Azmin: I did not win because of Anwar

By Rahmah Ghazali and G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Newly-minted PKR deputy president Azmin Ali denied that he emerged victorious in the party polls because of his close relationship with de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Known as Anwar's “blue-eyed boy” and the “preferred candidate” throughout his campaign, Azmin however said that the party supremo would support anyone who was loyal to the party.

“My loyalty to the party should not be questioned,” he stressed when addressing the delegates at the PKR national congress here.

“Many asked, did Anwar favour you? I said no. Anwar favours everyone who is loyal to the party.
“I have been working with party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the past 26 years and I’ve been in the party for the past 12 years. And I was vice-president for the past 10 years,” he added.
Azmin was Anwar's aide when the latter was deputy premier prior to his sacking in 1998.

Detractors had attributed Azmin's victory in the party polls to Anwar's influence.
There was talk that Anwar, despite claimiing to be neutral, had discreetly urged division leaders and members to vote for Azmin instead of Zaid Ibrahim and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.

Mustaffa will be given a place in the party

At a press conference later, Azmin said the party would recognise Mustaffa’s contribution and the political bureau would find “something” for him .

“The party will deliberate on him and other capable leaders who were defeated. We will try to find something for them,” he assured.

Azmin also vowed to work towards closing ranks, adding that all complaints filed with the Central Election Committee (CEC) would be investigated thoroughly.

“The CEC and the discplinary committee will investigate all complaints lodged and anyone accused (of electoral fraud) will be given avenues to defend themselves,” he added.

Quizzed on the “Third Force”, Azmin conceded that it could destabilise the opposition coalition.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said that the emergence of a third force was due to PKR members’ resentment towards the party.

Although Azmin admitted this, he said it was also important to constantly engage with them.
In order to overcome this, the PKR deputy president said he was prepared to engage with the civil society and bloggers in order to strengthen the party’s preparation for the next general election.
Meanwhile, newly-elected vice president Tian Chua supported party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution's explanation on former PKR deputy presidential aspirant P Jenapala's sacking letter, saying that the matter was technical in nature.

“The party's political bureau issued instructions to the-then secretary general (Salehuddin Hashim) to inform Jenapala that he was sacked. So the issue here is technical in nature. Jenapala was sacked as he tried to set up a new party,” he said.