I went through proper channels when questioning appointments, insists Azmin

KAJANG: PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali today insisted that he had gone through the proper channels when questioning the appointment of several party leaders, including that of Rafizi Ramli.

Azmin, who is also the economic affairs minister, said he had discussed the matter with party president Anwar Ibrahim before issuing the statement.

“I had a series of meetings with my president and I will continue to do so to discuss party issues.

“But there are times when we need to issue a public statement,” he told reporters after attending the handover of Simfoni Apartments here today.

Anwar had advised Azmin on Dec 29 to use the proper channels instead of going through the media when raising PKR-related issues.

This was after Azmin had called for a review of recent party leadership appointments, claiming some of the appointed were directly involved in rigging the recent PKR elections.

Anwar also announced last month, among others, the re-appointment of Rafizi as the party’s vice-president, and Saifuddin Nasution as the secretary-general.

The Port Dickson MP advised Azmin to set a good example to other members by not using the media to raise party issues.

Today, however, Azmin said he had always discussed party matters with Anwar and hence this was a non-issue.

He said he rarely issued statements, so when he did “it becomes a problem”.

“But that doesn’t mean I didn’t go through the proper channels,” he said, adding that he would continue to speak up on party matters.

Azmin also denied he had secretly met with former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, after a picture of the two leaders and their families on Twitter left tongues wagging over social media.

Azmin’s eldest son Ameer shared the photograph of the families together at a resort in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Azmin said he did not go on a vacation with Hishammuddin and had bumped into him in Marrakesh.

“I met many Malaysians in Morocco, including students, so don’t speculate,” he said. -FMT