Anwar ‘saved’ Umno only to be betrayed, says PKR Youth leader

 Huraimi Husri, from the FT chapter, says the PKR president should be remembered as a friend who helped Umno when it was struggling after GE15.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim prevented Umno’s ‘death’ after the 15th general election, said federal territories PKR Youth representative Huraimi Husri. (Bernama pic)

MELAKA:

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tried to save Umno from “dying” after the 15th general election, only to have his efforts repaid with betrayal, says a PKR Youth leader.

Federal Territories PKR Youth representative Huraimi Husri said Anwar should instead be remembered as a friend who stood by Umno when the party was struggling after GE15.

“He was the one who wanted to save Umno from ‘dying’ after the last general election. But how was his contribution repaid? Was he appreciated?

“Is he remembered as a friend? No. He was betrayed,” he said while debating the PKR Youth chief’s policy speech at the wing’s congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) today.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously said there had been an attempt to deregister the party shortly after the formation of the unity government, but that “someone had saved Umno” by disregarding the request.

Anwar has also claimed that he was among the Pakatan Harapan leaders who objected to an alleged plan by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin to ban Umno after the 14th general election.

Huraimi said power-driven politics could cause those once regarded as friends to “stab you in the back”.

He said political struggles should not be traded based on relationships or vested interests.

“Colonisation is no longer carried out with guns, but through power, betrayal and political interests.

“We should not build politics based on who has been our friend the longest, but on who is most loyal to the people and the struggle,” he said.

Melaka PKR Youth representative Hakim Hafizudin criticised Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, whom he accused of frequently pushing a narrative that Malays were under threat.

He also hit back at those who labelled PKR as liberal.

“You accuse us of being liberal. So, does wearing this songkok make me liberal, too? I am still Malay and Muslim. I can read the Quran and hadith,” he said.

Hakim also urged PKR leaders not to focus solely on criticising other parties, but to have the courage to address weaknesses within their own party to ensure the reform agenda continues to win public support. - FMT