The Malaysian Insight

AFTER all the drama, PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali steered clear of recent events to deliver a rather dull speech while opening the 14th PKR Women and Youth wing congress.

The night had begun with a lot of promise as Azmin was escorted by some 70 boisterous men and women clad in the red tee-shirts bearing “AA Team” on the sleeves and “Perjuangan Demi Rakyat” emblazoned on the back.

However, in the end, it was a speech that will be remembered for the things not said.

Azmin did not touch on a breakaway PKR congress in Kuala Lumpur or that he was almost uninvited to officiate the Youth Congress.

He did not address the sackings of Zakaria Abdul Hamid, Ismail Dulhadi, Youth chairman Mizan Adli Mohd Noor and his deputy Mohd Ramly Ahmad ahead of this year’s congress.

Nor did he talk about the memorandum he had signed calling for party president Anwar Ibrahim to apologise for Zakaria and Ismail’s terminations.

Instead, the 55-year-old Economic Affairs Minister kept his speech on the straight and narrow urging the party to be Pakatan Harapan’s “Rock of Gibraltar”.

“PKR must be the vanguard and forefront of the driving force to fulfil this, we must be optimistic.

“We must not be defeatist, we must be consistent in doing what is right, we must be open to listen to what the rakyat is saying and we must always be vigilant.

“PKR must remain Pakatan Harapan’s Rock of Gibraltar for stability and durability,” said Azmin, seemingly unaware that his party almost fractured this week had it not been for a last-minute ceasefire last night.

The only diversion from his text was a quick reminder of how he has been with the party and was “steadfastly” behind it.

The rest of his 56-point speech toyed with PKR’s history and its achievements despite the challenges.

It also noted the government’s efforts to uplift the poor with its Shared Prosperity Vision, making sure to mention Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the driver for the new initiative.

Azmin then shared his ministry’s report card that included the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan and the Felda White Paper.

Before he entered took to the stage, there was a three-minute video of Azmin’s achievements in the party, including crediting him as the architect behind the Dr Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim reconciliation.

Meanwhile, there was absolutely no mention of Anwar in the speech. – December 5, 2019.