PKR issue conflicting statements on purported statutory declaration

(NST) – PKR’s top leaders today offered conflicting statements over the existence of a statutory declaration, purportedly signed by several of the party’s Selangor assemblymen to swear their support for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the next Selangor menteri besar.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a press conference this afternoon denied that the assemblymen had signed any SDs, saying it was merely a suggestion.

“It was merely a proposal. It is best that we wait for the PKR disciplinary board and the party central leadership to hold their meetings before we come up with a decision,” he said after a meeting with several of PKR’s Selangor assemblymen.

“During the meeting, I told them (the assemblymen) that it is best for us to follow the party’s process. After those two meetings are completed (by tomorrow), the assemblymen can then take the appropriate action,” he explained.

However, earlier today, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution did not deny the existence of the SD, saying it was a “precautionary move” by the party to prevent further dispute over the party’s candidate for the post of Selangor Menteri Besar.

Saifuddin, nonetheless, did not reveal how many PKR assemblymen had signed the SD, which reportedly confirms their loss of confidence in incumbent Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, PKR political bureau member and Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who attended the meeting with Anwar this morning, denied signing the supposed SD.

“We have not signed anything. I did not see any document,” Dr Xavier told reporters when pressed on the matter.