The newly crowned PKR deputy president Azmin Ali denied that he would embark on a witch-hunt to purge dissenting party members.

pkr congress pc 271110 azmin “I didn’t say that I would go on a process of witch-hunting as reported in the media. What was debated by the delegates is whether the leadership had the courage to discipline its party members and leaders.

“But due process must be respected. The complaints must be dealt with fairly,” said Azmin ( right ).

“It will be tough, but we have to make sure that the party is clean from traitors before the next general elections.

“But I am certainly not suggesting a witch-hunt as reported in the media,” he said in a press conference after the PKR annual congress in Petaling Jaya today.

Azmin had previously vowed to rid the party of traitors and that he would go on a clean-up mission immediately after the congress.

Several delegates at the congress had also lambasted the party leaders, whom they claimed had tarnished the image of the party in the mainstream media, calling for stern disciplinary action.

However, one Pahang delegate this morning had warned that the ‘purging’ exercise could trigger a witch-hunt and would only bring more harm than good.

‘Defeated have important role’

Pledging to close ranks between the victors and the defeated of the party elections, Azmin said those who had lost will still be given an “important role” to play.

NONE When asked if a leadership role was on the plate for deputy president candidate Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, Azmin did not rule it out.

“(De facto leader Anwar Ibrahim) has already mentioned that Mustaffa is a very senior and loyal party leader. We will definitely discuss this with the party president and the political bureau to see what role we can give him.

“And I will support the suggestion so candidates who had won or lost will have an important role in the party,” he said.

Mustaffa was previously the party vice-president and the Perak PKR chief. A popular grassroots leader, he still wields tremendous influence amongst the Abim core within PKR.

Moving on, Azmin also acknowledged the role of bloggers and civil society in PKR and Pakatan’s cause, despite being the butt of criticism by well-known bloggers like Haris Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Extending an olive branch, Azmin said that it was now time to engage with the blogging community positively.

“On behalf of the party, we acknowledge the contribution of bloggers and civil societies in helping us during the 2008 general election. Now we need to engage with them and rebuild the network.

“I don’t blame the bloggers but they may not have our side of the story. We are not going to dictate them; we just want to meet up with them again and share with them what we know,” he said.

Wanita irked by bloggers

Meanwhile Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin is annoyed by media and Facebook comments on her proposal that Anwar Ibrahim be formalised as de-facto party leader.    

Describing them as busybodies, she said that they had no right to interfere in the party's affairs as it was not their business, reported Bernama .   

"Why should they meddle in our affairs? Keadilan is ours and it is up to us to do as we please," she said in her winding up speech at PKR national congress here today.    

Zuraida had proposed that Anwar's position as de facto leader be formalised as recognition for his contribution to the party.    

Meanwhile, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin proposed that former deputy president Syed Husin Ali be named 'reform figure' in recognition for his commitment for democracy.