What was meant to be a platform for unity and strategy quickly spiralled into a public display of internal discord, as tensions erupted at PKR’s Johor convention on April 5, 2026.
The heated exchange between Dato' Seri R. Ramanan and Hassan Abdul Karim has not only exposed simmering factional differences but also raised deeper questions about discipline, loyalty, and leadership within the party.
The confrontation began when Ramanan, a PKR vice-president, used his speech to launch a direct critique against former deputy president Dato' Seri Rafizi Ramli. He accused the Pandan MP of undermining the party through his public criticisms and questioned his performance as Economy Minister. In a setting typically reserved for consolidating party direction, such remarks were bound to provoke reaction - and they did.
Hassan Abdul Karim did not hold back. Rising from his seat, he openly challenged Ramanan’s approach, arguing that it was unfair to attack Rafizi in his absence. His response was not merely about defending an individual but about preserving what he sees as a fundamental principle of fairness within party discourse. For Hassan, the attack was lopsided: a convention is not a stage for one-sided attacks or personal grievances.
But Ramanan was equally firm. In a raised voice, he countered that party members have a responsibility to defend PKR from internal criticism, suggesting that silence in the face of such attacks would only weaken the party. His remarks drew applause, indicating that his stance resonates with a segment of the party that views Rafizi’s criticisms as damaging rather than constructive.
The clash did not end there. Speaking after the convention, Hassan remained visibly upset, doubling down on his position and even challenging Ramanan to a formal debate. He emphasised that conventions should focus on strengthening the party, not airing internal disputes. More pointedly, he reminded Ramanan of Rafizi’s significant contributions to PKR’s electoral success in Johor, subtly questioning whether newer leaders fully appreciate the party’s history and struggles.
This episode reveals more than just a clash of personalities - it shows a deeper identity struggle within PKR. On one side are those who prioritise strict party loyalty and discipline, viewing public criticism as betrayal. On the other are those who believe that internal critique, even if uncomfortable, is necessary for reform and long-term survival.
The warning signs are hard to ignore. When internal disagreements spill into public view in such dramatic fashion, it risks eroding confidence among supporters and giving political opponents easy ammunition. More critically, it raises concerns about whether PKR can manage its internal diversity of views without descending into factional infighting.
If left unchecked, such confrontations could turn the party into a house divided - where loyalty is questioned, contributions are contested, and unity becomes more rhetorical than real. The Johor convention may have ended, but the underlying tensions it exposed are far from resolved.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Kpost (ckhorsk@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.