The main government party, the PKR, is going through turbulent times. But then, its members would tell you the party has been turbulent since its birth.
“It has been in turbulence for ages. It was born out of the reformasi turbulence.” says a diehard supporter to The Independent.
But with rumours of a split within the party – at its leadership level – Anwar Ibrahim stepped in: “There are no camps. There is only one camp. Anwar’s camp,” he told reporters after meeting PKR supporters on Saturday afternoon, according to Channel News Asia.
Anwar is the president-elect of the party, a post he won unopposed after speculations by his opponents and by some so-called party insiders that he would be forced to contest against Azmin Ali, Economy Minister.
Rafizi Ramli, the anti-corruption fighter who helped bring down the Najib Razak regime with his exposes and revelations, made some damaging remarks lately.
He said Azmin Ali met with Anwar Ibrahim to ask the leader not to contest the President post. He also said Azmin went to Turkey to seek the PKR presidency post. Why Turkey, Rafizi did not say.
In the past, there have been rumours that Rafizi is linked to some Umno warlords, including Daim Zainuddin who was heading the now-defunct Council of Elders created to assist the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in implementing its 100-day promise.
Daim was former Minister of Finance of Malaysia before Anwar took over the ministry. Daim is not in the good books of Anwar. He is seen as the man who supported Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to get rid of Anwar from the Umno and the government in 1998.
He is said to be a man with deep pockets.
Nevertheless, in Sarawak Anwar reminded PKR leaders and members not to abuse their power or get involved in corruption.
“This is a stern warning from me because as long as I am the president of PKR, I will not tolerate corruption,” he said.
He said the people voted for PKR in the last general election because of the party’s principles and idealism and that the PKR is a party for all.