Santhara downplays Azmin losing his position due to absenteeism

PKR's Segamat MP Edmund Santhara has downplayed the possibility of PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali losing his position due to absenteeism for PKR central leadership council meetings.

Santhara, who is also PKR deputy secretary-general, said this when asked to address Article 21.16 of the party constitution which says that any leader who is absent from PKR central leadership council meetings three times consecutively without a satisfactory reason will have deemed to have resigned from the council.

The party constitution adds that it will be up to the council to enforce the rule.

However, Santhara said the clause had never been enforced.

"According to the convention, the clause had never been used because they (those absent) will inform the person who chairs the meeting or that there is already an understanding between them," he said.

Santhara said conclusions should not be drawn based on "incomplete information".

"I understand that he (Azmin) is a senior minister and is very busy. He has contributed a lot of his time and energy to resolve economic issues such as Felda's and many government-linked companies that require his attention," he said.

Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (below) said Azmin had, without giving proper reasons, not attended PKR leadership council meetings since late last year following the PKR election

However, Santhara dismissed this as Saifuddin's "personal views".

"This is his opinion since the president and deputy president are in communication. I think it's above his paycheque," he said.

Azmin had been unhappy at Anwar for appointing his (Azmin's) defeated party election opponents to the PKR leadership council and their rift widened following a sex video implicating Azmin which the minister alluded was an inside job.

Meanwhile, former PKR deputy secretary-general P Jenapala confirmed that the PKR constitution does indeed have provisions that would see leaders lose their positions if they were absent from PKR leadership council meetings.

He added that any leader who decided to be absent must inform the party secretary-general and also provide the reason.

"In meetings, the secretary-general is the most powerful figure," he said. - Mkini