‘I CAN’T TELL RAFIZI NOT TO CONTEST’, SAYS ANWAR EVEN AS HE REVEALS HE HAD IN THE PAST STOPPED RAFIZI FROM CHALLENGING AZMIN FOR NO.2 POST – WHILE NURUL DISMISSES SERI SETIA SEAT AS ‘FAKE NEWS’

PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim said Mohamed Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli, both of whom are vying for the deputy presidency, are his men.

In an exclusive interview with Mingguan Malaysia, the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia, he said the duo are in “Anwar’s camp”.

He said he once told PKR vice-president Rafizi not to go for the No. 2 post, currently held by Azmin, but he understands Rafizi’s reasons for wanting to do so.

He said the contest is part of democracy, but is aware that some think he is paving the way for the challenge against Azmin.

“I can’t tell Rafizi not to contest if he has a reason to do so. I can only advise the candidates not to be obsessed or tied to factions, as it could prevent the best leaders from being elected.  

“As the ‘father’, I have to support all party members, perceive all who contest in the party polls as one team, and give them opportunities.”

It was Anwar’s first interview with the Umno-controlled newspaper in more than 20 years. When he was in the opposition, he used to ban Utusan from his press conferences.

He said he has told both Rafizi and Azmin not to make personal attacks and abuse their power to gain votes from some 800,000 PKR members nationwide.

The competition between former Pandan MP Rafizi and Economic Affairs Minister Azmin is fierce.

Members in Rafizi’s 20 Years of Reformasi camp have accused Azmin of harbouring ambitions to become prime minister after Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down.

Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is defending her vice-president’s post, is on Rafizi’s team, and has been featured in posters by his camp.

Anwar said Nurul Izzah is free to support whoever she wants.

But, he said, his daughter is avoiding being seen as supporting a particular candidate.

“Anyone who studies her politics will see that she is firm and independent. Even with me, there are many things we don’t agree on.

“Nurul Izzah has her own stand. (I) don’t stop her from supporting anyone.” – https://www.themalaysianinsight.com

Nurul Izzah: Seri Setia candidacy talk is ‘fake news’

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has rubbished speculation that she will contest in the upcoming Seri Setia by-election and vacate her parliamentary seat.

“First I’m hearing about it – and fake news at that,” Nurul Izzah said in a brief WhatsApp message to Malaysiakini.

The speculation about Nurul Izzah contesting in Seri Setia revolved around plans for her father, PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim, to engineer a by-election to enable him to return to Parliament.

Nurul Izzah, however, has said she would not relinquish her Permatang Pauh seat to Anwar.

Anwar himself pooh-poohed speculation regarding the Seri Setia move.

“I have not heard of it. Why would Izzah go to state (level)?

“No one suggested it. If they had, then I would consider it,” he was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.

Meanwhile, The Star cited sources as saying that certain factions lobbying for Nurul Izzah to contest in Seri Setia were leaking the information to the press in order to please Anwar.

One source likened this to the 2014 Kajang move.

The Kajang move was a by-election engineered by Rafizi Ramli, which was meant to install Anwar as Selangor menteri besar.

An overturned acquittal in Anwar’s Sodomy II trial and tensions with the Selangor palace eventually saw Azmin Ali assuming the position instead.

Rafizi is challenging Azmin for the PKR deputy president post.

Two MPs aligned with Rafizi, Selayang’s William Leong and Sungai Petani’s Johari Abdul, have already offered to vacate their seats for Anwar.

The Seri Setia by-election will be held on Sept 8, with nominations to be filed on Aug 18. – M’kini

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / MKINI