KUCHING, Sept 11: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) National Women vice-chief Voon Shiak Ni has appealed to all party members to stop bickering in the course of campaigning for the party’s top leadership in the upcoming party election.
Voon, who is eyeing a seat in the Majlis Pimpinan Pusat (MPP), said party members should stop using president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s name to lobby for personal votes.
“I am one of the candidates in the long list of names to contest for central committee leadership. Though I know it is tough for me to be elected into the central committee, I respect all my contestants and comrades, and I do not approve the agenda of watering (down) others to garner popularity and votes.
“We do not blow out others’ candles in the hope that ours will shine brighter. It is a selfish act and a desperate move; and in the course of doing so, you are compromising the good image of the whole party,” Voon said in a statement today.
She said this in response to party members hurling baseless claims on Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s loyalty to Anwar over the past few weeks.
“It is a regret and disappointment to read such allegations splashed across all the media. Allegations of such nature is not only unjust and unfair to Azmin but is tearing up the party and compromising the public’s respect for the party,” she opined.
Voon said for a political aide (Azmin) to stay with his master (Anwar) for the last 30 years, especially during the extreme rough and stormy years, this had manifested true loyalty.
“I personally do not have Anwar or Azmin’s special attention, but I care a lot about my party, and this is the little part that I can do by saying what is from my heart for both of them and my party. I want everyone in PKR to work hard and be focused as a team to rebuild Malaysia,” she said.
As a member of PKR, Voon beamed the fact that it is the first and only party in the country that conducts a direct party elections from the grassroots level.
She added that PKR practised the most democratic process in giving each and every member the chance to choose the leaders of their choice.
“This is one of the reasons why I chose PKR and to be in politics. I am ready to give my time and commitment just to be here to play my little role and to be part of nation-building for my country and the future generation.
“Therefore, I call on all my party comrades to observe the highest order of self-respect and mutual respect and to campaign with good spirits and to come back as one family,” Voon said. — DayakDaily
