WITH the fight for central party positions starting with nomination this Sunday, PKR leaders are trying to play down talk that the party is split into different camps.

PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin said party members shared the common goal of reform.

“All leaders who will contest in the party polls are for reform, like me. Since I was in Form One, I have supported reform,” said the politician from Penang, who was 13 when the Reform Movement took shape in 1998.

“Those who are no longer with the reform agenda wouldhave left PKR. Is there any who has left?” he said, at the Penang legislative assembly building, today.

With the party elections approaching, allegations have surfaced that some PKR leaders have forgotten the reform agenda since becoming ministers.

Party insiders recently told The Malaysian Insight that the attack is targeted at PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who is Economic Affairs Minister, and others in his camp. 

Azmin’s close relationship with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed is also held against him at a time de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is preparing to take over as party president, en route to becoming the next prime minister.

Vice-president Rafizi Ramli has declared he will challenge Azmin for the deputy presidency. It is still unknown if Azmin will defend the post or challenge Anwar for the presidency.

Dr Afif, who is the Seberang Jaya assemblyman and a Penang exco, stressed there was no doubt of the PKR members’ loyalty to the reform agenda.

“I don’t see any PKR minister lacking commitment to implement reform. Saifuddin Nasution (Ismail) is a minister. He has not forgotten about the reform agenda.”

Saifuddin, who is the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister and Pantai Jerejak assemblyman in Penang, is PKR secretary-general.

“We are all here because we were chosen by the people. All the ministers chosen by the prime minister to be in the cabinet is because they can serve well. I don’t doubt their commitment to the reform agenda, especially now when we are the federal government and we can make changes for the better,” Dr Afif said.

He said it was more important than ever for PKR – a member of the ruling Pakatan Harapan government – to be strongly united.

“We are not the opposition anymore. We need to build unity and come out stronger working as a team.

“The leaders who will be elected have been tested and have proved capable of leading and honouring the people’s trust.”

Asked to choose between Rafizi and Azmin, Dr Afif said PKR Youth wanted a tried and tested leader committed to the reform agenda.

He said Youth members knew very well who had truly contributed to PKR since the party was founded in 1998.

“But personally, I think the best combination is Anwar as president and Azmin as deputy president,” he said, citing Azmin’s track record as party deputy president and former Selangor Menteri Besar.

He said Azmin had also played a role in convincing Dr Mahathir to work with PH when he left Barisan Nasional.

“Anwar also taught us the importance of building consensus. Azmin can do that.”

Dr Afif, who is known to support Azmin, has yet to announce which post he would be going for in the party polls. He told reporters to wait to find out during nomination on Sunday.

“I have asked Anwar for his views and spoken to party leaders and grass roots in Permatang Pauh. I will take part but I won’t be defending my current post.

“Wait until Sunday. Let us focus on the Sungai Kandis by-election,” he said referring to polling day on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin also denied there were factions in the party.

He said the most important thing was PKR had emerged the biggest winner in the 14th general election, holding 50 federal seats.

“For 20 years, all sorts of things have been said about PKR… we are split, weak, lacking in discipline, fighting in the open. Those who want to say such things, go ahead.

“For any political party, the main business is to enter elections and win seats. PKR won the most seats in the Dewan Rakyat. In the peninsula, we contested 51 and won 43.” – August 2, 2018.