Anwar's meeting with PKR reps, leaders no longer at DPM's residence

De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim's scheduled meeting with the party’s lawmakers and leaders – which was initially to be held at Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s official residence, Sri Satria – has now been moved.

This change of venue came after the party received brickbats for using the official residence for a party function, which raises questions about conflict of interest.

Wan Azizah is the PKR president as well as Anwar’s wife.

“Thank you for the concerns raised.

“The concern with regards to dual roles of party president and office holder (of) deputy prime minister is duly noted and the PKR elections committee has fixed the meeting on Wednesday to be held at One World Hotel, Selangor,” PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar tweeted in response to the criticism.

Earlier today, it was reported that PKR has instructed all of its elected lawmakers, former representatives and state leaders to attend a meeting with Anwar next Wednesday.

In a letter dated May 31, Nurul Izzah had said that this special meeting will be held at Sri Satria.

"Out of 113 Pakatan Harapan parliamentarians (not including Warisan MPs), 49 MPs are from PKR which make up 42 percent. PKR has 67 state assemblypersons in all states, except in the states of Kelantan and Terengganu.

"The PKR election committee would like to take the opportunity to congratulate those who succeed in the GE14. The victory is the signal of the rakyat's acceptance for PKR to implement all the agenda of reform.

"In the meantime, the election committee has been instructed by the de facto leader to call all parliamentarians, assemblypersons, former representatives, state chiefs and the election committee chief to attend a special meeting," she said in her capacity as the committee's co-director.

"The attendance of all of the MPs and state assemblypersons is compulsory.

"The de facto leader has instructed all MPs and assemblypersons to make the meeting their priority," Nurul Izzah added.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin told Malaysiakini that this is the first official meeting between the party's elected representatives and Anwar since the latter's release from prison.

"Since his release, Anwar has not met all the elected MPs and state assemblypersons. So, this official meeting is due to him being the de facto leader of the party," she said.

Besides the meeting proper, Zuraida believes that Anwar will take the occasion to congratulate the lawmakers for their victory in the May 9 polls.

Another party source, meanwhile, cast doubt on important issues – including rumours of fissures within the party – being discussed at such a large meeting.

"I don't think Anwar will convey such an important message in an open event like this. The media should not be so sensitive," the source said. -Mkini