PKR political bureau gives verbal warning to Rafizi, says report
Sin Chew Daily reported its source as saying that although the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, at its meeting last Monday, decided against any cooperation with PAS, it did not bar PKR from negotiating with the Islamist party on the quiet.
(FMT) – The PKR political bureau is reported to have given a verbal warning to vice- president Rafizi Ramli for making public the internal bickering in the party over the issue of negotiating an electoral pact with PAS.
Sin Chew Daily, quoting a source, reported that the political bureau gave the stern warning to Rafizi over his actions and statements which damaged the good name of the party.
“On the advice of Anwar Ibrahim, the party decided on only a verbal warning to Rafizi for now. If he continues to be obstinate, no one can guarantee that he won’t be expelled,” the paper quoted the source as saying.
Last Saturday, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali admitted negotiating with PAS to avoid 3-cornered fights in the coming general election, but claimed he was following the decision of the party.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, however, denied there was any party decision to hold talks with PAS on seat allocation.
Rafizi, who is opposed to negotiating with PAS, then revealed there was a serious split on the issue among members of the PKR political bureau.
The Pandan MP said leaders in the political bureau, which determined the directions of the party, were often at loggerheads and also did not respect the bureau’s decisions.
The situation developed after the jailing of Anwar in February 2015, he added.
Sin Chew Daily reported its source as saying that although the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, at its meeting last Monday, decided against any cooperation with PAS, it did not bar PKR from negotiating with the Islamist party on the quiet.
According to a PKR insider, the party stood firm on continuing talks with PAS because it was directed to do so by Anwar who wanted to avoid 3-cornered contests in the coming general election.
“PKR faces challenges not only from PAS, but also from other political parties in East Malaysia. Because of this, we will continue to negotiate a one-on-one formula with PAS, Parti Sosialis Malaysia and other parties in East Malaysia.
“PKR is only talking to PAS about the one-on-one formula. It does not involve political collaboration, common policies or manifesto.”
With this objective in mind, the party insider said Anwar appointed Azmin to negotiate seat allocation with PAS and Azmin’s role received the support of a large number of members in the political bureau.
The insider said the leaders opposed to the talks, such as Rafizi and Selayang MP William Leong, were not in Azmin’s camp, and frequently objected to the actions taken by Azmin.
“Although a vice-president and member of the political bureau, Rafizi has not attended its meetings for a year.”
It is understood that when PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Azmin met PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang three weeks ago, the PKR leaders spoke of their wish to continue the negotiations with PAS.
Rafizi had named Tian Chua, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, Xavier Jeyakumar, Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin, Zuraida Kamaruddin, R Sivarasa, Saifuddin Abdullah, Kamaruddin Jaafar and Fahmi Fadzil as among the leaders who backed the talks with PAS.
Those opposed to it, according to him, included Leong, Saifuddin Nasution, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Tan Yew Kew, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Johari Abdul, Sim Tze Tzin and Fariz Musa.
Leong announced his resignation as a member of the bureau last Wednesday over his disagreement with the negotiations while Rafizi called for a special congress to let the party grassroots decide on the issue.
