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KUALA LUMPUR – Neither government positions nor parliamentary seats have been promised to individuals running in PKR’s polls next month and whoever doles out such promises are “liars”, said president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Many people will make promises as if seats are yours. I want to tell you that as president, without knowing if I’ll remain, that I have not promised any seats to anyone.
“So those who have made such promises are liars. Let’s not be fooled by them because it doesn’t help,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page last night.
He added that election candidates and seat negotiations are only discussed among the coalition’s top leaders.
“Even though I’m the Pakatan Harapan chairman and the individual is a PKR candidate, I will discuss them with (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke and (Amanah president) Mohamad Sabu, as a team.”
PKR polls are slated for May 13-17 for in-person voting and May 18-20 for online balloting.
Anwar also reminded party members to contest with good intentions.
“I have noticed that during party polls, certain individuals will break their backs to show that they are extraordinary. You will find those who suddenly stand out but are later ‘drowned out’ without a sound, or not heard from afterwards.
“That is why members should use their wisdom when picking the best candidates.”
Days ago, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail downplayed the possibility of infighting in the upcoming party election, similar to what transpired during Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s last days in the political outfit.
Saifuddin, who will be facing Rafizi Ramli for the deputy presidency, said he does not see the squaring off between the two party leaders for the number two post resulting in a crisis and defections later.
“I admit that in the back of party members and the public’s heads, they equate the PKR election to a disaster and infighting. I would like to say that this will not repeat itself.
“What happened before was that some of those who won then betrayed the party. Now, there are only two possibilities: me or Rafizi. I don’t see our characters repeating what Azmin did,” said Saifuddin after attending the government-PH political stability and transformation steering committee meeting on Thursday.
Back then, Azmin, who was defending his deputy president’s post, was involved in an internal battle against those aligned to Anwar.
Despite winning his seat, Azmin continued to have a fractious relationship with Anwar before he and his faction quit the party in February 2020.
His group had conspired with then opposition Barisan Nasional and PAS under the Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the PH administration and the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government. – The Vibes, April 10, 2022
