PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president contender Mustaffa Kamil Ayub today warned Perkasa against creating tension between the deputy presidency candidates.
Yesterday, Perkasa Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah urged all PKR members to reject Azmin Ali's candidacy as deputy president, and channel their support and votes to Mustaffa Kamil.
Arman Azha claimed that 35% of Perkasa's members are from PKR. Mustaffa Kamil said this was unlikely as PKR strongly rejected the antics of Perkasa.
"I, representing the party leadership, urge all grassroots members to reject the extreme racial politics fanned by Perkasa," Mustaffa Kamil said at a press conference here today.
Calling Perkasa a "chauvanistic" and "extreme" organisation, he said it was possible that Perkasa was just trying to create animosity between the candidates.
"This has also created some interest in my candidacy and I have to explain my stand. What is the motive of Perkasa in issuing the statement that supported me and rejected the other two contenders?" asked Mustaffa Kamil.
He questioned why the organisation could make such a statement when it was not a PKR entity either now or in the future.
He said he believed that behind Perkasa, led by Ibrahim Ali, there were several other leaders including Dr Mahathr Mohamad and (deputy Umno president) Muhyiddin Yassin who are working to destroy the unity of the rakyat that PKR has worked hard to foster.
"We should not compromise on condemning the racial fires being stoked by Perkasa and Umno. We also should not fall for the malicious statement of Perkasa," he said, adding that PKR was a party that fought for all races.
He said he received numerous calls questioning why Perkasa openly supported him.
"I don't want to be misunderstood. I don't want to be seen as being okay with Perkasa."
Room for improvement
Mustaffa Kamil said if Arman Azha was angered that Azmin had criticised Mahathir's administration, he should realise that the whole PKR leadership, including himself, was also angered by the accusation Mahathir made against Anwar Ibrahim 12 years ago (in the first sodomy case).
On the various reported inconsistencies in the party election, he said that direct elections was a good system but PKR has room for improvement.
"No other party has done such a thing in the name of democracy. As this is something new for a new party, we must accept that some problems will crop up. But overall, it's a good system."
On the impending Galas by-election, Mustaffa Kamil said PKR would support any candidate chosen by PAS.
He added that the opposition has a good chance of winning.
"The people will vote for Pakatan Rakyat because BN had not fulfilled its promises in Manik Urai and also they will vent their anger on the federal government over the the oil royalty issue," he said, adding that the political bureau of PKR will meet tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment