The freedom to criticise among parties and leaders in the Pakatan Harapan coalition must be handled with responsibility, said PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin.
Differences in views and criticising one another are "normal" in PKR as they are unlike BN politicians who are unwilling to speak the truth in front of their superiors, Afif reasoned.
"We are now the government and the media is free to report, anyone can share their views but freedom comes with responsibilities, and one should not make wild allegations or slander others in the name of freedom of speech.
"The party must reject malicious slanders and incitement like that which do not benefit others at all and only create divisions within the party and coalition members," he told Malaysiakini in an interview in Penang.
According to him, the new government provides several avenues for its members to express their views and voice their grievances, and one of it is through the Harapan presidential council.
"It is stated in the party's constitution that there must not be public attacks against one another.
"These guidelines were written by Invoke chief and former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli himself and was agreed by all when we signed it," added Afif, who is also Penang executive councillor.
However, he conceded that such guidelines were not practiced by some members, of late, and they voiced out the issues in the press as their grievances were not heard by their party leadership.
There is an urgent need to address such issues, he said.
Ethics in free speech
Afif also reminded the coalition members to be ethical when openly debating issues which may affect Harapan's component parties.
"It is not nice, for example, if PKR comments on DAP's internal issues, and vice versa. Any criticisms channelled to the party must be done with wisdom," he said.
The two-term Seberang Jaya assembyperson was asked for his views on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's (photo) concern for the hostile reaction against dissenting views within Harapan.
As an example, Anwar had pointed towards the reaction Rafizi, who is also PKR vice-president, got when his organisation Invoke said Harapan won not because of Dr Mahathir Mohamad but because of bread and butter issues, which incurred the wrath of several Bersatu leaders.
Penang DCM's post
Afif was also asked to comment on PKR Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin's criticism that he was lobbying for the Deputy Chief Minister I post in Penang by asking youth leaders to publish solidarity statements in the media.
His name was tipped together with Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Saifuddin Nasution as the potential replacement for Rashid Hasnon, who left to contest in Johor.
Norlela also complained that state Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's new exco line-up lacked members from Amanah and Bersatu, who together with DAP and PKR, captured 37 out of 40 state seats in Penang.
Afif said the appointment of Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman of PKR, as DCM I, was done after discussions with various parties.
He said Zakiyuddin may be lesser known but he is a professional, a consultant, an engineer and is capable enough to jointly lead Penang with Chow.
"The combination we have now is the best, we must support Chow as new CM, and give Zakiyuddin a chance to contribute," Afif said.
"As for me, this is my second term and it is time for me to step up my game and bring in a lot of new initiatives, as we will no longer be blacklisted by the federal government, we are now able to contribute our ideas and programmes too," he added.
Afif holds the health; Agriculture and Agro-based Industry; and Rural Development portfolios in the Penang state government. - Mkini
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