PKR is not taking action against deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, and a Sarawak Youth leader implicated in a sex video to avoid worsening the situation, said party president Anwar Ibrahim.

The Port Dickson MP said this was the decision of the party’s political bureau when it met on Tuesday evening, the same day the incriminating video clip was circulated.

“There are people asking if action should be taken. We discussed this with our lawyers and with the party disciplinary committee.

“We are not taking any action that could stir more problems,” Anwar told reporters today at a Hari Raya event in Hang Tuah Jaya, Malacca.

Azmin has denied being in it and called it a nefarious plot to destroy his political career, while Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz claims to be the person in the video together with Azmin.

Azmin is facing calls to take leave from official duties until police investigations into the sex clip are complete.

Haziq has also claimed that he had had prior sexual encounters with Azmin dating back over the past three years.

There have been calls by other PKR Youth grassroots leaders, particularly from Selangor, for Haziq to be suspended.

Anwar said the authorities should be given space to investigate the allegations fully, so there was no need for PKR to conduct an internal inquiry.

“The party’s disciplinary committee wants to be transparent. We discussed the matter at length, and we feel sympathy for Azmin and his family. We reject this practice of gutter politics.”

Anwar also brushed off speculation the sex video was the work of rival factions within PKR as mere conjecture.

“I don’t want to entertain that, because it will only complicate investigations.

“That kind of accusation is not good either, it’s not good to defend our people by slandering others.” – June 14, 2019.