PKR MAKES IT CLEAR TO MAHATHIR, WARNS AZMIN CARTEL – ‘WE WILL BACK YOU UNTIL ANWAR TAKES OVER AS PM BUT WE MUST REMAIN RESPECTFUL OF ELECTION RESULTS & OPPOSE ANY EFFORTS LIKE MEETINGS WITH UMNO MPs THAT CONTRADICT THE SPIRIT OF CONSENSUS AT PAKATAN’

PKR has reiterated its support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad until party president Anwar Ibrahim assumes the top job, as agreed under the Pakatan Harapan transition plan.

PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution said the party’s central committee leadership reiterates its support for the prime minister’s leadership and to allow him to focus on strengthening the economy, racial unity and administration of the government.

“The transition should remain peaceful and orderly and use the appropriate platform, which is the Pakatan Harapan leadership council,” the Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP told reporters after PKR’s central leadership council meeting at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

Saifuddin said party leaders agreed with points raised by Anwar at a speech last night and today over the transition process.

Anwar had said that he will not accept a cabinet post until he becomes prime minister and that Dr Mahathir must be given room to administer the country.

Anwar had also made thinly veiled criticisms against his deputy Azmin Ali, who last week invited 22 Umno MPs to his residence in Putrajaya.

PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin and Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamaruddin Jaafar were present at that meeting.

PKR opposes “any efforts that run contrary to the spirit of consensus within Pakatan Harapan”, Saifuddin said.

“These efforts (meetings with Umno MPs) clearly do not reflect the spirit that Pakatan has been striving for and which has been achieving success with,” he said.

“We, at PKR, repeat that we must remain respectful of election results.”

He said preparations are under way for the party congress to be held on December 6 and 7 in Malacca, which will involve 2,615 delegates from 221 divisions nationwide.

Azmin is slated to officiate the Women’s congress, with party adviser Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail doing the same for the Youth wing congress.

The Tg Manis division in Sarawak remains disqualified from participating after the courts granted an injunction filed by a PKR member over a dispute concerning the division chief’s post.

Saifuddin said the court will hear another application by PKR to set aside the court order on November 28, saying it was the party leadership’s hope to see all 222 divisions attend the congress.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT