the party. During the party’s days in the wilderness, many members were diehard supporters of Anwar. Many remained faithful to him and the party through thick and thin.

The Kajang move did not save Anwar from imprisonment. Instead, someone else benefitted from it.

Fast forward to the 14th general election when PKR gained federal power together with other component parties in Pakatan Harapan. This is when the problems begin to surface.

While Harapan component parties, especially DAP and Amanah, have remained generally supportive of Anwar, it was within PKR that has shown fissures against him.

I do not know what has got into the heads of some of the leaders within PKR to challenge Anwar. But then it is no rocket science either to know why.

Apparently, power and positions change everything. Apparently, a little instigation and enticement here and there work wonders. Probably some leaders from within PKR have forgotten their roots; they thought that who they are today is due to their own efforts and capability.

I must say some are really ignorant of Peter Principle which observes that people in a hierarchy tend to rise to their “level of incompetence”. They either do not know they are puppets or they are ever willing to be puppets.

But don’t get it wrong; the tussle within PKR is not the internal problem of the party. Subverting PKR is subversion against New Malaysia and the manifestos of the 14th general election.

It is about time PKR leaders who disagree with the president and the party came to their senses. Either they toe the line or they leave the party and go somewhere else. They can’t have the cake and eat it too.

Anwar has not been in the most enviable position since 1998. For him, it has been an uphill battle fighting neither with position nor power. I believe he has earned his dues. Let’s not belittle him further by asking him to bend backwards to cater to the idiosyncrasy of minor leaders within his party. He already has enough problems with external forces.

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