Former PKR deputy chief Afif Bahardin (above) said the lingering question in everyone's mind now is who is the mastermind behind the concerted campaign to topple Minister of Economic Affair Azmin Ali.
Afif said this curiosity overides the quest to know the authencity of the sex video, which was viralised to implicate Azmin with another man.
Afif said he prefers not to believe rife speculation that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim is involved in the conspiracy to end Azmin's political career.
"But the lingering question remains.
"Since individuals linked to Anwar have been arrested by police, it is only fair if Anwar clears his name, once and for all," Afif told Malaysiakini.
"There is such a notion as guilty by association, which is why it is imperative that Anwar comes right out to admit or deny that he is the mastermind behind the videos," added Afif, a Penang state executive councillor.
Afif denied he was pointing the figure at Anwar or his associates, but said it was only natural for others to question his link to the alleged conspiracy since he (Anwar) was in line for the post of the next prime minister.
Afif said by now most political observers would have heard the speculation and rumours that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has plans to give the post to Azmin, Afif added.
"Authencity of the rumours can be debated or squashed, but doubts about Anwar's association with those who were nabbed by police lingers," said the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.
"The nation needs to know that Anwar is clear of all this. We do not want a prime minister who is tainted with such allegations and conspiracy.
"The country can’t afford to have a leader like former premier Najib Abdul Razak, who is tainted with the 1MDB scandal, as there is no place for gutter politics in Malaysia Baru," Afif said.
Afif's remarks comes after Anwar said Azmin, who is PKR deputy president, should quithis post if the video was authentic.
He has the option not to do so if the police probe proved otherwise, Anwar added.
Yesterday, PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (above) urged Azmin not to "hide" behind Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
But Azmin described his former ally as a "hypocrite", while earlier Mahathir had dismissed the allegations as a "smear campaign."
The campaign to topple Azmin kicked of on June 12, when video clips, which depicted a man who looked like Azmin in bed with another man, weres distributed via several WhatsApp groups.
Former Santubong PKR Youth leader Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz admitted he was one of the two men in the video, but Azmin has denied the allegation.
On Monday, Haziq and five others were arrested over the distribution of obscene material and committing carnal intercourse.
Yesterday, three more individuals, including one of Anwar's aides, were arrested in connection to case as well. - Mkini
slowly the drama is unfolding. Eventually we will know the actors are.
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