There is a "hidden hand" trying to create political enmity between the party's Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) members and non-Abim members in the run-up to the Nov 9 election, said Keadilan information chief Ruslan Kassim.

In his statement today, he said that "certain quarters" are trying to instigate party members into believing a direct contest exists between Abim and non-Abim candidates in the election to be held during Keadilan's annual general meeting in Terengganu next weekend.

Responding to a malaysiakini report on Oct 29 that Keadilan's first election will see a straight fight between the party's Abim faction and its rival faction in all posts, Ruslan dismissed the allegation of the so-called fight as "a work of an irresponsible group out to destroy the party".

Ruslan likened the situation to the efforts by Umno previously to 'cleanse' the party from Abim's influence, which was purportedly promoted by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, a former Abim president.

"I was alleged to be one of the Abim people involved, simply because I always try to be good to all people in line with the party's effort to nurture a new political culture," he said.

Healthy development

Ruslan added that party contests are a healthy development and this shows that Keadilan is not short of potential and able leaders.

He, however, cautioned party members against attempts by certain quarters to sow the seeds of hatred and enmity in the bid to weaken and destroy the party.

According to the Keadilan leader, some people have alleged that the so-called Abim faction is seeking to take full control of the party and sideline those in the non-Abim faction.

On another malaysiakini report that Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar may reconsider his earlier decision not to seek re-election, Ruslan clarified that this was based on his interview published in the Oct 22 issue of party organ Berita Keadilan .

Ruslan said he was interviewed by a Berita Keadilan journalist after the Oct 10 party central working committee meeting, and as such the fact given in the interview was no longer relevant to the current situation with regard to Chandra's decision not to seek re-election as deputy party president.