A ‘Third Force’ within PKR

PETALING JAYA: With the PKR party elections just months away, the party’s Indian members are planning to appear as a third force in the polls, revealed a party source.

Speaking to FMT, a party insider said that a group of Indian leaders within the party are currently in the midst of discussions to form a ‘third force’ to contest in the party elections slated for May 2014.

Commenting on the need for a third force of Indian representatives, the source said that the Indian members in PKR were disappointed with the party’s current leadership who they claim, always overlook the Indian members when it comes to the party’s development.

However, he insisted that the third force would not contest for the top two party posts. They will instead focus more on the supreme council and divisional level positions.

“Just look at the last general-election. Unlike DAP, majority of the PKR’s Indian candidates lost in their bid just because  they were forced to contest in BN stronghold areas,” he said.

“We do not blame the leadership for the defeats. But, at the same time the leadership should give Indians (members) a sure win assembly seat in each state,” he added.

He claimed that apart from the general-elections, the fund allocation from Pakatan’s state government to Indians was also in an unhealthy situation.

“For an example, the Selangor state government’s allocation RM1mil for estate workers, for a year. How do you expect to upgrade the life style of plantation workers with RM 1mil?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, at the moment we do not have a ‘true’ Indian leader to bring up grass root member’s needs and problems to the party’s top leadership.”

“Thus, this is the time for us (Indian leaders) to form a third force and to contest in the elections, to protect the interests of the Indian members in the party,” he added.

“We also held several meetings, nationwide, on forming (the) third force. And generally, we received positive feedback from the party Indian members.”

He said the third force will be given more focus in Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Johor states.