Don't slander those you're not helping, Hilman says after token rebuke

• UPDATE: In a tweet, Najwan Halimi says being a leader is about helping people, not cronies.

PKR Youth deputy chief Hilman Idham (above) has some pointed remarks at a PKR Youth muafakat (cooperation) event in Selangor today.

This followed Selangor PKR Youth chief Najwan Halimi's rebuke that Shah Alam youth wing's act of giving tokens to encourage participation at events was not part of the party's culture. 

Hilman said helping people out can sometimes be like releasing a trapped dog, which ends up biting you.

"Sometimes when we do good, we may be releasing a trapped dog. Where is (Muhammad) Idris (the Shah Alam PKR Youth deputy chief)? Idris is an example.

"When we have been given the responsibility to lead, what more as an assemblyperson, we should help our members and friends.

"If you're not helping, don't add to the burden, bite, and slander, to bring down those who may be making better efforts (than us)" he said at the event in Klang today.

Idris yesterday explained that the token sum of RM20 to Shah Alam PKR Youth members was to reimburse them for a separate Merdeka convoy, and not today's muafakat event. 

Hilman did not say who his barbs were aimed at in the speech, but when asked later if this was directed at Najwan, he replied it "it could be the same person."

Najwan (photo) was not present at today's event, and told Malaysiakini it was not organised by Selangor PKR Youth.

In a tweet later, Najwan remarked that being a leader or assemblyperson is not about helping out "friends and cronies".

"We were given a mandate by the people to serve them, look after their welfare and problems. That is our responsibility," he added.

Hilman told reporters today it was fine if some leaders did not want to be involved in the programme, but they should not undermine the efforts of others.

Meanwhile, Idris said that Najwan's remarks yesterday were slanderous, and possibly out of unhappiness at losing the contest to become the Shah Alam PKR Youth chief last year.

"He (Hilman) lost in Shah Alam to be the division youth chief, and he also lost in the national Youth chief contest.

"So maybe because of that, there are some ill feelings, that is how I feel," the Shah Alam PKR Youth deputy chief said.

Najwan had lost the race in Shah Alam against SP Sarawanan last year.

Like all state-level PKR leaders, Najwan was appointed to his position as the party's Selangor Youth chief.

Najwan was previously in the same PKR camp as Hilman, but had contested as an independent third force in last year's party election. He appears to have since aligned himself with Anwar Ibrahim's faction.

Meanwhile, Idris said Whatsapp screenshots about the token fee being offered at today's event and the Merdeka convoy were "misinterpreted" and insisted the sum was for the latter event.

He said the Shah Alam division was supposed to join a convoy organised by Kota Raja, Sungai Kandis and Kemuning divisions.

However, he said due to the "slander", they've decided to organise and hold the convoy on their own yesterday.

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