Cheap tactics, Selangor PKR leader says on ‘lack of funds’ claim

Selangor PKR chief Amirudin Shari, who leads the party’s machinery, campaigning in support of Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao in Kuala Kubu Baharu. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Selangor PKR leader has denied claims that the party has been dragging its feet in the campaign for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, where DAP’s Pang Sock Tao is seeking to defend the seat for Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, Selangor PKR’s strategic director, said the war room had received no complaints of a lack of funds for the party’s machinery.

“I urge everyone against resorting to cheap political tactics by claiming to be grassroots members (in making such claims) in order to confuse voters,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, FMT cited a source as saying that PKR was dragging its feet in the campaign for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, believed to be over a lack of funds for its machinery.

A PKR leader who did not wish to be named said the state chapter was not channelling funds to the election machinery due to friction over the choice of candidate.

The source claimed PKR had suggested a Malay candidate to represent PH, but that DAP had told the party not to “interfere” with its seat.

Saifuddin, the Batang Kali PKR coordinator, said the allegations were made in order to undermine the party’s machinery which has been tasked with overseeing the six district polling centres (PDM) with the largest number of Malay voters.

“For instance, the Bandar Utama Batang Kali PDM boasts over 9,000 voters while Ampang Pechah has over 4,000, including Batu 30 and Lembah Beringin… These polling districts, if combined, represent nearly the entire electorate in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

“If there are indeed issues with the campaign process, please come to the main war room. We are always open to hearing problems so that we can address them together,” he said.

An anonymous letter addressed to Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari and widely circulated ahead of the polls had claimed that the six PDM handled by PKR were facing a shortage of funds, making it difficult for the party’s machinery to campaign.

Amirudin is also Selangor PH chief and the head of PKR’s state chapter.

“If our welfare is not looked after, how can our top leaders care for the 40,015 citizens in Kuala Kubu Baharu?” the letter said.

In response, Saifuddin said that PKR’s machinery, alongside the party’s coalition partners, including Umno, had actively conducted door-to-door outreach programmes as well as ceramahs at up to seven locations daily.

“I have attended nearly every machinery meeting and almost all technical meetings. There are no issues suggesting that this party isn’t doing its job, or that party isn’t doing its job.

“In fact, Umno-Barisan Nasional this time around has also shown great fighting spirit and a very effective machinery… we see them giving more than double (effort) compared to the previous state election,” said Saifuddin, who is Amirudin’s political secretary.

“We each have our focus. Each machinery operates in its designated area and at night, all machineries move together with talks involving speakers from every coalition party.

“This is a winning strategy because this time, the coalition machinery remains steadfast, intact, disciplined, and in possession of high fighting spirit.

“It is simply not true that there are funding issues,” he said.