KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was never a member of the global organisation, Liberal International (LI), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
During the prime minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar, who is also PKR president, said the party only held the 'associate' status and severed ties due to several causes the organisation supported.
He added that the matter had also been brought to the attention of the political bureau during the party's meeting recently.
"Regarding LI, you can check that we have never been a member (of the organisation).
"We were initially an associate, however, we did not become members due to some of their decisions, including recognising the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) and Israel.
"We also brought LI's stand on Israel during our political bureau meeting and we (decided) to cut ties with them, which was announced by PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil," he said.
Anwar said this in response to a supplementary question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) who enquired whether PKR had ever been a member of an organisation that supported Israel.
On Nov 4, Fahmi, who is also the Communications and Digital Minister made an official request to LI to take down the party's name and logo from their website.
Fahmi said that he had contacted the organisation to correct the matter as PKR was never a party to the organisation.
A day prior, Fahmi had dismissed claims made by irresponsible quarters linking the party with an Israeli organisation.
He stressed that the party remained strong in its support and solidarity with the people of Palestine.
