Anwar: Don’t entertain talks as Azmin has not made his move’

SHAH ALAM: There is no confirmation yet on whether PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will take on de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the party election later this month.

Azmin had yet to voice his intention to contest the polls.

“We cannot entertain rumours because there has yet to be a confirmation on the matter. Azmin had met me in Istanbul, but he did not raise anything (about the party election).

“There has yet to be a confirmation on whether there will be a contest or otherwise.

“If there is, then we need to adhere to the rules and ethics of the party election.

“I believe the PKR Election Committee will ensure adherence,” said Anwar after attending a tahlil for the late Sungai Kandis assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei on Tuesday.

Speculation on internal friction in PKR resurfaced after its secretary-general, Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, reportedly said there were two camps — the first being behind party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, while the other wanted her to give way to Anwar.

Anwar denied that he was concerned about Azmin’s prominent rise in politics.

This followed his latest appointment to the board of directors in Khazanah Nasional Bhd, besides his cabinet position as economic affairs minister.

Anwar also said he was not perturbed by allegations over Azmin’s appointment by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which were said to be efforts to check his influence.

“(The appointment of Azmin to the cabinet) is to impede my role and influence? Honestly, I am not worried. I can say openly that I know the strength of my party and the relationship with coalition partners.

“When Dr Mahathir appointed Azmin to the cabinet, he may have his own reasons to do so. Each of the decision he made is, of course, based on national and institutional interests.

“If it was me, I would make decisions according to my methods too. Whatever it is, people can always say or speculate what they want.”