'Anwar and Azmin must rebuild trust in one another'

Former PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin has weighed in on the recent tensions between party president Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali, saying that both need to rebuild their trust in one another.

"I have always maintained, PKR's pillar of strength will be the combined forces of our president Anwar and Azmin. That will make the party strong.

"Anwar has to act as president, to be able to listen and work closely with his deputy. The trust must be built again, especially after the heated party election," he told Malaysiakini today.

"Azmin’s position is secured by winning the party election, so the wish of the grassroots for Azmin to be Anwar’s deputy must be respected.

"There must be mutual respect between the president and deputy," he stressed.

Afif was asked to respond to Anwar recently advising his number two to "cool himself a bit" over certain issues. 

"There are people who want to protect principles and ideals, there are people who are just (trying) to defend their position at all costs," the party president had said.

Anwar said this after a cryptic tweet from Azmin stating that the country does not need "crybabies," believed to be a veiled reference to former PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah.

Nurul had in an interview expressed her disappointment with the slow pace of reforms under Pakatan Harapan, and said it was difficult to work with the "former dictator," Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

'Not like a family business'

Afif, the deputy division chief of Anwar's former stronghold of Permatang Pauh, recently bumped into Rahim Kasdi, his counterpart in the Gombak division that Azmin heads, while performing the umrah in Mecca.

Asked about his view of party reforms, Afif said PKR must be managed professionally, according to position and discipline.

"It must be run like a corporation, not a family business. 

"Times have changed, 'Malaysia Baru' requires PKR to carry out internal reforms, led by Anwar and Azmin, to make the party stronger," he said.

Afif also noted that continues to believe in PKR's true cause despite losing out in the race to become PKR Youth chief to Akmal Nasir.

"Even though I am not holding any post in the party, as a party member with some limited experience, I still go down to the grassroots and train new leaders to emerge in PKR," he said.  - Mkini