AZMIN: I FEEL VINDICATED BY ANWAR’S ADMISSION
PKR’s de facto leader says he endorsed talks with Pas
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali yesterday said he felt vindicated following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s admission that he had endorsed the talks between the party and Pas.
The talks, which had purportedly caused disputes among PKR leaders, were on the party’s possible cooperation with Pas in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Anwar, in a statement yesterday, said he was open to the idea of holding a special congress to discuss the matter.
“I am vindicated. Truth prevails over falsehood. Seeking a solution requires earnest effort, not grandstanding,” Azmin said in a Facebook posting yesterday, which was accompanied by an English language daily’s report on Anwar’s statement.
Anwar had questioned the need for a special congress and said it would not change party policy, and added that all decisions must be finalised soon as GE14 was fast approaching.
He said PKR’s political bureau had proposed and agreed that it would “not make Pas an enemy” and to study the possibility of avoiding three-cornered fights in GE14.
“Azmin was tasked to lead the initiative, realising that it was a national strategy and not limited to just Selangor.”
He also said he had been reviewing the statements made by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and party members who had voiced concern about the uncertainty on PKR-Pas relations, adding that the situation was confusing and challenging.
Anwar also admitted that the current situation was more “complicated and challenging” as Pas decided not to join Pakatan Harapan.
Rafizi had on Sunday mooted for a special congress to be held to decide on PKR-Pas cooperation, ahead of the polls.
He had said that Azmin’s move to mend ties with Pas should be done through a national congress, in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Rafizi also claimed that differences over cooperation with Pas had caused rifts and confusion in PKR.
The following day, Azmin lashed out at Rafizi, saying that the latter should know better than to wash the party’s dirty linen in public.