ANWAR Ibrahim was beaming at the press conference after the closing of the 14th PKR Congress.

There was good reason for the party president to smile. His deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali and key PKR leaders such as vice-presidents Zuraida Kamaruddin and Ali Biju and Wanita chief Haniza Talha might be boycotting the event, but the 72-year-old knew he now had the upper hand.
 
For the party delegates had overwhelmingly him given their support to take stiff action against the group of absentees, who had plans to hold an “alternative” congress at Renaissance Hotel last night.

This is after days of wondering what tricks Azmin might have up his sleeve at Anwar’s first PKR congress as the party president, as the rift between the two widened.

But taking action against Azmin and his group of 23 leaders is harder than it looks, said analysts.

“Anwar won’t sack them for now. Perhaps he can suspend their positions for refusing to follow party instructions.

“But a three-year suspension, for instance, would be a big blow to their careers,” said Universiti Malaya Malay studies lecturer Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

Awang Azman, who attended the PKR Congress in Malacca as an observer, said Anwar won’t make it easy for Azmin.

“A sacking would only benefit Azmin as this is what they want in order to form a new party or join another party.

“But if Azmin is adamant about challenging Anwar, the grassroots will pressure the president to act and this could shake up Azmin’s own supporters.”

Anwar also had to consider the impact of sacking Azmin and gang on the party, said International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar.

“The only reason they have not been not sacked till now is that PKR will lose a number of MPs and assemblymen,” said the political science lecturer.

Although, the delegates have given room for Anwar to act against his deputy, the former has to weigh his options carefully, said Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Dr Azmi Tayeb.

“I’m sure Anwar has sufficient grounds to sack Azmin but he must be concerned about the kind of mess it’ll cause, such as an exodus of key party members. 

“Azmin is after all an influential party figure and has many supporters. Selangor, for example, is his  stronghold and Anwar doesn’t want PKR to lose the state if Azmin leaves,” said the social sciences senior lecturer.

Selangor is led by Azmin supporter Amirudin Shari while Malacca is a Pakatan Harapan state by only a slim margin.

In what had appeared to be a show of strength by the Azmin camp recently, a PH bill to appoint a Malacca rep to senator was defeated at the state assembly when two of Azmin’s followers, assemblymen Ginie Lim and Muhammad Jailani Khamis failed to vote.

Azmin’s options

While the rift appeared irreconcilable, Azmin was also stuck with Anwar, said analysts.

“If Azmin wants to become prime minister, which he has never been shy about showing, his natural option is to join Bersatu.

“But where will his non-Malay supporters like Tian Chua, Hee Loy Sian or Elizabeth Wong go?” asked Azmil.

And if it would be hard for Azmin to join another party, it would be even harder for him to start a new one, said Awang Azman.

“He would need a large sum of money to start a new party. Besides, where would his new party fit in in PH? 

“There’s also the compensation sum the candidates would have to pay the party if they leave.”

But should the going get too rough, Tunku Mohar believes Azmin would have to choice but to join another party.

“Starting a new party would be too cumbersome and it won’t do him any good if he harbours the thought of becoming the PM one day.”

At the press conference, Anwar left some room for the Azmin faction.

When asked if Azmin could be sacked, the prime minister-in-waiting said: “It doesn’t arise. This was only voiced by some delegate and none of the leaders have agreed to it.”

On reconciliation, the president quoted former US president John F Kennedy.

“We should never fear to negotiate and we should never negotiate out of fear.”

Because he knows he has the upper hand. – December 9, 2019.