HOW CREDIBLE IS AZIZAH: NO RIFT BETWEEN ANWAR & MAHATHIR – ALSO NO RIFT BETWEEN ANWAR & AZMIN

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 Jun -- Timbalan Perdana, Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (tengah) hadir pada Program Iftar@Kuala Lumpur 2018 yang diadakan di perkarangan Dataran Merdeka hari ini. Program Iftar@KLkembali lagi tahun ini bermula 26 Mei lalu setiap hujung minggu sehingga 9 Jun. Pelbagai aktiviti diadakan sepanjang program seperti mengagihkan bubur lambuk, solat tarawih, tazkirah Ramadan dan banyak lagi bermula jam 5 petang hingga 10.30 malam. --fotoBERNAMA (2018) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has denied speculation that there is a rift between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and her husband, PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Responding to a Singapore’s Straits Times report alleging two different factions allied to both men, the deputy prime minister said everything is fine between the two of them.

“There’s nothing wrong,” Dr Wan Azizah told the press after the Iftar@Kuala Lumpur mass breaking fast event at Dataran Merdeka here.

“I don’t think there’s a rift. As I said before, we are in one camp.”

Earlier today, the Singapore daily reported PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s appointment to the Cabinet as the minister of economic affairs has allegedly alarmed the supporters of his party’s de facto leader Anwar.

Citing anonymous sources, the daily said Azmin’s Cabinet position could be seen as a power play by Dr Mahathir to consolidate his grip on Pakatan Harapan.

On a separate note, the Dr Wan Azizah said one should remain sensitive despite freedom of speech, when asked about Datuk A. Kadir Jasin’s resignation from his post as spokesman for the Council of Eminent Persons.

“I think some quarters find his comments sensitive but we do have the freedom of speech. However, even with freedom of speech you should be sensitive to others,” the PKR president said.

Earlier, at the event which saw more than a thousand visitors attending and breaking their fast together with her, Dr Wan Azizah was seen holding a little Syrian baby boy.

Apparently, the boy’s mother who is a refugee from the war torn country had approached Dr Wan Azizah after she finished breaking fast and asked her favour to grant the mother and child Malaysian citizenship.

“The baby was a Syrian refugee and his mother came and told me the tragic story that forced her from Syria. She asked for citizenship for herself and her baby boy and I told her this is under the home minister’s purview.

“I said I will inform him of her request. The lady saw Malaysia as a safe haven and said she doesn’t want her child to be killed from chemical gas attacks,” said Dr Wan Azizah. – Malay Mail

No rift between Anwar and Azmin, says Wan Azizah

THERE is no falling out between Anwar Ibrahim and Mohamed Azmin Ali, said PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

The deputy prime minister refuted claims that there are camps in the party, and reiterated that PKR is united.

“I don’t think there is a rift. As I’ve said, we are in one camp,”   she told reporters after breaking fast at Dataran Merdeka.

She was commenting on a report by Singapore’s The Straits Times, which said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is giving PKR deputy president Azmin wide powers as economic affairs minister over critical government-linked companies to neutralise the influence of de facto PKR leader Anwar.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Pandan MP, said despite Azmin’s name not being submitted by the party for a cabinet position, the choice of ministers is Dr Mahathir’s prerogative.

“There is nothing wrong with this,” she said, referring to Azmin being named as economic affairs minister.

The Straits Times said Dr Mahathir’s move could strengthen Azmin’s position while checking Anwar’s within PKR.

Azmin and PKR colleague Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is housing and local government minister, are said to be members of a camp rivalling Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah.

Quoting sources, the report said the economic affairs portfolio oversees sovereign wealth funds Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd, as well as national oil company Petronas.

The three companies, estimated to be worth RM1 trillion, were under the purview of Ministry of Finance Inc during the Barisan Nasional administration.

The report said there is also talk that agencies in charge of Malay-Muslim welfare, such as Tabung Haji and Felda, will be placed under Azmin’s ministry.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com