Malayur News

Azmin says PKR has never been an Anwar-centric party. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Leading PKR deputy presidential contender Azmin Ali accused his rival Datuk Zaid Ibrahim of buying into Umno propaganda by claiming that PKR revolved around Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Zaid had stressed that securing justice for the embattled opposition leader should not be the party’s sole struggle as it was “unworthy” to become a “one-issue party”.

“I am asking Zaid — why is he speaking the language of Umno?” Azmin told The Malaysian Insider.

“That is the position taken by Umno from Day One from 1998 in saying that Keadilan is an Anwar-centric party,” he said.

The PKR vice-president maintained that the party was never centred on Anwar despite its struggle to ensure a fair trial for the party’s de facto leader who is currently facing his second sodomy trial after his first sodomy charge in 1998.

“Keadilan has never been an Anwar-centric party. This notion that Keadilan is an Anwar-centric party is propaganda of Umno,” said Azmin.

“Yes, we certainly fought for justice for Datuk Seri Anwar in 1998, 1999, but certainly it is not an Anwar-centric party because we also talk about (the) reform agenda,” he added.

In his blog post on Tuesday, Zaid reminded party members that PKR needed to pay attention to those they sought to represent instead of reducing the party to a “one-issue party”.

The former Umno minister’s latest dig at PKR is one of the many criticisms he has hurled at the party of late.

Zaid had once warned that PKR would turn into a second Umno if its present pool of leaders was not changed.

He also rejected outright Anwar’s warning to bypass Umno-owned media like Utusan Malaysia and insisted that the paper’s relentless attacks against the PKR de facto leader could have stemmed from the boycott.

Azmin pointed out that it was incumbent on party leaders not to repeat Umno’s decade-old slander against the party.

“Party leaders should not make any statements that were orchestrated by Umno for the last 10, 12 years,” said the Gombak MP.

“As seniors of the party, we should not fall into the trap of Umno. It is my conviction and also the conviction of members of the party that this is a reform party,” he added.

Azmin highlighted the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act in Selangor and the party’s defence of Felda settlers as examples of the party’s fight for democracy, which he said was separate from Anwar.

“We introduced the Freedom of Information Act. That has nothing to do with Anwar. That is a bold decision by the state government led by Pakatan to reform,” said Azmin, who is also the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman.

“Look at the Felda settlers. We are here to fight for their rights. That has nothing to do with Anwar,” he added.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail echoed Azmin’s scathing remarks against Zaid, saying that Zaid’s statements were indicative of a typical age-old Umno mindset.

“This has been the typical Umno mindset for the past 12 years. To say that PKR is only fighting for Anwar’s interests, this is part of Umno’s effort in trying to make people believe this,” said Saifuddin.

The Machang MP told The Malaysian Insider that the reason why the party stood firmly behind Anwar was because the PKR de facto leader’s fight for justice was “symbolic” of a bigger cause.

“I disagree with Zaid. PKR defends Anwar because of the gross injustice against him that has happened for the past 12 years... injustice in how he was jailed, how he was beaten up, and how his trial went... all this is indicative of the country’s damaged institutions.

“We fight for Anwar like we have fought for Teoh Beng Hock, Kugan and Aminulrasyid Amzah,” said Saifuddin.

The PKR man claimed that the 2008 general election, which saw the federal coalition denied its two-thirds majority, was proof that voters believed in PKR’s struggles.

“People voted for PKR, Pakatan because they did not like the way BN ran the country... They did not like how the various institutions have become corrupt. PKR, along with Pakatan, has fought for a minimum wage for workers until the Cabinet approved it yesterday.

“How then can you say that PKR is only about fighting for Anwar?” he asked.

Zaid’s latest judgment on PKR may further widen the growing chasm between himself and the party’s top leadership amid perception that he is seen as entering the deputy presidency race alone.

The deputy president’s post, which has been held by veteran politician Dr Syed Husin Ali since 2004, will see a heated contest between vice-presidents Azmin, Mustafa Kamil Ayub and Federal Territory PKR chief Zaid.

Azmin is said to be the favourite with the support from more than 100 divisions, while Zaid and Mustafa received about 38 and 17 nominations respectively.