Will PKR's seaside retreat salve tensions?

PKR leaders are scheduled to attend a party retreat at the luxurious Lexis resort in Port Dickson this weekend amid heightening tensions between its top two leaders.

Earlier today, Azmin's supporters - 14 MPs and eight state assemblypersons from PKR - signed a joint statement urging Anwar to refrain from making statements which could create a rift in the party.

This was followed by Anwar's own show of force. Flanked by loyalist MPs, the PKR president declared that he "has the numbers" to be the next prime minister.

Invitations for the event went out on June 29 and Malaysiakini could not establish the agenda. There are also conflicting accounts on whether the verbal sparring between Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali would be brought up.

It is also uncertain if whether Azmin and his inner circle would attend. Some of those who signed the joint statement told Malaysiakini that they have already committed to other engagements.

Two key signatories of the joint statement - Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jayakumar - told Malaysiakini that they would be attending the retreat to fulfil their duties as vice-presidents.

"The (retreat) agenda is to build party unity. PKR must stand united to reject gutter politics. That was the principle which gave birth to PKR," said Chua.

Police investigations

For now, "unity" is eluding PKR going into the retreat as personalities from both factions contacted by Malaysiakini appeared entrenched in their respective positions.

Anwar had consistently stated that he sympathised with Azmin's predicament. However, his comments yesterday that Azmin should step down if the video is proven authentic has angered the latter's faction.

Several personalities from Azmin's faction told Malaysiakini that Anwar should have shown leadership by standing firmly behind his deputy.

"Azmin and the rest of us fully stood behind Anwar when he was a victim of gutter politics. Why can't he do the same for Azmin?" asked one former division leader aligned to Azmin, which turned out to be a common refrain among his supporters.

So far, police investigations appeared to be centred on the criminality of creating and distributing the video clip.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has confirmed that the video is authentic but the identities of the two men engaging in sexual acts cannot be determined.

Some of those aligned to Anwar, however, told Malaysiakini that they stood by the party's official position that an all-encompassing investigation, including probing those in the video, must be carried out because one investigation cannot be carried out without the other.

On allegations that Anwar and those aligned to him are not doing enough to defend the attacks against Azmin, one party official told Malaysiakini that they are inadequately informed to do so.

"We need him to attend meetings and explain what happened so we can work out a strategy to defend him.

"This is unlike Anwar back in the 1990s, where he attended Umno meetings, explained himself and fought all the way," said the official who declined to be named.

The Mahathir factor

Meanwhile, the retreat would also be the first time Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad addresses a PKR function. He is scheduled to address the PKR leadership and party lawmakers on tomorrow night.

One observer said it would be interesting to note whether Azmin would be present for the session with Mahathir and use the opportunity to project his level of support despite trying times.

PKR communications chief Fahmi Fazil said Anwar and the party leadership decided to invite Mahathir to address the retreat because it was a tradition among Pakatan Harapan components to invite leaders from allied parties as guests.

"We expect him to share his insights on current events, plans for the final session of Parliament, economic development plans and our future direction," he said when contacted.

In March, both Mahathir and Anwar were guests at DAP's retreat in Selangor.

Mahathir's presence at the PKR retreat is highly significant because the party was formed to challenge him during his first premiership in the late 1990s.

It is also interesting to note that, either by chance or design, the venue for the retreat is located in Anwar's constituency and from an aerial view, the five-star resort is fashioned in the shape of a hibiscus - which also can be found on the logo of Mahathir's party Bersatu. - Mkini