Azmin gets hero's welcome at the opening of PKR Youth, Women congress
PKR AGM | The opening ceremony of the PKR Youth and Women's congress in Malacca saw the party's deputy president Azmin Ali receiving a hero's welcome.
The crowd at the main entrance of the venue surged towards Azmin as he was coming out of a car when he first arrived. They cheered and chanted his name as he entered the building.
PKR AGM | The opening ceremony of the PKR Youth and Women's congress in Malacca saw the party's deputy president Azmin Ali receiving a hero's welcome.
The crowd at the main entrance of the venue surged towards Azmin (photo) as he was coming out of a car when he first arrived. They cheered and chanted his name as he entered the building.
Flower garlands were also placed on Azmin as people clamoured to take pictures of him at the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC) where the PKR national congress will be held from Dec 5 to 9.
Azmin, who was there to officiate the opening ceremony, received an even more overwhelming welcome as he entered the hall around 8.45pm where the crowd had been gathered since 8pm.
He entered the hall cycling a lighted trishaw (below) decked out in PKR logos and colours, followed closely by PKR vice-presidents Tian Chua and Zuraida Kamaruddin and a large entourage of supporters.
As he cycled towards the main stage, the crowd cheered wildly and people squeezed around the trishaw for a chance to take a picture.
Throughout the hall, groups of people in the crowd held up banners and placards of Azmin which also bore the words “#KekalTenang”.
The reception towards Azmin comes a day after Azmin attended a formal party meeting in over a year where he met with Anwar. Azmin had later implied that their discussions were meant to strengthen the party's unity.
It was decided after the meeting that Azmin will open both the party's Youth and Women's wings congress, while PKR advisory council chairperson Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will close both the congress.
Previously, Azmin was only supposed to officiate the Women wing’s congress while Wan Azizah will open its Youth wing’s congress.
This came after PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir rescinded Azmin’s invitation and instead asked Wan Azizah, as the party’s highest-ranking government official, to open its congress.
This had served to intensify speculations of a rift between Azmin and Anwar leading up to the congress, including rumours of Azmin's faction planning to hold a separate, 'parallel' congress in Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
However, after the meeting between Anwar and Azmin yesterday, sources told Malaysiakini that the planned gathering in Kuala Lumpur may be called off.
During the introductions and speeches at tonight's opening ceremony, the crowd seemed more receptive towards those who are seen to be aligned to Azmin.
While Azmin himself received solid applause every time his name was mentioned, PKR Youth deputy chief Hilman Idham consistently received loud cheers and applause.
Zuraida, Tian Chua and PKR Women chief Haniza Talha also saw warm applause whenever their names were mentioned as well.
A five-minute video compiling Azmin's achievements was also shown before his speech in the event tonight.
In contrast, PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir (below) who is seen as aligned to Anwar's camp, mostly got scattered applause.
During Akmal’s speech, he stressed the importance of party unity, adding that he felt touched over the meeting between Anwar and Azmin yesterday.
“Yesterday during the special political bureau meeting, I felt very humbled and touched when the leadership could sit together and discuss and find a way on how we can work together for the party.
“I believe unity is our foundation, for PKR Youth to deal with our problems,” he said.
Haniza was also grateful over the meeting yesterday as she said it showed the magnanimity of the PKR leaders.
"It shows the magnanimity of the leaders in PKR to set aside their differences and disagreements to complete the unity within the party," she said.
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