Aide: Traitor label won't stick, forget about winning Azmin and Zuraida's seats
Nor Hizwan Ahmad, the political secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, said PKR should stop dreaming about winning the parliamentary constituencies of Ampang and Gombak in the next general election.
This is after PKR organised a grassroots briefing in Ampang last week to explain the defection of PKR MPs led by International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali to Perikatan Nasional.
Nor Hizwan Ahmad, the political secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, said PKR should stop dreaming about winning the parliamentary constituencies of Ampang and Gombak in the next general election.
This is after PKR organised a grassroots briefing in Ampang last week to explain the defection of PKR MPs led by International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali to Perikatan Nasional.
Among the defectors include Zuraida, who is also the Ampang MP. Azmin is the MP for Gombak, which is adjacent to Ampang.
Nor Hizwan (photo, above) said as predicted, the briefing session painted the defectors as traitors and advancing the personal agenda of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
"Targeting the Ampang and Gombak MPs as traitors is very inaccurate. I believe voters will not be influenced by such propaganda. They are tired of it.
"Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the country wants leaders to prioritise the people. In this regard, the Ampang and Gombak MPs have provided good services that have been acknowledged by the people.
"Therefore, don't dream about capturing these two constituencies," he said in a statement today.
Ampang and Gombak are traditional PKR seats and retaking them will be a litmus test on whether the party can make a comeback after the damage Azmin and his supporters inflicted on it.
The split was a culmination of a conflict between Anwar (photo, right) and Azmin.
Azmin took with him nine other MPs from PKR and later engineered the defection of another.
Nor Hizwan said the defectors were not traitors as they remained loyal to their cause.
"It is not a betrayal if any leader switches their platform in order to continue with the agenda to defend the people.
"A political struggle that is based on blind loyalty to realise the dreams of a handful of leaders is outdated.
"Loyalty is to principles, the struggle to defend the people and service which benefit the people," he added.
The true traitors, Nor Hizwan said, were those who promised the "moon and stars" but could not deliver.
"I would like to remind PKR that the voters of Ampang and Gombak are sensitive, open and wise.
"They want action, attention and care in solving their problems and improving their lives. They are sick of power struggle," he said.
S'gor PKR Youth leader laughs off Nor Hizwan's claims
In an immediate response to Nor Hizwan's claims, Selangor PKR Youth information chief Adzman Kamaruddin said his party was confident that it would remain the choice of voters in the two seats.
Pulling no punches, Adzman said that Nor Hizwan's statement was very comical and revealing of the latter's own folly.
"Everyone is aware that the Ampang and Gombak seats represented by Zuraida (above) and Azmin since 2008 were won under the PKR banner.
"Unfortunately, both of them acted to betray the mandate given by voters in Ampang and Gombak to the party.
"Therefore, Nor Hizwan needs to self-reflect and not arrogantly act as if the voters in Ampang and Gombak chose Zuraida and Azmin on their individual merits," he said.
He advised Nor Hizwan not to belittle the people, especially those in the two constituencies.
"The people are not stupid and will not forget the betrayal committed by Zuraida and Azmin," he added.
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