RANTAU PANJANG: More than 100 members of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) from the Lubok Gong branch have officially left the party and joined UMNO with immediate effect, citing disappointment with the leadership of the Rantau Panjang PKR division.
Former branch chief Ariffin Ismail, 63, said the internal crisis reached its peak following the recent divisional elections, when grassroots leaders were allegedly excluded from meetings organised by the division’s top leadership.
He stressed that the decision was not driven by a loss of faith in PKR’s national leadership or its overall struggle, but rather by dissatisfaction with the division chief’s lack of engagement with grassroots members.
“This is not about abandoning the party or blaming the party president. The real issue lies in the division leadership’s failure to listen to and care for grassroots members,” he told reporters here today.
Ariffin added that the situation made it difficult for him to carry out his duties as chairman of the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) in the Gual Periok state constituency.
He said UMNO was chosen because of its closer engagement with local communities and its consistent assistance to residents, particularly during flood emergencies.