'Only tomorrow's congress discussed at PKR politburo meeting'

The PKR political bureau meeting today only discussed the national congress which begins tomorrow rather than the party’s internal problems, according to several central leadership council (MPP) members who attended it.

This came after PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali said he would be present at the national congress, following a meeting with party president Anwar Ibrahim at the parliament building today.

MPP member Sivarasa Rasiah (photo) explained that the politburo meeting did not discuss former research officer Muhammad Yusuff Rawther’s allegations of sexual misconduct against Anwar.

“We only discussed the party, meaning the congress,” he told reporters when met after the meeting at the parliament building had concluded.

Earlier today, Yusuff read out his statutory declaration dated Nov 19, where he claimed that he was the victim of indecent exposure, molest and a lewd proposal during the incident allegedly committed by Anwar on Oct 2, 2018, at the latter's residence in Segambut.

Malaysiakini is unable to independently verify Yusuff’s allegations. Anwar’s aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak had dismissed it as “feeble effort” to tarnish the party.

Meanwhile, when asked, Anwar said the meeting today had gone smoothly and is focused on making the upcoming congress a success.

PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir added that the meeting between Anwar and Azmin today had nothing to do with a rumoured “parallel congress” that would supposedly take place at the Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, this weekend.

He noted that Azmin himself had said he would attend the official event in Malacca.

Previously, it was said that the gathering at the Renaissance Hotel would be a show of force for Azmin’s supporters, amid party infighting that involved a break from party tradition whereby Azmin would not officiate the PKR Youth congress.

Following today’s two-hour meeting, however, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Azmin will officiate both the Women and Youth wings.

Meanwhile, PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said there would be no congress except for the official event in Malacca tomorrow.

PKR Youth deputy chief Hilman Idham issued a statement welcoming Anwar and Azmin’s move to help strengthen the party ahead of the congress. - Mkini