AZMIN’S ACTION DIVIDES PKR

Selangor MB’s decision to woo Pas may result in PKR losing few seats in GE14, says Rafizi

PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s efforts to hold talks with Pas on a possible pact during the 14th General Election is creating a divide in the party.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said the Selangor menteri besar’s choice to work with Pas should be a collective decision by members, undertaken through a national congress.

“I am worried that this issue would be dragged along with Pakatan Harapan in these last few months before the general election. Rationally, any negotiation between PKR and Pas that does not involve Pakatan Harapan’s stand is a futile decision,” said Rafizi in a blog posting yesterday.

“In many statements, Pas has not only repeatedly rejected PKR’s invitations to mend ties, but has also insulted the party.

“The strategy to entertain Pas will only hurt Pakatan Harapan members and may result in us losing a few seats.”

The Pandan member of parliament said the effort to mend ties with Pas would lead to PKR being seen as a selfish party without any principles.

He urged the party to hold a special congress involving all PKR leaders nationwide to decide on the matter, apt to the party’s constitution.

He said the congress would allow both sides to debate the issue and this would allow PKR members to be responsible, without having the need to put the blame on anyone.

“Only by decisions made through the special congress, we can be fair to all Malaysians, Pakatan Harapan members and to ourselves,” Rafizi said.

On Saturday, Azmin said discussions between PKR and Pas did not involve Pakatan Harapan.

He insisted that he was only representing his party and such discussions were not initiated by him.

Earlier, it was reported that PKR’s political bureau had given PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Azmin the chance to have talks in forming a political pact with Pas and, since then, Azmin had been engaging in discussions with Pas.

The political cooperation between Pas and PKR was severed in the former’s delegates conference (muktamar) in April.

The delegates also approved a motion calling for the party to field candidates in seats contested by PKR, should both parties fail to reach an agreement ahead of GE14.