The Malaysian Insight

PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali has slammed his party’s decision to retract an invitation to launch its youth congress next month, saying it is an effort to shut him up.

He added the move is unprecedented as the normal practice is for the deputy president to launch such events.

“This is unprecedented, political parties usually ask the deputy presidents to launch women’s and youth congresses while the presidents go for the main congresses,” he said at a press conference today at the Intan forum series in Kuala Lumpur today.

“This is an attempt to shut me up.”

Azmin said he had received the invitation and had confirmed his attendance.

PKR youth secretary Syukri Ab Razak had said an invitation letter was sent to Azmin on September 11, which was received by his office on September 23.

However, Syukri said he did not receive a formal reply.

Azmin had said this snub by his party was orchestrated by “unseen hands” as youth chief Akmal Nasir would have not acted on this of his own free will.

“I know for a fact that Akmal is a weak person. He is not capable of doing this unless there are unseen hands behind him.”

Yesterday, 21 youth leaders issued a statement condemning the snub against Azmin.

“It is important for the leadership to take into account the concern expressed by the members. Don’t take it lightly,” said Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister.

He said the party must provide a united leadership to strengthen, not split it.

He was speaking to the media after a session on Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 with top civil servants at the National Institute of Public Administration in Mont Kiara today.

Akmal had said Azmin would not be launching the youth the congress as Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was asked instead.

Azmin has previously aggravated ties with the leadership by refusing to attend PKR leadership council meetings or its weekly political bureau meetings.

He has also publicly backed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to finish his term in office which goes against the transition plan for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to take over earlier.

The 21 youth leaders, led by Azmin’s political secretary Hilman Idham, had said it was wrong to have invited Azmin and later retracted it.

The statement signed by the 21 leaders from different states also criticised PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, accusing him of having a role in this.

Saifuddin has denied any involvement, saying the decision to invite Wan Azizah was entirely up to the youth wing.

A copy of a letter purportedly confirming Azmin’s attendance is being circulated via WhatsApp.

The youth congress will be on December 6 at the Malacca International Trade Centre. – November 14, 2019.