Anwar held talks first before appointing party chiefs — Saifuddin

PUTRAJAYA: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held discussions with divisional leaders for about a month before he appointed the state chiefs, said PKR secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said this was in line with the party’s constitution, which states that the president must hold discussions with divisional leaders first.

“So did he (Anwar) discuss it first? Yes. With all division leaders? Yes. From Perlis to Sabah? Yes.

“If others still dispute it, it will turn messy. If everyone respects the decision, it will be a relief. There will be no problem and there is no need for any revival plans as every (condition) has been fulfilled,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution, who is the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, spoke to reporters after presenting certificates for the Traders Transformation Programme at the ministry here yesterday.

Former PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya had earlier slammed the party, claiming there was cronyism and nepotism in the appointment of party state chiefs, including that of Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah as the Penang chief.

On Monday, Nurul Izzah announced her resignation as PKR vice-president and the party’s Penang chief.

On the same day, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim also quit as the party’s Johor chief.

Saifuddin Nasution explained that Anwar had no choice but to appoint Nurul Izzah after all 13 division leaders in Penang strongly supported her.