(Malaysiakini) - Decade-old allegations against PKR deputy president Azmin Ali have again stirred disputes within the party, allegedly resulting in the sacking of a divisional leader.
Ampang PKR division publicity chief Mohd Isa Saidi claimed that he was sacked by the party with immediate effect after he openly urged Azmin to leave the party if the latter fails to explain the allegations.
According to Malay daily Sinar Harian, Isa said he received the sacking letter issued by division chief Zuraida Kamaruddin yesterday.
"She likes to sack people. For her, it is wrong for people to speak up or question. Cannot question this and that, must follow whatever the party does,” he was quoted as saying.
However, Zuraida (right), who is also PKR Wanita national chief and Ampang MP, explained during a press conference yesterday that Isa was sacked because he had been declared bankrupt and involved in criminal breach of trust.The decision to sack Isa was reached in a meeting of the party political bureau on March 26, before Isa made the controversial statement against Azmin, she added.
The allegations also revealed cracks within the leadership of the PKR Youth wing.
According to Malay daily Berita Harian, deputy publicity chief Rozan Azen Mat Rasip supported the call for Azmin to answer the allegations.
"PKR Youth supports the demand of members and supporters of the party for the leaders to issue an explanation, because we see the grassroots are very concerned about the party leadership," he was quoted as saying.However, another youth wing deputy publicity chief Najwan Halimi (left) issued a statement this morning, arguing that it is unnecessary for Azmin to answer because those allegations are repetitions of slander which had been explained before.
The allegations raised by Gombak Setia state assemblyperson Hasan Ali last month, accused Azmin of possessing RM8.5 million in the early 1990s and that he is not the biological father of his daughter.
Although both allegations had been answered, pro-BN mainstream media such as the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had been using the allegations to attack Azmin in the past weeks.
The Gombak MP yesterday refused to comment when asked on the allegations, saying that only those who are "blind and deaf" do not understand the issues.
