20 years of sacrifice for PKR only to be called ‘traitor’, Azmin says

Diyana Ibrahim Ragananthini Vethasalam Diyana Ibrahim, Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2019 9:16PM · 4 Comments

PKR No. 2 Mohamed Azmin Ali says the party was not built by any one individual or family, but all its members. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 8, 2019.

AFTER 20 years of giving his all to PKR, Mohamed Azmin Ali tonight lamented that he has been labelled a traitor by the party leadership.

The deputy president, speaking at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, said he was at the venue two decades back as one of PKR’s founding members, but now, the tables have turned.

He said his comrades Zuraidah Kamaruddin, Chua Tian Chang and Sivarasa Rasiah, too, were with him all those years ago.

The party, launched as Parti Keadilan Nasional, morphed into its present form, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, following a merger with Parti Rakyat.

“Twenty years later, on December 7, 2019, I was called a traitor. The one who called me a traitor is not even in this hall,” said Azmin, without mentioning PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

“The one who chased Zuraidah, Tian Chua and Sivarasa knew PKR only two days ago,” he said in an emotionally charged speech at the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 dinner.

Though touted as an event to discuss the government’s economic policy, it was used by Azmin’s faction to lash out at Anwar.

The grand ballroom was packed with some 3000 attendees, with chants of “Reformasi” and “Kekal tenang” (Keep calm) ringing out whenever a leader arrived or made a powerful statement.

Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, reminded the gathering that PKR was not built by any one individual or family, but all its members.

“This party was built by all of you, and after 20 years of our fight and being jailed… all of a sudden, we are traitors.

“This party was not built by one individual. This party was not built by one family. This party was built by Malaysians,” he said to loud cheers.

People holding up a sign in support of PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel tonight. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 8, 2019.

Tensions between the two factions in PKR came to a head yesterday when Azmin’s supporters walked out of the party congress in Malacca after Anwar’s “Si Kitol” jibe, which suggested that the deputy president and his backers are traitors.

Azmin yesterday said he had hoped members would focus on matters relating to the party’s policies and direction in Anwar’s speech.

Tonight, he said he had been jailed before Anwar was, adding that it was for the sake of PKR.

“Don’t erase history. Before Anwar was jailed on September 20, I went to jail.

“I was stripped (of my clothes), stepped (on), insulted. And for what? For PKR’s fight.”

As the PKR No. 2, he said, he has always stood by the president as it is the party’s principle to reject gutter politics.

The party stood by Anwar during his sodomy trial, never questioning his innocence and maintaining that the case was slander, he said.

However, said Azmin, when he was implicated in a sex scandal a few months ago, he was asked to resign.

The Gombak MP expressed regret that the three-day PKR congress did not touch on pertinent policy issues, such as the economy and housing, and instead focused on labelling certain leaders.

The debates at the gathering lacked quality, and should have emulated the quality discourse seen at the ongoing Amanah congress, he said. – December 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • "Don't erase history" is the statement that needs second look and consideration about the whole present issue and problem in PKR. The plus and minus or for and against players are the same. Who has really changed sides and forgotten that history?

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • So what 20 years? U skipped meeting, called for Tun to remain as PM for as long as possible, met rival MPs and planned rival congress!! You are a snaky traitor. You are lucky because the sitting PM is protecting youand he is just as snaky as you.All your fanatic followers are around you because you have the contracts to dish out. Just wait, once AI becomes the PM, they will all leave you for him!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • So what 20 years? U skipped meeting, called for Tun to remain as PM for as long as possible, met rival MPs and planned rival congress!! You are a snaky traitor. You are lucky because the sitting PM is protecting youand he is just as snaky as you.All your fanatic followers are around you because you have the contracts to dish out. Just wait, once AI becomes the PM, they will all leave you for him!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • In the 'Reformasi' game of Malaysian politics, my conclusion is: it is being won by the opponent against whom the whole movement came into existence. I can't wait to see the final conclusion in these children playing masak-masak. It is sad that we trusted some of these ungrateful players and traitors with our future.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply