The Malaysian Insight

PKR grassroots leaders are disappointed with Mohamed Azmin Ali’s response to the sex video scandal, saying he has not addressed the allegations against him in full.

The deputy president is losing support, they said, as many members do not know how to defend him any longer after grappling with the issue for a month.

They pointed out that apart from staunch allies Zuraida Kamaruddin and Chua Tian Chang, or better known as Tian Chua, other PKR leaders have not come out to aggressively defend Azmin.

Some grassroots leaders told The Malaysian Insight they are waiting for police to confirm the authenticity of the sex clips before deciding on the next course of action.

“As grassroots leaders, we face society. It’s hard to back Azmin up when he doesn’t go all out himself,” said a Youth leader from Johor who declined to be named.

“There are many accusations by Haziq (Abdullah Abdul Aziz) that Azmin left unanswered. People don’t forget the accusations, and Azmin just evades the issue.”

On June 12, a day after the first clip started circulating, former Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq said he was one of the two men filmed having sex, and named Azmin as the other. He said the two were in a hotel in Sandakan when the video was recorded.

Haziq also called for Azmin’s resignation, saying the latter was corrupt and unfit to be a leader.

Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, denied Haziq’s claims, describing them as malicious slander designed to destroy his political career.

On June 13, Haziq made more claims against Azmin, taking to Facebook to say the duo had three prior sexual encounters, with the first taking place some three years ago. He even named the hotels where they allegedly had their trysts.

Azmin has not responded to the second wave of allegations, as well as three subsequent releases of clips and photos purportedly of him and Haziq.

A Perak grassroots leader said there are not a lot of calls to defend Azmin’s reputation.

“Only a few people voiced their opinion. The rest just looked on.”

The only notable PKR leaders who have leapt to Azmin’s defence are vice-presidents Zuraida and Chua.

Two weeks after the first clip made the rounds, Chua issued a statement, urging party members to support Azmin as they did president Anwar Ibrahim during Reformasi.

Response, however, was muted.

Another Perak PKR leader said some of Azmin’s supporters are distancing themselves in the fallout of the scandal.

“It’s common knowledge… most of Azmin’s strongest people are sitting on the fence and watching how things play out in the party and government.”

The Malaysian Insight is made to understand that there is a movement in PKR urging Azmin to withdraw from his cabinet and party posts if Haziq’s allegations are proven true.

They are waiting for the police investigation to be completed before making a final decision, said a Selangor PKR leader.

“If (the allegations are) true and cannot be defended, we will urge Azmin to take leave. We can send a memorandum to the president to take action.

“If Azmin is innocent, we will continue to fight against defamatory politics.”

A Perak branch chief said an easy way for Azmin to clear his name is to file a suit against Haziq.

“He (Azmin) looks like he is afraid if he does not (initiate legal action). I’m disappointed… it’s all about running away from this video issue.”

PKR leadership council member Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid has called on Azmin to take the issue to the courts.

Haziq, too, has challenged Azmin to sue him. – July 6, 2019.