PKR veteran advises Azmin to respect Anwar
Retired English teacher Jaliah Ahmad Mahir is no stranger to the political intrigues in PKR after 21 years in the party and having one of its earliest branches set up at her house in Gombak.
The 72-year-old is currently Kuala Kangsar PKR women's chief, serving alongside Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, also the political secretary to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Asked her views on the clash between Anwar and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, Jaliah said the party might have gotten away with similar situations in the past - when it was a part of the opposition - but it must now change along with its new role as the federal ruling coalition...
Retired English teacher Jaliah Ahmad Mahir is no stranger to the political intrigues in PKR after 21 years in the party, and having one of its earliest branches set up at her house in Gombak.
The 72-year-old is currently Kuala Kangsar PKR women's chief, serving alongside Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, also the political secretary to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Asked her views on the clash between Anwar and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, Jaliah said the party might have gotten away with similar situations in the past - when it was a part of the opposition - but it must now change along with its new role as the federal ruling coalition.
"What saddens me most now is that our leaders should have treated each other with respect.
"They should show a good example to the members on how to respect each other," Jaliah told Malaysiakini.
"It's a very sad thing. This thing has got to be changed. PKR has got to change," she stressed.
Alluding to the latest spat between Anwar and Azmin, Jaliah said the Gombak MP should have shown more respect for their president and move to settle any differences behind closed doors.
"After all these years of sacrifice, money, efforts and everything, YB Azmin can say that to Datuk Seri Anwar? 'Cermin muka sendiri'... Oh my God! I feel very ashamed," said Jaliah in reference to Azmin's response to Anwar's suggestion that he resign as economic affairs minister if the sex video implicating him was proven to be authentic.
"Read my lips - tell him, he must look at the man in the mirror," Azmin told journalists at the Parliament lobby on Wednesday.
While noting that Azmin could have been angered by Anwar's suggestion, Jaliah (photo below) insisted there was no excuse for his unacceptable remarks.
"If you don't like it, you sit at one table and sort it out. If you make it public, the whole nation sees it," said Jaliah, adding that it was just like how she would take her husband out for dinner if there was any problem they needed to discuss and avoid their children finding out.
"When I offer to belanja makan (give a treat) and drive, he knows I want to talk.
"That's a little bit crazy or romantic, I don't know," Jaliah quipped.
Jaliah, together with some 80 Perak PKR members led by Perak PKR deputy chief MA Thinakaran, earlier rallied outside the Dang Wangi police station in solidarity with Farhash, under remand in connection with the sex video controversy.
"We are not saying the police is wrong. They are doing their job. But please be fair to us (supporters)," she said, adding that many senior Perak PKR members view the 37-year-old, who is also Kuala Kangsar PKR division chief, as being like their son.
At the ongoing PKR leadership retreat in Port Dickson, Anwar and Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad have called for an end to infighting.
Azmin was absent during Mahathir's opening speech last night, but is scheduled to speak today.
PKR had been divided between those aligned to Anwar and Azmin for years, but the situation has been exacerbated over the past month, fueled by speculation of a power struggle over the prime minister's post.
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