Don’t involve me in ‘childish games’, Azmin says in DAP-PAS spat

(Malay Mail Online) – Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali sought to distance himself from the open war between partners DAP and PAS that has all but killed the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact.

The PKR deputy president had been asked openly by Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua to choose to team up with DAP or PAS following the total breakdown in communications over the Islamist party’s insistence to roll out Shariah criminal law.

“I’ve already said yesterday… do not force me in this childish game… the role of Parti Keadilan Rakyat is to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat and we must fulfil the aspirations of the people, including those in Selangor,” Azmin told reporters here.

“I will make decisions in the interest of the people and that’s my responsibility,” he added.

The Gombak MP also sought to play down the internal conflict within PR as a mere misunderstanding between PAS and DAP.

“This is not an argument but just a misunderstanding which is normal in our democracy… this is not a dictatorship. When there is a view, we discuss, so we go back to our drawing board to discuss,” he said.

Pua and PAS chief whip Datuk Mahfuz Omar have both pressed Azmin to decide PKR’s stand after PAS officially cut its ties to the DAP last week.

The decision was an escalation of the hostilities between the two parties that traces back to last year’s Selangor mentri besar crisis, but is largely rooted in the fundamental differences between the Islamist PAS and secular DAP.

Pua agreed that it was important for his party and PAS to stop fighting and work together if PR is to stand a chance of bringing down the Barisan Nasional government.