Anwar wants reconciliation but warns he will be more strict

PKR AGM | Party president Anwar Ibrahim capped off the PKR congress today with a message of both reconciliation and warning.

“Those who have different opinions from us are longtime loyal party members. We can’t wipe out their contributions just because of some momentary anger.

“I hope that we can sabar sebentar (calm down for a while) [...],” he told members.

The past four days saw fights, police reports and hard-hitting delegate speeches calling for party “traitors” to be sacked.

The speeches triggered a walkout, signalling a breakdown of the ceasefire agreement between factions aligned to the president and his deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The hostile atmosphere against Azmin’s faction continued this morning, with jeers heard for vice-president Tian Chua.

Giving the last speech of the afternoon, Anwar explained the party had advised delegates to tone it down beforehand but maintained that he could not have vetted all the speeches.

As for those who had walked out of the congress yesterday, he called for re-approachment.

“I think most are here, the delegates as well. According to our count, 80 percent are loyal to the party, but about 10 to 12 percent feel like they don’t want to come.

“We should approach them and tell them that this is not (in line) with party discipline. Unless there are those who feel like they are not with the struggle anymore, we will accept whatever decision they make,” he said.

“I assure you that I will now be more strict than before,” Anwar stressed as the crowd clapped and cheered.

No offence

As for his policy speech yesterday morning, the president reiterated that he never intended to offend anyone with his retelling of two traitors — Si Kitol and Raja Mendeliar — who caused the downfall of Malacca’s Malay sultanate in 1511.

“Those were historical facts. It was not to offend anyone.

“When Si Kitol was punished, not only was he killed, his home was destroyed and burned while his land was taken away.

“What is the lesson from this? That slander and traitors are dangerous to the country,” he said.

Azmin and his team previously took issue with the historical reference, accusing Anwar of paving the way for a barrage of criticism by delegates. - Mkini