Stop bickering in public, Azmin tells PKR leaders
SHAH ALAM: PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali called on leaders not to fall into the media trap aimed at bothering the party over claims that its leaders were bickering.
Azmin said such spins were all part of a democratic process and that it was natural for there to be differences of opinion among members of a party.
He said this in response to the spat between PKR central leadership committee member Latheefa Koya and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli over the infamous “Kajang Move”.
Azmin also called on party leaders to stop bickering in public as it would do no good to PKR.
The Selangor menteri besar said party leaders should instead focus on strengthening cooperation with one another in facing the upcoming general election.
“The media will bother us and spin stories, but it’s all part of the democratic process. I have to accept that.
“It’s important to be able to manage problems or attacks. As leaders, we have to tackle problems responsibly.
“Resolve it internally, instead of making noise outside,” he said after launching the Selangor Internation- al Business Summit
2017 here yesterday.
On Wednesday, Latheefa took to Facebook to comment on the “Kajang Move” and how it had caused damage to the party and the Pakatan Harapan opposition pact.
“Why did the Kajang Move happen? Because he wanted to make sure Azmin, who was then already a state assemblyman, would not be the menteri besar.
“We could have avoided the terrible mess that happened because of it, and (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) would (still be) with us now, if not for his Kajang Move,” Latheefa wrote, referring to Rafizi.
Azmin also took a swipe at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for criticising Anwar’s remarks on mending ties with Pas.
“I would like to remind Dr Mahathir that Anwar is Pakatan Harapan’s de facto leader. He is not just PKR’s de facto leader,” Azmin said.
Azmin said as the party’s de facto leader, Anwar had the right to air his views and offer suggestions on party matters.
Anwar had earlier expressed his views of wanting the opposition coalition to continue engaging with Pas.
Following this, Dr Mahathir said the opposition pact was having “a little problem” with PKR, in that they had been sending mixed messages in terms of its plans in teaming up with Pas.
Dr Mahathir had explained that if Pas joined Pakatan Harapan, it would also cause trouble as Pas would demand to contest in seats it had contested before.
Recently, Azmin was involved in a public spat with Rafizi over the issue. Azmin had insisted on cooperating with Pas to avoid three-cornered fights in the 14th General Election, while Rafizi disagreed.
Rafizi had said that Azmin’s move to mend ties with Pas should be done collectively through a national congress, in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He had claimed that the differences over whether to cooperate with Pas to maintain control of Selangor had split the party and had caused confusion among grassroots members.