Azmin: PKR will not bow to DAP’s demand

(The Star) – PKR has vowed not to bow to DAP’s demand as it formulates strategy to keep opposition parties, including PAS, united to go into a straight fight with Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Its deputy president Azmin Ali said personal views of outgoing DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would be disregarded, as petty fights would lead the party nowhere.

“We will not let outsiders split our party.

“We are the only party that can get PAS, Parti Amanah Negara, DAP, PSM and all like-minded NGOs to sit together on the same stage,” he said after opening PKR Youth and Wanita congress here yesterday.

Lim had demanded for action to be taken against five Penang PKR assemblymen who did not reject Umno’s motion tabled at Penang State Assembly against the state’s massive reclamation project.

Azmin proved his point by noting the presence of DAP Socialist Youth chief Wong Kah Woh, Amanah Youth chief Sany Hamzah, PAS Youth vice chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin at the congress’ opening ceremony.

DAP and PAS fallout had led to the dissolution of the loose coalition Pakatan Rakyat, as DAP pushed for Amanah to replace PAS in the new coalition Pakatan Harapan.

Although PAS was not included in the new coalition, Azmin said they could still collaborate with PAS.

“Multi-platform cooperation is nothing new in politics.

“Our ultimate aim is to ensure we go into a straight fight with Umno/Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Azmin also claimed that some civil servants in Putrajaya had contacted him to enquire about a possible transfer to the state. Unlike the Federal Government that engaged foreign consultants, the Selangor government appreciated ideas from local officers.

He said he had announced 1.5 months’ bonus for civil servants, whereas the Federal Government merely offered a special allowance of RM500.

He also described the Edra Global Energy sale to China as unpatriotic and irresponsible, as national assets should not be sold to foreigners.

At the PKR Youth meeting, a resolution calling for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to step down was also passed.

PKR congress theme this year is “Free Anwar Free Rakyat”.

The party is lobbying to free its leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was jailed for a sexual offence committed against his former employee Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Its 1,000,000 signature campaign to free Anwar attracted some 100 signatories as of 2pm yesterday.