Anwar: Azmin and I talked about the economy

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today brushed off suggestions that his meeting with his deputy Azmin Ali today was a "reconciliation meeting".

"No. It was just a normal meeting. We talked about the country's economic problems.

"Party matters are under control... We discussed the economy," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

To a question, Anwar said he had "no time" today to discuss the party's internal matters with Azmin.

"I didn't have the time to ask (about party issues). There are a lot of economic issues which have to be resolved," said Anwar.

Azmin, who is the economic affairs minister, tweeted this afternoon that the meeting with Anwar was centred on poverty and ways to achieve Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

"The feedback from Anwar can help our efforts in ensuring the success of our national economic policy," he said.

Azmin-Anwar rift is only 'Malaysiakini's opinion'

Azmin, when met by journalists, dismissed any trouble between him and Anwar.

"Is there a rift? There is none. That is only Malaysiakini's opinion," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby.

Azmin also downplayed his absence from PKR meetings chaired by Anwar.

"There are party meetings that I do attend. There are some party discussions that I can attend, there is no problem.

"If I do not have government duties, I will surely attend party programmes.

"Even when I visit other states, apart from government programmes there, I will also meet with the state party leaders," he said.

Battle lines between Anwar and Azmin were clearly drawn during the party's leadership election last year.

While Azmin narrowly retained his position, his followers took the lion's share of seats on the central leadership council (MPT).

However, Azmin and many of his followers have been absent from monthly MPT meetings and the weekly political bureau meetings since the party election.

This had effectively left the party hamstrung as it could no longer hold policy discussions with Azmin and his followers who hold positions in government.

After this became public, PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin (above), a staunch Azmin ally, floated the idea of a "reconciliation meeting".

Anwar had dismissed the need for such an event because disagreements should be raised at the MPT meetings.

The 30-minute meeting today between Anwar, Azmin and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at the MPs' lounge had set tongues wagging.

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