PKR goes on a roadshow to repair dented image

The programme also intends to improve the bonds between the party’s central leadership and its divisions nationwide. PKR today kicked off its nationwide road show after its much-hyped internal election last year left the party's credibility challenged. The road show dubbed as “Program Jelajah Pimpinan” will begin at Empire Gallery, Subang Jaya at 4pm this afternoon by PKR vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar as well as party's communication chief and Seri Setia state assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Ahmad. It was noted in a study conducted by University Malaya's (UM) Centre of Democracy and Election Studies (Umcedel) that PKR's popularity had been going downhill following adverse media coverage into its internal crisis. More than half of respondents the Umcedel's survey expressed loss of confidence in the leadership of the party's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. The programme, which intends to improve the bond between the party's central leadership and its divisions nationwide, is expected to be conducted in 30 locations - those areas contested by PKR in elections as well as areas held to be 'strategic'. Announcing this morning, the party's information chief Muhammad Nur Manuty said that registration counters will also be opened up to enable new memberships. “This is significant as it is the first time the PKR's central office is playing a direct role in organising this events with the divisions,” said Muhammad, who added that it will be conducted for a period of three months ending April. Asked if this was the party's preparation for the next general election, Nurul Izzah, who was also at the press conference, said: “We don't know when the prime minister will decide to call for the election, so the opposition has to be prepared all the time.” Nik Nazmi added that among the issues that will be their objective is propagating Pakatan's proposed 100-day plan dubbed the 'Orange Book' to the targeted electorates. The 13th general election is due before 2013, but rumours of snap polls being held this year heightened recently after BN regained a number of seats it had lost during the 2008 general polls in the by-elections that have been conducted since.