PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli has denied a media report that he was censured by the party’s political bureau for revealing internal party information.

Quoting a source, Chinese daily Sin Chew had reported that PKR political bureau had decided to issue a written warning to Rafizi for hurting PKR’s reputation, a claim that the Pandan MP denies.

“That report is not true. I will give a response on Monday,” Rafizi told The Malaysian Insight.

Rafizi said he did not want to comment further out of respect for Hari Raya Aidiladha.  

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil, when contacted also refused to comment on the issue.

PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also denied that Rafizi was given a written warning.

“No such disciplinary case (as claimed by the Chinese paper) that was brought before the Disciplinary Board in the last political bureau meeting.

“The report that quoted the party source is not true and I urge the media to get information from the proper party channels.

“PKR will not lose sight of the preparations for the general election and I urge all party member to work together to strengthen the party and not spread rumours that cause chaos,” he said in the statement.

According to the Sin Chew source, the warning issued to Rafizi was on the advice of jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Based on Anwar Ibrahim’s advice, the party only gave a written warning to Rafizi at this time.

“If he continues, nobody can guarantee that he will not be sacked from the party in the future,” Sin Chew quoted the PKR source as saying.

The source also said that the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting that decided to cut ties with PAS  did not object to PKR working “quietly” with the Islamist party.

The source said PKR was adamant on negotiating with PAS because Anwar had wanted to avoid three-cornered fights in the 14th general election.

“PKR is not only facing challenges from PAS, but also from other political parties in East Malaysia. That is why we will continue our negotiations with PAS, Parti Sosialis Malaysia and other parties in East Malaysia to ensure straight fights.”

According to Sin Chew’s report, Anwar chose deputy president Azmin Ali, with the approval of the political bureau, to negotiate with PAS.

The source claimed that leaders like Rafizi and MP Selayang William Leong who had objected to the move were always going against the Selangor menteri besar.

“As a vice-president and political bureau member, Rafizi has not attended any bureau meetings for a year now,” the source told Sin Chew.

Last week, Azmin, who is also the PKR deputy president admitted to negotiating with PAS, and said that it was done based on the party’s decision and not his personal capacity.

Azmin said the negotiations were to avoid three-cornered fights in Selangor.

Rafizi objected to the move and called for a special congress to resolve the issue.

Leong had resigned his political bureau post in protest over the talks with PAS, saying that it was obvious the Islamist party had come to some arrangement with Umno. – September 1, 2017.