Multiple senior members of the People's Justice Party (PKR) lost in district elections, sparking speculation of grassroots dissatisfaction with the central leadership.
In a “political earthquake” during the district elections held last weekend, several heavyweight figures within the party, including current Members of Parliament, lost in the elections. Some even failed to retain their original positions as district chairpersons, reflecting dissatisfaction among grassroots members with the central leadership's performance.
One of the most notable losers is party vice president and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability, Kuala Lumpur Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi, who failed to retain his position as Setiawangsa district chair, losing to actor and comedian Afdlin Shauki, who only joined PKR four years ago. Nik Nazmi said he would appeal.
Other notable figures who lost include:
– Akmal Nasir: Johor Baru district chair, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Transformation;
– Adam Ali: Malacca Hang Tuah Jaya MP, Youth Chief and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports;
– Rodziah: Ampang MP, Selangor Shah Alam district chair;
– Badrul Hisham Shaharin: Penang Balik Pulau MP, former Deputy Minister of Tourism;
– Reza Jamin: Pahang PKR state chairman, Lipis district chair;
– Yuneswaran: Johor Segamat MP, Tebrau district chair;
– Prabakaran: Kuala Lumpur Batu district MP and chair.
– Adam Ali: Malacca Hang Tuah Jaya MP, Youth Chief and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports;
– Rodziah: Ampang MP, Selangor Shah Alam district chair;
– Badrul Hisham Shaharin: Penang Balik Pulau MP, former Deputy Minister of Tourism;
– Reza Jamin: Pahang PKR state chairman, Lipis district chair;
– Yuneswaran: Johor Segamat MP, Tebrau district chair;
– Prabakaran: Kuala Lumpur Batu district MP and chair.
According to “Free Malaysia Today”, among these individuals are incumbent deputy ministers, former deputy ministers, state chairpersons, and several veteran MPs. Analyses suggest that their losses indicate grassroots party members' dissatisfaction with their performance in Putrajaya and as elected representatives.
Akmal Nasir, who has served as the Johor district chair since 2014, failed to be re-elected. Adam Ali suffered a resounding defeat in his campaign for the Hang Tuah Jaya district vice-chair, receiving only 791 votes, significantly trailing behind his opponent Zanzul Noor Din, who received 1,905 votes.
In the Shah Alam district, former district chair Rodziah lost to Kota Anggerik state assemblyman Nazwan Harimi. Rodziah was the only member of her team to lose, prompting supporters to question the fairness of the electoral process, and complaints have been filed with the PKR election committee.
There was a surprise result in the Balik Pulau district election, where former chair Badrul was defeated by his former deputy, Doa Ismail. The latter was a state assembly member within the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency.
In Johor's Tebrau district, two MPs lost, including Segamat MP Yuneswaran, who lost in a three-way race; Tebrau MP and former state executive councillor Pan Veis finished at the bottom in the election.
The former Kajang MP, Abdul Rah Sani, lost in a four-way race in Kapar, receiving only 618 votes.
In Kuala Lumpur, Batu district incumbent chair and MP Prabakaran was defeated by lawyer and former student activist Ashik Ali. Prabakaran became district chair in 2022 after defeating former party vice president Tian Chua.
Pahang state chair Reza Jamin also lost in the Lipis district chair election by nearly a hundred votes.
Besides the losses of the original district chairs, some party high-ranking members attempting to challenge current district leaders also ended in failure.
Party vice president and Deputy Minister of National Unity Saraswathy lost in Bukit Bintang district to Anuar Bazong Jeh.
In Penang, state executive councillor Fahmi Zainol and Central Executive Secretary Zakwan Mustapha respectively failed to unseat the current chairpersons in Sungei Rambai and Tasik Gelugor.
Petaling Jaya MP and party publicity director Lee Chean Chung was defeated by incumbent Hii Lai Sieng in the district chair election; while Rawang state assemblyperson and party deputy publicity director Chai Wei Jie also lost in the Selayang district chair election, both have stated they would appeal the election results.
This district election result is widely interpreted as a “reshuffling” of grassroots power within PKR, and whether it will impact the central leadership and national leadership remains to be seen.