KUALA LUMPUR: Several groups of grassroots PKR members have launched a campaign to encourage spoilt votes in the Langkawi parliamentary seat in protest against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
PKR sources told the New Straits Times Press this was in response to Dr Mahathir using the PKR logo to contest the 14th general election (GE14).
“We have discussed things with several grassroots members and the conclusion is that we will start a spoilt vote campaign to ensure that Dr Mahathir loses and so cannot be the prime minister should (the opposition pact) win. Of course, we want to win GE14, but we do not want to see Dr Mahathir win (the Langkawi seat),” said a source.
The PKR leader also said other actions were being considered by grassroots leaders, including quitting the party, boycotting it or even standing as independent candidates.
“We have discussed this unofficially in our WhatsApp group... grassroots leaders and members have voiced their disappointment against (Dr Mahathir) and, in fact, have said it was an insult to PKR that he has been accepted by our leadership.
“Some of those willing to stand as independents in Langkawi are grassroots PKR members who have been in the party a long time... they are willing to be sacked by the party for the sake of ensuring Dr Mahathir does not win,” said the source.
On Saturday, a group of PKR members protested in front of the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya in protest against Dr Mahathir using the party logo. They gave the party leadership six days to change the decision to allow the former prime minister to use the logo.
They had called on PKR leaders to remember that the party was formed in April 1999 because of the cruelty Dr Mahathir had shown their leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.