PKR deputy president Mohamed Azman Ali said he was putting aside the verbal attacks against him by PAS delegates at the ongoing PAS muktamar.

He said in the last couple of days he had been made a target, but he has chosen to set that aside because his duty was to save the people and the nation.

Asked what he felt when attacked and why he was not giving a strong response, he replied: “Tak apa, sabar. (It is fine. Patience.)”

“Leaders must not get too emotional. They have to have extra patience,” he told reporters in Penang at the state PKR convention this afternoon.

Two days ago, a Dewan Ulama member Bakri Nikmat told Azmin, who is Selangor menteri besar, not to ever “run your mouth off again and insult the ulama”.

Bakri said this in a Dewan Ulama debate, as he urged the PAS elders to give members clear direction when another party insulted their leaders.

Last month, Azmin posted a sarcastic tweet aimed at an unnamed “tok lebai” (slang for ulama) who could not win party elections in his own area but had ambitions to take over Selangor.

He also told the media that he was invited to attend the muktamar as a representative of PKR.

“The spiritual leader, Hashim Jasin, called me last week to extend the invitation, but I was going to Taiwan for a working visit so I could not make it.” He arrived home only last night.

Azmin said it was just the opinion of a PAS delegate, adding that this was a democratic country.

It was up to the people to decide on PKR’s “maruah” (dignity), Azmin said, not the PAS delegates. 

“The people will see if we have the courage to push for a bigger coalition and discuss. There are issues but I strongly believe that as leaders, we should do the right thing and decide based on consensus.”

Azmin was coy when reporters asked him about PAS and PKR relations, which looked to be on the brink of collapse after the PAS wings and divisions passed motions nationwide to sever ties with PKR in the run-up to the muktamar.

The PAS Dewan Ulama two days ago, accepted a motion to “divorce” PKR at the muktamar, but Azmin would not comment on what would happen if the PAS Shura Council gave its blessing to end things with PKR.

He said PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had said the party would wait for the Shura Council’s decision.

“It is the delegates’ view (to cut ties) but there is no decision, at present… we cannot speculate. We have to wait for the council’s decision.”

When asked if it would be tougher for PH to hold on to Selangor without PAS, Azmin said: “that is what you speculate”.

“PAS is still in Selangor. They are part of the government. Wait for the Shura Council. Don’t speculate.”

Azmin added that for PKR, the enemy remained Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Earlier when giving his speech at the Penang PKR convention, he indirectly addressed the fragile relations with PAS.

He spoke extensively on unity in the opposition pact to tackle the ruling party in GE14 and on having and setting aside differences for the sake of Malaysia and its people.

“We have different views but I urge all inside and outside the party to defend the unity in the reform movement. 

“The people out there havve big hopes on us. They are frustrated and disappointed with the current administration’s problems. They want to see if we can deliver change in GE14, so that is the challenge.” – April 29, 2017.