Some want to protect ideals, some want to protect posts – Anwar on Azmin's tweet

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has advised his number two Azmin Ali not to get too emotional over certain issues.

“I think he needs to cool himself a bit. I think he should always focus on the central issues,” he told reporters when met at the sidelines of the Dewan Rakyat sitting this afternoon.

“There are people who want to protect principles and ideals, there are people who are just (trying) to defend their position at all costs. So, you must take this into consideration,” he added.

Anwar was asked to comment on Azmin's tweet that Malaysia needed leaders who would battle to the end, and not “crybabies”.

Though he did not mention names, it is believed the economic affairs minister's tweet was aimed at Anwar's daughter and former PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The tweet had come in the wake of Nurul's interview with the Singapore Straits Timeswhere she expressed disappointment with the slow pace of reforms under the Pakatan Harapan administration.

She also described Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a “former dictator who wreaked so much damage on her family and the system” when commenting on having to work with her father's former nemesis.

Apart from this, the Permatang Pauh MP said this would be her last term as an elected representative.

Following Azmin's tweet, PKR lawmaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad responded: “When a lady makes a stand, call her a crybaby? Cheap, very cheap.”

Commenting on this exchange, Anwar said he hopes the reiteration of his support for Mahathir would dissipate the tension within PKR.

“Everyone has the monumental task of developing the economy, why the need to poke your nose into this issue,” he added.

Although Mahathir has agreed to hand over the reins to Anwar in two years, there has been speculation that certain quarters are opposed to this and there is friction between the two camps.

Both Mahathir and Anwar have repeatedly denied this. -Mkini