AYER KEROH: PKR Deputy President Datuk Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will not walk out on the Pakatan Harapan component member despite facing multiple controversies, party Information chief, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said.
He said this was because Azmin had gone through many challenges and faced many obstacles since the early days of the party’s formation in 1999.
He said he was confident that Azmin, as the second most important person in the party, would continue to remain with PKR and implement the pact’s agenda in the government.
“Based on my past experience, having known him since the Reformasi era, I believe he will not walk out on PKR which he had helped establish.
“I am confident that whatever the problem is, it will not be the reason for him to leave the party,” he said.
He added that Azmin not only has an important position in the party as the No.2 but also in the Cabinet as the Economic Affairs Minister.
Shamsul said this after attending a luncheon and dialogue session with media practitioners, here, today.
On Thursday, Azmin’s political secretary Hilman Idham denied claims that the minister would quit PKR, stating that the claims amounted to slander and was created by those who had lost in the party polls.
Hilman said Azmin continues to enjoy strong support from PKR division chiefs, the women’s wings and party members.
Rumour of Azmin seeking to leave PKR started swirling after speculation emerged that he had allegedly joined former Barisan Nasional component party, Gerakan.
Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau today claimed the multiracial party received overtures on the possibility of Azmin joining his party.
Lau also claimed that “several” PKR leaders and other Pakatan Harapan component party leaders wanted to see Azmin join Gerakan.
Meanwhile, Shamsul said all Melaka PKR leadership including that from the branch level had expressed their support for Anwar to continue to lead the party.
He said party members from the state would back the Port Dickson Member of Parliament as party president.
"I do not think there is an issue surrounding the question of our support for the party president.
“After all, was it not Melaka was one of the first states to back and support Datuk Seri Anwar as party president.
"As was stated, we want the party to speak in one united voice, meaning there should be no other voice that should be heard," he said.
Commenting on the 21 Masjid Tanah PKR branch members who walked out on the party lead by its vice-chairman Khairuddin Ibrahim on Thursday, Shamsul said he is hopeful that Melaka PKR chairman Halim Bachik would be able to resolve the matter.
“I believe the matter could be resolved through a table talk. Of course I am disappointed with their stand and move to leave the party”.
