AS THE war of words over attempts to cancel the PKR Youth convention – scheduled to be held in Miri on Saturday – continue unabated, state secretary Vernon Kedit warned it will be declared invalid if it went ahead.

“Any conventions that are held without the sanction of the state leadership council is invalid,” Kedit said, as a letter signed by by Iana Akam, the convention organising secretary, and dated November 18 informed party members of the cancellation.

The letter was shared by Sarawak PKR in its WhatsApp chat group with Sarawak journalists and news media organisations.

The threat came amid allegations that Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, a supporter of president Anwar Ibrahim, tried to hijack the convention and force it to be held in compliance with the national leadership’s directive.

Yesterday, state chairman Baru Bian remained defiant, continuing to ignore the directive that the convention be held.

Baru, the Selangau MP, said the event is cancelled until PKR leaders resolve their disputes and “take into serious consideration the voice of elected members who represent grassroots party members”.

He also said the decision to cancel was “through consensus of the majority of the Majlis Pimpinan Negeri Sarawak (state leadership council) and was not the sole opinion of the state chairman.

Sarawak PKR, which strongly favours deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, cancelled the convention after the youth wing rescinded its invitation to Azmin to open it.

Baru said in his news conference yesterday that the decision to cancel the convention was a majority decision, backed by 32 members of the state leadership council.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the convention director, was reported as saying the convention would go ahead at 9am at the Pullman Hotel. – November 21, 2019.