SHAH ALAM - The spotlight will be on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) tomorrow as they gather for the first time after its new leadership line-up was officially established.
Political observers and party members alike have been on the edge of their seats as uncertainties surrounds various camps and how they would react during the convention which will take place for three days at the Ideal Convention Centre, Shah Alam.
Despite all the drama over the past few months, party insiders have voiced out their dismay if a repeat of the last congres were to happen.
The last congress - back in November 2018, saw party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's public fall out.
Political analyst Dr Fuad Othman said it was vital for PKR to talk about strengthening unity following the recent polls.
The Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer said they need to address it quick and decide how to move forward during the congress after they had fulfilled the demands for a forensic audit after certain quarters complained of voting manipulation.
"PKR might want to consolidate its strengths and avoid friction.
"They must make a decision on how to move forward and try to bring all frictions to the negotiation table.
"Give everyone a task so that they will not feel left out,” he told Sinar Daily.
In order to come together, it was also timely for party members and key figures to accept Rafizi Ramli's win and the party's legitimately elected deputy president.
It was now time for all PKR members to trust the strategist extraordinaire as the country steps closer to the 15th General Election.
This, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research Senior Fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said would be best as it was time for PKR to focus on closing their ranks.
PKR has been continously airing their dirty laundry in public during the elections and it was time end it, he said.
Azmi said there has been some drastic changes happening since the forensic audit took place thus it was better they address immediately as they prepare for GE15.
"The most important thing for the congress is to be together again and accept the decision of the party election although there is some uproar about that.
"That is definitely what we can expect from the congress and the agenda that will be talked about in the congress would definitely be on the election and the forensic audit results.
"They need to talk about this in the congress in order for them to close their ranks with one voice and it is very important that they put behind what happened regarding the internal election for PKR to move forward facing the GE15,” he said when contacted today.
He further said the issue should be highlighted since the audit had created more tension or negative perceptions on the organisation or leadership of the party.
He added that the main agenda of the PKR congress besides the internal election will be in relations to preparation for the general election.
On June 10, PKR announced that the party’s annual national congress set for June 24 was postponed to July 15 to 17.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the postponement was made to give the election committee time to handle and address a number of issues during the 2022 party election results.
"After due consideration, the council decided on the new dates after taking into account the time required for the committee to manage and resolve issues raised and give sufficient time to the new branch leadership to make several appointments,” he had said in a statement.