Rebuild trust for PKR to remain strong, Anwar and Azmin told

PKR's strength is the combined forces of its president Anwar Ibrahim and his second-in-command Mohamed Azmin Ali, said a former Youth leader.

Therefore, Dr Afif Bahardin said it is important for the two to rebuild their trust in each other.

"Anwar has to act like the president, to be able to listen and work closely with his deputy. The trust must be rebuilt, especially after the heated party election.

"Azmin's position is secured by winning the party election (against vice-president Rafizi Ramli), so the wish of the grassroots for Azmin to be Anwar's deputy must be respected.

"There must be mutual respect between the president and deputy," he told Malaysiakini today.

The Penang exco member was responding to Anwar advising his number two to “cool down” over the latter's tweet, which was seen as being critical of the president's daughter Nurul Izzah.

Anwar also said while certain people wanted to protect principles and ideals, there were those who sought to safeguard their positions at whatever cost.

Azmin's tweet came in the wake of Nurul's interview with Singapore's Straits Times, in which she expressed disappointment with the slow pace of reforms.

The former PKR vice-president also described Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a "former dictator" who wreaked much damage on her family and the system, when commenting on how difficult it was for her to work with him again.

Following this, Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, tweeted that the nation needed leaders who were willing to battle until the end and not "crybabies."

'Not a family business'

Meanwhile, Afif said PKR must be managed professionally, according to position and discipline.

"It must be run like a corporation, not a family business.

"Times have changed. 'Malaysia Baru' requires PKR to carry out internal reforms led by Anwar and Azmin to make the party stronger," he added.

Afif said he continues to believe in PKR's true cause, despite losing out in the race to become the Youth chief to Akmal Nasir.

"Even though I am not holding any post in the party, as a party member with some limited experience, I still go down to the grassroots and train new leaders to emerge in PKR," he added.

Though their respective bosses might be locking horns, those at the division level still maintain cordial ties.

This was illustrated by a photograph showing Afif, who is the Permatang Pauh division deputy chief, having a meal with Gombak deputy chief Rahim Kasdi in Mecca.

Permatang Pauh has always been Anwar's stronghold and Nurul is the current MP, whereas Gombak is Azmin's fortress.

Commenting on this, Afif said he met with Rahim after finding out the latter was also in Mecca to perform the umrah.

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