PKR perlu pemimpin mampu berdepan lawan bersama Anwar, kata penganalisis

Analysts say Malaysian voters must see the PKR having a team capable of standing alongside President Anwar Ibrahim to tackle political rivals, as the party attempts to turn around its lacklustre performance in recent PRN (state elections), says Tawfik Yaakub. Anwar's reputation as the party's biggest star prime minister remains an asset, but excessive reliance on him means other leaders, local candidates, and the second generation are not shining.

The PKR 2026 Congress in Melaka next week should become a platform for representatives to voice the need to shift from a campaign focused solely on Anwar to a collective approach. According to a Universiti Malaya analyst, Anwar can remain a cornerstone, but not the entire face of the party. Tawfik Yaakub. When almost every narrative of an election is built around a single leader, every state election can easily turn into a referendum on the prime minister and the federal government.

This diminishes the strength of local candidates, state issues, and the second-generation leadership of PKR in the election, he told FMT. He emphasized, PKR needs to showcase a team with credibility in the economy, Malay-Islam issues, institutional reform, youth, women, and governance. Voters must see PKR having a team capable of governing Malaysia, not just a single strong prime minister.

The analyst believes PKR must move away from a campaign heavily centered on Anwar Ibrahim to a collective approach. The PKR Congress is happening when the party and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are seeing a decline in performance in the recent PRN in Sabah, Johor, and recently Negeri Sembilan, where Vice President Aminuddin Harun failed to retain power.

Former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will take a leave of absence from her deputy presidency role after the congress to focus on personal matters and continue her PhD studies. According to Tawfik, developments involving Nurul Izzah also requires PKR to have collective leadership with a vice president, deputy general, state presidents, and party wing leaders given clear political roles based on each person's strength.

Some are responsible for strengthening Malay seats, managing urban voters, and youth, managing election strategy, and being the foundation spokesperson, he said. Former Profesor Ruler, Azmi Hassan, also noted a lack of other figures with political strength to stand alongside Anwar. Azmi suggested the Congress should focus on the upcoming PRN in Melaka, particularly on the cooperation that will likely take place with PH.

Would they go solo like in Johor and Negeri Sembilan or discuss with other parties. This needs to be discussed and decided at the Congress to be brought forward, he said.