Anwar Ibrahim Faces Internal Conflict, Electoral Defeats Loom Over PKR Congress

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Malaysia is holding its annual congress amid a series of electoral setbacks and increasingly visible internal conflict. In the last two state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, PKR won only three of the 36 seats contested.

Those results add to PKR’s poor record after the party led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also performed disappointingly in the Sabah election last November. Those three consecutive election results are among the main issues that will loom over PKR delegates at the congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre, Ayer Keroh, on Friday (14/8).

The congress, originally scheduled for 26–28 June, was postponed to give PKR’s political machinery additional time to prepare for the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections. However, the extra time did not lead to significant electoral improvement.

Internal matters are also a concern. Five PKR members of parliament on Saturday accused the party of abusing its power after several MPs lost access to the MyKhas special allocation portal.

Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail became the third PKR MP to lose access, after former Subang MP Wong Chen and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung.

The three are known to have attended an event in May that became the moment former PKR figures Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced the takeover of Bersama.

Anwar defended the mechanism, saying that channelling funds directly to institutions rather than through MPs is a long-standing practice. That explanation, however, has not calmed the internal PKR dispute.

Wong subsequently announced his resignation from PKR and joined Rafizi and Nik Nazmi at Bersama. The emergence of that group poses a new challenge for PKR because it could compete for the same voter base, particularly those oriented towards the reform agenda.

PKR’s internal crisis is also evident in Nurul Izzah Anwar’s decision to step down as vice-president. The PKR Central Leadership Council last week granted Nurul Izzah temporary leave that takes effect after the congress.

PKR Information Chief Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil denied that the decision shows party instability. Nurul Izzah remains scheduled to open the PKR women’s and youth wing congresses.

However, political observer Associate Professor Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia assesses that the split within PKR is deepening.

“The split has become so bad that I do not think we are talking about how to keep it intact, but how to keep one faction intact. It feels like only a matter of time before PKR splits,” Syaza said.

According to her, the PKR congress is an important moment to see whether the party will conduct a thorough evaluation of its electoral decline or instead choose to strengthen the ranks around Anwar.

The PKR congress is taking place at the same time as the Democratic Action Party (DAP) national congress. Around 4,000 DAP delegates are scheduled to vote by secret ballot on whether the party’s leaders will remain in government until the end of the parliamentary term.

DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke said the central executive committee is not taking a position, leaving the decision to the delegates.

DAP is one of PKR’s most important partners in the Unity Government — a broad coalition bringing together Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and other blocs. If DAP leaders leave the cabinet and return to being ordinary MPs, the stability of the unity government could be affected.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said senior PKR cadres already have experience facing the political crisis caused by the Sheraton Move in 2020, which brought down the first Pakatan Harapan government.

“We are ready, together with the PKR leadership and the Madani government — mentally, emotionally, and strategically — to face the various possibilities that may emerge from the special DAP congress on 16 August. God willing, we are ready to face it,” Hassan said.

PKR is now also beginning preparations for the Melaka state election. Fahmi said the party is holding talks with all parties, including BN.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is said to have opened the door to cross-party communication. Meanwhile, Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously expressed hope that BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) cooperation would continue in the coming election.

Pakatan Harapan is currently outside the Melaka state government after withdrawing support in July following controversy over a constitutional amendment allowing the appointment of up to seven nominated legislative members.

For PKR, the challenge does not come only from other parties. The presence of Bersama, led by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, could erode support from the reformist voter bloc that has long been one of PKR’s bases.

Setiawangsa PKR chief Datuk Afdlin Shauki said grassroots cadres are coming to the congress hoping for answers and clearer political direction.

“We understand that there are always challenges in everything, but we continue to fight every day to make things better for the communities around us,” Afdlin said.

Syaza, however, doubts the congress will fully answer the grassroots cadres’ concerns. According to her, the congress is likely to be used more to strengthen the ranks around Anwar and shift blame to Umno.

“They need to find a way to win the hearts of the ‘middle’ Malays. Their numbers are not large, but they are PKR’s biggest opportunity,” Syaza said.

The congress will be an indicator of whether PKR truly evaluates its political decline or merely displays internal unity. The outcome will also provide a picture of the party’s readiness to face Malaysia’s next general election, or GE16.