Amidst the infighting in PKR in the run-up to the leadership elections starting at the end of next month, de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is attempting to rein in the feuding factions.

In a statement sent out this morning, the opposition leader also had harsh words for candidates who had indulged in unbecoming behaviour manner in the public eye while campaigning for positions.

NONE "The run-up to the party elections has seen some very harsh words coming from certain leaders in a fashion not befitting the position they aspire to ," Anwar ( right ) said.

Warning the aspirants for party positions to conduct themselves with decorum, he said campaigning should be within the parameters of the elections code of ethics.

"The candidates have their right to present their agendas and to campaign. But it should not be open season.

"All this should be conducted within the bounds of decency, decorum and civility. There are house rules to be observed. This is why we have an independent elections committee," he said.

Trojan horses in PKR possible

At the same time, the PKR leader, who has been relatively silent and keeping above messy party politics, hinted that the inner workings of the party polls might have a more sinister aspect.

"In this regard, the criticism that there is emergence of ‘Umno culture' in the campaign for party positions is unfounded.

"At the same time, we cannot rule out entirely the possibility of Trojan horses having found their way in," said Anwar, who did not finger anybody.

However, he expressed confidence in PKR members - 500,000 of them are eligible voters for this party elections - as he believes they are wise and matured enough to decide what is best for the party.

"The truth shall prevail," he said.

In his statement titled "A Celebration of Democracy", he also defended the party's decision to hold what will be the country's first ever direct elections of the leaders of a political party of this magnitude.

But at the same time, he reminded the members who would be casting their votes, starting from Oct 31, to use their powers wisely and judiciously.

"We reject the excuses given by the powers-that-be that the people azmin ali parliament pc 240609 are still not ready for full democracy and hence should continue to rely on political crutches. We don't need them.

"It is because of this confidence that we have decided to hold direct elections. We believe that the best leaders will be produced through this process, and that at the same time, they will be more accountable to the members.

"This will help us emerge even stronger," he wrote.

His statement comes at the height of an apparent war of words between the factions led by the top two contenders in the race for deputy presidency, supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim and vice-president Azmin Ali.

Anwar's wife and party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had also issued a press statement last night, calling for contestants to campaign with "manners" and "ethics".

While Azmin ( above ) has been relatively silent, only giving interviews selectively, his supporters, who include most of the notable PKR supreme council members, have been publicly throwing their support behind him.

Meanwhile, Zaid has been quoted on a regular basis, both subtly and sometimes not so subtly, hitting out at party elders, including deputy president Syed Husin Ali, Wan Azizah and even Anwar.

On top of all this, there have been allegations of phantom voters, money politics and even poison pen letters to sabotage the efforts of the rival camps.