Anwar: There is no discord over new Sarawak PKR chief

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is playing down a reported conflict in the appointment of the new Sarawak PKR chairman, saying there is no such discord.

“Such a thing has not come up, only raised by the media,” he said, adding that it was normal for one or two to raise objections.

In a terse reply, Anwar asked why the media is only concerned about Sarawak.

“Why are you nosy? What’s the problem? Why are you not enquir- ing about the chairmen for Selangor, Penang or Perlis?” he asked when approached after he had delivered the Za’aba Lecture 2018 on “Malays and Islam in the Era of the New Malaysia” at Universiti Malaya here.

Anwar’s reaction came as a surprise, especially after he had calmly answered several other questions posed by the reporters.

There has been talk among Sarawak PKR members that current chairman Baru Bian may be replaced by Julau MP and Julau PKR division head Larry Sng.

Some members have claimed that the Sarawak PKR chairman is appointed by the divisions, as per the Kuching Declaration 2012 and 2014, and not the party president as in the case of states in the peninsula.

Anwar said the appointment of the PKR chairman would be made as usual in accordance with the party constitution.

Baru did not attend the 2018 PKR National Congress in Shah Alam last weekend because of ministry appointments and he said he had conveyed this to the congress secretariat through his political secretary Zakaria Abdul Hamid.

When asked about this, Anwar said he was aware of Baru’s explanation.

“I will advise him, in the future, (to) make sure the priorities are right. I think we want to move on. He did explain in detail.

“My concern is if every minister gives this sort of explanation, nobody will attend the congress.” — Bernama

What’s the problem? Why are you not enquiring about the chairmen for Selangor, Penang or Perlis? Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim