PKR will continue to lose public support, says Soi Lek

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Public support for PKR will continue to slide as more people begin to understand the party, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

While the party claimed to be fighting for reforms, it could not even conduct its party election properly, he said.

“Irregularities, fraud and cheating are not investigated and accounted for,” he said.

“Even its own party members do not have confidence in the party election,” he told reporters after closing the Pahang MCA Cadres Brainstorming Camp here yesterday.

“They cannot have a party that shouts for democracy but its su­­preme leader is not elected by anybody,” he said in reference to a Universiti Malaya study that PKR’s troubled polls last month had affected confidence in the party.

Apparently, 43% of those polled said they would not vote for PKR in the next general election while 35% said they would still support the party.

Respondents pointed to the party’s internal strife and leadership problems as a key factor affecting their support.

The study was conducted by the university’s Democratic Research and Elections Centre during the PKR party polls last month.

The respondents were from Cheras, Bandar Tun Razak, Titiwangsa, Ampang, Bukit Bintang, Subang Jaya, Wangsa Maju and Lembah Pantai.

On another matter, Dr Chua said it was a waste of time to guess the date of the next general election.

“Our main concern is to ensure all divisions are ready to face the election,” he said, adding that the MCA had yet to decide whether to postpone its party polls.

Dr Chua also denied speculation that the party had identified candidates for the general election.

“I am aware that some members have been going around saying that they had met me or other party leaders to get their blessings as candidates,” he said.

However, he said MCA candidates would be chosen based on the chances of winning.

THE STAR (Sunday December 12, 2010)