The Anwar-Azmin fight now beyond redemption

Economic Affairs Minister and PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali claimed that there is an attempt to “silence” him.

(NST) – The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s decision to cancel the invitation for its deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to open the party’s youth wing congress stays despite calls by certain leaders to reverse it, said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said only a few leaders from Sarawak were of the view that the decision should be reversed while the majority want it to go on as planned.

“Let the party clarify the matter, and the information that I received is that most of the branch chiefs are not against the party’s decision. We will abide by the convention committee decision on the matter,” he said at the Terengganu and Kelantan PKR convention held at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort here yesterday.

He was commenting on the decision by Sarawak PKR leaders not to hold the state PKR convention which was scheduled to be held on Nov 23 to protest against the perceived snub of Azmin.

The Sarawak PKR leadership, led by its chairman Baru Bian, said the hasty decision to cancel Azmin’s invitation is a clear attempt to throttle democracy in PKR.

The invitation for Azmin, who is also the Economic Affairs Minister, to open the PKR youth wing Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) convention was cancelled, prompting him to comment that it was an attempt to shut him up from criticising the top PKR leadership.

Anwar gave a sarcastic retort when asked about Azmin’s claim that hidden hands are working against him.

“We’ll see if they (hidden hands) are from the sky or the moon,” Anwar said.

Anwar also refuted claims that the decision to cancel Azmin’s invitation was made by PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“Whatever it is, the party’s political bureau meets twice a month, and the Party Leadership Council (MPP) meets every month. Anyone can voice out their opinion or opposition (to issues) as everything will be decided by the MPP.

“Any changes will not be decided by any figures but must be made in proper meetings,” he said.

Asked to confirm whether he was involved in the decision not to invite Azmin, Anwar said he was merely following what the MPP had decided in their meeting.

In his speech earlier, Anwar hit out at party leaders whom he said had forgotten the party’s struggle after they came to power.

“We should not forget the rakyat after we become ministers as the party was created to help the rakyat,” he said.

Without naming names, he lambasted those who want to oust him as the party president.

“If (anyone) wants to oust me, wait for the party elections. As of now, I am the president,” he said.