THERE is no falling out between Anwar Ibrahim and Mohamed Azmin Ali, said PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

The deputy prime minister refuted claims that there are camps in the party, and reiterated that PKR is united.

“I don’t think there is a rift. As I’ve said, we are in one camp,” she told reporters after breaking fast at Dataran Merdeka.

She was commenting on a report by Singapore’s The Straits Times, which said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is giving PKR deputy president Azmin wide powers as economic affairs minister over critical government-linked companies to neutralise the influence of de facto PKR leader Anwar.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Pandan MP, said despite Azmin’s name not being submitted by the party for a cabinet position, the choice of ministers is Dr Mahathir’s prerogative.

“There is nothing wrong with this,” she said, referring to Azmin being named as economic affairs minister.

The Straits Times said Dr Mahathir’s move could strengthen Azmin’s position while checking Anwar’s within PKR.

Azmin and PKR colleague Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is housing and local government minister, are said to be members of a camp rivalling Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah.

Quoting sources, the report said the economic affairs portfolio oversees sovereign wealth funds Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd, as well as national oil company Petronas.

The three companies, estimated to be worth RM1 trillion, were under the purview of Ministry of Finance Inc during the Barisan Nasional administration.

The report said there is also talk that agencies in charge of Malay-Muslim welfare, such as Tabung Haji and Felda, will be placed under Azmin’s ministry. – June 9, 2018.