SELANGOR PKR AVOIDS PLEDGE OF SUPPORT FOR DR MAHATHIR

It appears to be missing from statement signed by Selangor DAP, PAN, PPBM leaders

SELANGOR PKR appears to be conspicuously missing from a joint statement issued by Pakatan Harapan state leaders in support of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s nomination as its prime ministerial candidate.

The statement, which was signed by Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) chairman Izham Hashim, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, called for Pakatan state leaders, including PKR, to support Dr Mahathir.

“We would like to affirm our undivided support for declarations made during the 2018 Pakatan Harapan convention (on Sunday), including (support for) prime ministerial candidate Dr Mahathir and deputy prime ministerial candidate (PKR president) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” the statement said.

Other matters mentioned in the statement included efforts to seek the release and pardon of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, seat allocations for PKR, PPBM, DAP and PAN in the peninsula and the pact’s manifesto.

“We call for the leadership, members and supporters of Pakatan, regardless of whether they are from PKR, DAP, PAN or PPBM, to unite and be committed to making a change during the 14th General Election by defeating Barisan Nasional.”

The statement came on the heels of rejection against Dr Mahathir as the pact’s prime ministerial candidate.

Selangor PKR leaders, including party women’s chief Zuraida Kamarudin, have refused to endorse the decision and proposed PKR deputy president and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for the post, instead.

Azmin has yet to comment on the controversy but had, on Tuesday, retweeted a news report on PKR deputy youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin’s call for grassroots members to be given clarification on the decision.