RPK: Dr M, Daim ‘de facto leaders’ of PKR
Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin claims that a businessman linked to Daim Zainuddin is financing those in PKR who want to see Nurul Izzah fall.
(FMT) – Bizarre is it not? Perhaps even downright preposterous. Imagine Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin being the de facto leaders of PKR, a party born in the wake of the former premier’s decision to dismiss Anwar Ibrahim and haul him to court, a move in which Daim’s contribution was said to be instrumental.
But as blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, who made the allegation, noted: politics was interesting.
He claimed that a well-heeled businessman, linked to the even more well-heeled Daim, was bankrolling a group of rising stars in PKR.
The rising stars, PKR strategies director Rafizi Ramli – known for spilling the milk on the infamous NFC scandal – and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad were loyalists of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
The duo, according to Raja Petra, were Azmin’s “secret weapon” to arrest the ascent of Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah in PKR.
“They are bent on making sure that Nurul does not emerge as her father’s successor,” he said.
The whispers in PKR was that Azmin viewed Nurul as a threat, especially with her now being touted as the possible first woman prime minister of Malaysia.
Raja Petra claimed that Daim’s protege Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah was financing the opposition parties, including PKR.
“He made his money through Daim and Umno. So why is he now funding the opposition? Has he turned? Has he repented? Or is he a Trojan horse trying to bring the opposition down?” he asked.
The blogger alleged that Wan Azmi’s man Wong Chen had played a key role in former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim’s failed bid to win the Hulu Selangor parliament seat.
Previously, speculation was rife that Azmin was uncomfortable with Zaid’s entry into PKR and had sharpened his blades for the former law minister.
The latter eventually made an acrimonious exit from the party after failing to defeat Azmin for the number two post and accusing him and Anwar of rigging the contest.
Is Daim fighting for change?
As for Nurul, Raja Petra claimed that the Azmin, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi axis was hoping that she would be defeated in her Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency in the next polls.
The PKR vice-president, who slew Umno giant Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in the last polls, was expected to face Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.
