PKR party supremo Anwar Ibrahim continues to be tight-lipped on who he supports in the bitter battle for the party’s deputy post, which is likely to see vice-president Azmin Ali being pitted against supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim.

When asked whether he supported Azmin for the much-coveted post as had been reported in the media, Anwar said he would not favour any candidate in the contest.

NONE "My position is to respect the democratic process. Party members will have the opportunity to understand the candidates’ political ideas, policies, manifestos and their stand on issues,” he told reporters at a Hari Raya do in Seberang Jaya, Penang today.

“(With this knowledge in hand) they are empowered to vote in order to defend the party's reform agenda and principles,” he added.

Anwar, who is parliamentary opposition leader, asked reporters whether the reports about his support for Azmin appeared in an “Umno’s mouthpiece”.

"If it is, why should I care about it?" he quipped.

Meanwhile, Anwar was also asked about the proposal by a group claiming to represent all 22 PKR divisions in Selangor which wished to see him elected as the party president.

Anwar was again coy, saying that he needed to be cautious in responding to such a proposal.

The group, dubbed the Selangor Keadilan Leadership Consensus Council, has also suggested incumbent president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to take the deputy president's post.

 

But if the Anwar-Wan Azizah team cannot be attained, then the group wants status quo for the post of president and deputy president, which is currently held by Syed Husin Ali.

Azmin plays down issue

 

Meanwhile, Azmin, who was also present at the event, tried to play down the issue of Anwar’s support for his candidacy.

The Selangor party chief said he had yet to make a formal announcement of his decision to contest the deputy post.

black 14 questioning 160408 azmin ali According to Azmin, he was still in the midst of discussing the matter with party members as he wanted to ensure that his candidacy would be an advantage to the party in the next general election.

“What’s the point of winning the party post but not being able to face the coming general elections,” said the Gombak parliamentarian.

Azmin, who is also Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyperson, is however confident of his position in the party, saying he has been with PKR since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“I do not have to eagerly make myself so prominent at the last moment. I can show the members my report card, what I have contributed to the party over the past decade,” he said.

“The members can see whether I can continue to lead the party or not,” he added.

Azmin conceded that for the past one year, the party has been undermined by several ex-members who had quit PKR to become ‘BN-friendly’ MPs and state representatives.

“Members want leaders who are committed and loyal to the struggle, leaders who have been tested and who have stayed with the party when it was at its lowest ebb,” he said.

PKR's 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings - the first to elect divisional leaders next month, and a second meeting to vote for 26 supreme council members as well as president, deputy president and four vice-presidents.

The divisions will vote for top national leaders over four weekends from Oct 29 to Nov 21.