Sack Azmin? Issue does not arise, says Anwar

"This issue (of Azmin's sacking) does not arise. The sacking was expressed by delegates but none of the leadership has given an affirmative response.

"I have no issue with negotiating but the problem which was expressed strongly (by the delegates) is a sentiment of wanting the party to be united and not tolerate those seen as deviating from discipline," Anwar said in a press conference after the closing of the PKR congress at the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC) today.

Asked if this means he has forgiven Azmin, Anwar said, with a smile: "I am a forgiving person."

However, he added that this was not a personal issue.

"I have to listen to the voices and sentiments (of the delegates) and, as I've said, I have listened to their wishes so we should give them some space," he said.

Anwar also said many of those who walked out yesterday — in protest of what they deemed as incendiary speeches from the delegates — came back to the congress today.

"Some came back, quite a number was present.

"Many of them came and said they were there... (they) were not ready to take that path of boycotting the congress so some came back, quite a number came back," he said.

Asked whether a reconciliation was possible, Anwar quoted former US president John F Kennedy, who had said: "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate."

Following this, Anwar said the process of reconciliation must be "open" and that he has been conciliatory in his speeches at the congress.

Anwar and Azmin purportedly agreed on a ceasefire during the congress.

Both leaders had adopted reconciliatory tones during their addresses at the congress and appealed for rapprochement.

Although there were no clear signs of a rift during the speeches made during the PKR Youth and Women's wing congresses yesterday, a significant number of delegates for the main congress took veiled jabs at Azmin.