PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali defended his questioning of several party appointments by Anwar Ibrahim, saying some issues needed to be stated publicly.

Azmin also dismissed criticism that he had not gone through official party channels to air his grouses, saying that he had met Anwar, who is PKR president, on several occasions prior to issuing his statement.

“There are times when the views are made private, there are times it is made public, but even then it is after discussing with the president.

“It doesn’t mean I did not follow the party channels,” he told reporters today.

Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, said he had a duty as party deputy president to fulfil the aspirations of members, adding that he rarely issues political statements.

“I will continue to talk, whether it is within the party or publicly,” he said.

“You need to know I rarely make political statements, what more a written statement, so the moment I issue a statement, there is a problem.”

Last month, Anwar announced the appointments of former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli – who was Azmin’s challenger for PKR deputy presidency – and two others as vice-presidents, along with several other appointments as part of PKR’s central leadership line-up.

Azmin then issued a statement urging Anwar to review his appointments, saying that they did not reflect the principles of fair and just representation of the party’s members and would not help build the party.

Anwar then advised his deputy to set an example by channelling his complaints through the correct channels and to bring them up during party meetings instead. – January 6, 2019.