PKR Youth has the freedom to decide which leader it wants to officiate its annual congress next month, even if it isn’t deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

“Since it is a congress for the Youth wing, let them decide. I have nothing to do with their decisions and furthermore, it’s not under the scope of the secretary-general,” Saifuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

Going by tradition, PKR’s deputy president usually officiates the Youth congress’ opening but Azmin is being shunned, according to sources, following discord in the party after he was implicated in a sex video in June, which the economic affairs minister has denied

PKR Youth wants Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to open the congress instead.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight previously that the break with tradition is aimed at sending a message to Azmin over his actions and statements against the party leadership.

Azmin has openly feuded with party president Anwar Ibrahim over the sex video, and has also failed to attend party leadership and political bureau meetings for some time, despite reminders.

He also publicly favoured Dr Mahathir Mohamad to continue as prime minister for a full term, despite the promise between Pakatan Harapan parties on the transition to Anwar before the next general election.

Last week, when asked about the Youth wing’s invitation to Wan Azizah instead of him, Azmin said the matter should be referred to the secretary-general.

Saifuddin said invitations by the wings are not under his jurisdiction.

“They decide who they want to invite to officiate their meetings, not me.” – November 12, 2019.