DELEGATES walked out of the PKR congress because of the party president’s “Si Kitol” jibe, said Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The PKR No. 2 said he had hoped members would focus on matters relating to the party’s policies and direction in Anwar Ibrahim’s speech.

“But that was dashed after Anwar inserted the Si Kitol and Raja Mendeliar story in his policy speech this morning,” Azmin told reporters away from the gathering at Malacca International Trade Centre today.

“He gave the signal for delegates to launch personal attacks and break the PKR leadership’s unity.”

According to Malay history, Si Kitol and Raja Mendeliar were traitors who led to the Malacca Sultanate’s fall to the Portuguese in 1511.

A statement backing Azmin’s stand was signed by vice-presidents Zuraida Kamaruddin, Chua Tian Chang and Ali Biju; Women head Haniza Mohamed Talha and her deputy, Dr Daroyah Alwi; Youth deputy chief Hilman Idham; Sarawak chapter chairman Baru Bian; and, central leadership council members Amirudin Shaari, Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Sivarasa Rasiah, Rahimah Majid, Elizabeth Wong, Saifuddin Abdullah, Zakaria Abdul Hamid, Radzlan Jalaluddin, Dr Mansor Othman, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Azmizam Zaman Huri, Gan Pei Nei, Hee Loy Sian, R. Santhara Kumar and Lee Khai Loon.

About 3pm, some 100 delegates and observers walked out while debates were ongoing at the congress.

Azmin said he and Anwar had agreed on several issues during Wednesday’s meeting in Parliament.

He said both parties had agreed for him, as deputy president, to officiate at the Women and Youth congresses, that delegates would focus on policy matters and speakers would comprise people from both camps.

He said delegates are also not permitted to attack any parties.

“I had observed the agreement during the Women and Youth congresses, and did not use (the speeches when opening the events) to attack anyone.

“The choice of debaters was one-sided and did not reflect the true voice of the grassroots. The speeches were only there to attack other leaders.

“Anwar has failed to live up to his end of the bargain to ensure the speakers kept to the rules.

“As such, we the central leadership council (MPP) members have decided that it did not make sense for us to remain in the hall and listen to such provocative speeches,” said Azmin. – December 7, 2019.