PKR has decided to boycott all Hari Raya events organised by BN as a protest against the conviction and imprisonment of its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"In protest against the conviction and continued imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim, PKR will boycott all Hari Raya events organised by the Barisan Nasional at federal and state levels," PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo) said in a statement today.

Anwar, who was declared as a prisoner of conscience by global organisation Amnesty International, is the "rightful democratic leader" of the country, she said, but he continues to beunjustly imprisoned.

"Meanwhile, the economic uncertainty and crisis of governance is daily worsening," she noted.

On Monday, Anwar had received an invitation to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's Raya open house event tomorrow.

Many netizens had accused Najib's minders of adding insult to injury with the invite, with some blaming the prime minister for Anwar's jailing in the first place.

However, the Prime Minister's Office had later explained that the invitation to Anwar was a "protocol mistake" and that it was meant for Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh prison for sodomising a former aide.

Not time for petty politicking

In an immediate reaction, Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang said that it was unfortunate that PKR would resort to such a boycott during the Hari Raya festivities.

While acknowledging Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or other PKR leaders have every right in their personal capacity not to attend events organised by BN, Tan (photo) said they should not have instigated and issued an order via press release that PKR, as a whole, will boycott BN’s Hari Raya events.

"Hari Raya should be a time where all Malaysians should strive to celebrate the event together with Malaysian Muslims, irrespective of personal political allegiances.

"It should be a time to foster better relationship among Malaysians, not a time for petty politics," said the Gerakan youth chief in a statement.

He added that he had attended many Hari Raya open houses organised by PKR and PAS leaders in the past, and political allegiances should not be a barrier in fostering unity among Malaysians.

"The move by PKR to boycott events organised by BN is totally uncalled for. Political parties and leaders should set a good example in fostering unity among Malaysians and not otherwise."