PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today admitted his “soft-heartedness” has caused factionalism in the party, saying he should have been firmer by sacking “perpetrators”.

“But I am very conciliatory and soft. And this has given a chance for some to take advantage.

“I should’ve sacked both the perpetrators. I should have said ‘enough is enough’,” Anwar told reporters after his policy speech at the opening of PKR’s congress in Malacca International Trade Centre today.

He did not specify who he was referring to nor the acts of betrayal.

PKR’s main congress begins today following the women and youth congress that ended yesterday.

The youth wing’s meeting started its day yesterday with two rounds of fighting between factions, leading police to detain two people over disruption.

But it has not been established whether the two are PKR members or paid saboteurs.

Also, for most of this year and in the run-up to the congress, Anwar has been at loggerheads with his deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali and his supporters.

A week before the congress, Azmin and his supporters signed a memorandum urging Anwar to apologise for sacking two Pahang members Zakaria Abdul Hamid and Ismail Dulhadi over alleged corruption.

The youth wing, headed by Anwar supporter Akmal Nasir, had decided not to invite Azmin to launch its congress.

Then there was speculation Azmin’s supporters would boycott the congress and hold a separate gathering.

On Wednesday night, before the youth congress the next day, Anwar and Azmin made a deal that Azmin would open the meet and he would be present for the whole congress over the weekend, and both sides would not attack each other in their speeches. – December 7, 2019.