PKR MPs met Azmin in parliament to discuss economic policies

The meeting between Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali and several PKR lawmakers today was to discuss the country's economic policies, says PKR's Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was present at the meeting.

"We were just having our usual discussion on economic policies, not related to anything with PKR.

"Economic policy is not politics ah? Of course, it is political, but it is not about the party.

"We can't even talk to our economic minister without creating a fuss? It's just that it came immediately after last night's meeting, but I was not even there," Maria said to reporters in parliament today.

The meeting today was held at the parliament temporary building and aside from Maria, Malaysiakini also sighted Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, Batu Pahat MP Rashid Hasnon and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang MP).

This meeting comes less than 24 hours after Azmin met with more than 20 BN MPs, including former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, at his residence in Putrajaya last night.

These two meetings followed Pakatan Harapan's massive defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election on Saturday, which saw pressure mounting on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step down.

Speculation has been rife for months that Mahathir and his inner circle preferred Azmin to become the next premier despite Mahathir and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim repeatedly assuring that their succession plan would proceed as planned.

Previously, the Pakatan Harapan secretariat also accused Hishammuddin of attempting to form a new government without DAP and Amanah, which the Umno leader denied.

Azmin had earlier downplayed the meeting last night, saying it was nothing out of the ordinary and he could not remember who called for the meeting.

"I take an open approach, whoever wants to meet me, I meet with them," he had said.

Meanwhile, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was informed that the meeting was to discuss channelling government projects to the BN MPs' constituencies. - Mkini