Use proper channels to raise party issues, Anwar tells Azmin

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has advised his deputy, Mohamed Azmin Ali, to set a good example to other party members by not using the media to raise party issues. 

(FMT) – PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today advised deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali to use the proper channels and not the media when raising issues related to party matters.

He was responding to Azmin’s statement for a review of the new appointments to the party central leadership.

Anwar yesterday announced the reappointment of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as party secretary-general and the appointment of Segamat MP Edmund R Santhara Kumar as the deputy secretary-general.

He also announced the appointment of former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang and Saratok MP Ali Biju as vice-presidents.

They will join the other three who were elected to the post during the recent party polls, namely Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and former Batu MP Tian Chua.

Anwar made the announcement in a statement issued yesterday after the party’s Central Leadership Council (MPP) meeting.

Today, Anwar advised Azmin, who is economic affairs minister, to set a good example to other party members by not using the media to raise party issues.

Mohamed Azmin Ali hugging Rafizi Ramli after beating him in the race for deputy presidency in the recent PKR polls.

“It’s his personal view; I wanted it to be inclusive. He wanted some people out; I want everybody in. That’s the difference.

“You cannot deny the need to bring everybody in. I’ve taken people in his (Azmin’s) faction and in Rafizi’s faction,” he told reporters after launching the Anwar Ibrahim Trophy Beach Soccer Tournament here.

Azmin had won the PKR deputy presidency in a bitterly fought contest with Rafizi.

Anwar said he understands that Azmin is very personal against one or two people in the party.

“But I have taken everybody in,” he said.

Azmin said earlier that the appointments did not reflect the principle of fair and just representation of the members’ aspirations.

Twenty teams of youths from Port Dickson, Rantau, Seremban and Melaka are participating in the tournament. The champion will bring home RM1,000 cash, a trophy, medals and tickets to the Port Dickson Alive 3D Art Gallery.

Meanwhile, former PKR president and PKR advisory council chairman Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the appointment of Rafizi as vice-president is the prerogative of the party president, Anwar.

She reminded that Rafizi had received many votes during the party election recently.

“That appointment is the prerogative of the president. He can choose who he wants and Rafizi, during the party elections received many votes,” she said when met by reporters after attending a women’s carnival and “Back to School” programme in Kampung Pandan Dalam here today.