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A SIGNIFICANT decline in voter turnout during the recent Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) internal elections may point to a broader erosion of trust in the party's leadership, political analysts have suggested.
Associate Professor Dr Romzi Ationg of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said the sharp drop in participation among party delegates should serve as a clear signal to the newly elected leadership.
“There are those who no longer see the party election process as a meaningful reflection of a candidate’s capabilities to lead,” he said. “Allegations of irregularities in the voting process—though their extent remains unclear—have likely contributed to the reduced turnout.”
Dr Romzi was responding to comments made by political analyst Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri, who described PKR as standing at a “critical crossroads” in its history, following what he termed a marked decline in member engagement.
Sinar Harian cited Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin saying the loss of more than 60 per cent of votes in the party polls poses “a serious question” about the party’s current standing with its base.
Dr Romzi further noted that the situation should act as an “early warning” or “wake-up call” for PKR’s leadership to formulate a new approach in restoring confidence among grassroots members.
Echoing this sentiment, Associate Professor Dr Mashitah Mohd Udin of Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Ghazali Shafie Executive Education Programme (GSEEP) said PKR is now grappling with a crisis of trust in its leadership.
“The majority of party members chose not to participate in the democratic process of selecting candidates,” she said. “This may well reflect a silent protest, stemming from unfulfilled reformist promises and a perception of non-transparent or non-inclusive leadership direction.”
Dr Mashitah warned that if these issues remain unaddressed, the consequences could be significant as the country approaches the 16th General Election (GE16).
“The reluctance of PKR members to cast their votes must be viewed as a serious warning sign that cannot be ignored,” she said. - May 27, 2025