PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said he would be sending an official letter to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, requesting for a private meeting to resolve his spat with Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

Speaking during a press conference at PKR headquarters today, Rafizi said he believes the matter could best be resolved behind closed doors.

"Whatever differences that they have, we need to think of the sensitivities of members of the public who are frustrated (with the bickering).

"I think it is best for us to do so through closed doors and I believe that Lim would provide that opportunity for us to discuss this," he said when asked for comment over the reported altercations between Azmin and Lim.

Asked on contents of the letter, Rafizi ( photo ) said it was a confidential matter but it would raise the issue of Lim’s reported displeasure with PKR's decision to defend its two Penang state-assemblypersons who were recently removed from their director positions in government-linked corporations (GLCs).

"I can understand what had happened. Lim Guan Eng was asked (for comment) and so he had to answer. Same as Azmin. When he was asked by the media, he also had to answer.

“That is over and done. Officially the party will send a letter today and I hope that after this, whatever happened can be brought up at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council,” Rafizi said.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua in a statement this morning similarly defended the party’s decision to defend its state assemblypersons, while calling for the matter to be resolved in an amicable manner.

Azmin said on Sunday that the PKR political bureau has upheld a decision to defend Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen and Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng who had abstained from voting against an Umno motion to halt all reclamation projects in Penang.

The duo were recently removed from their director positions in Penang government-linked companies.

Lim, in response to Azmin, expressed surprise that the latter had "interfered" in Penang's state administration.

Lim also said, earlier, that he has lost confidence in the duo's ability to perform their duties professionally and accused them of "backstabbing" him after they had gone against a promise to vote against the Umno motion tabled in the November sitting of the state legislative assembly.