Friday May 10, 2013

GE13: Selangor needs a vibrant leader, says PKR deputy president Azmin Ali

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and SIRA HABIBU
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Question time: Azmin being bombarded with questions from members of the media outside the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star.

PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said the next Selangor Mentri Besar should not be a “lame duck” who allows himself to be led by others.

Azmin, who is reportedly upset that he was not picked for the post, said the nation's richest state should be led by someone decisive and with a clear vision, noting that Selangor was won by Pakatan Rakyat by an overwhelming majority of 40 seats against Barisan Nasional's 12 seats.

The lame duck reference is seen as an indirect dig at Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who has been endorsed by DAP and PAS for the top post.

“This is not about Azmin or Khalid. It's about the process. I don't want a lame duck as mentri besar when the people gave us a strong mandate. People expect a strong leadership and not a person who can be dictated,” Azmin said.

The newly-minted Gombak MP and Bukit Antrabangsa state assemblyman said he would “reveal all” about the state of affairs in the party at a press conference today.

Earlier, Azmin chaired a special briefing with newly-elected representatives from Selangor, during which it was believed that he spoke about the on-going tussle in Selangor for the top post.

The tussle has pitched Azmin against Khalid, and PAS and DAP who have 30 assemblymen between them, have endorsed Khalid as their choice, whereas supporters of Azmin, who is also Selangor PKR chief, feel that now is his turn at the top state post.

It is believed that only Khalid's name was submitted to the palace.

Party sources said the endorsement for Khalid was signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and Selangor DAP chairman Teresa Kok although the one by Kok was rejected.

It is understood that the palace asked for the last letter to be signed by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng but it has not been sent as of press time. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be early next week.

Azmin intends to address the issue of nepotism in PKR at today's press conference which is expected to be highly-charged and will also reveal what took place “behind the scenes” during the Permatang Pauh by-election in 2008.

However, he claimed he was speaking in general when asked if the nepotism remark was in reference to Wan Azizah and vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Asked about several tweets he fired that was critical of the rallies planned by PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (of which Azmin was notably absent), questioning the results of the general election, Azmin said it reflected his stand that the party should now focus on serving the people and to move on.

It was speculated that Azmin, upset that he was not picked to take the top state post, would leave PKR with his supporters.

It is learnt that the dejected representative informed his supporters, including PKR elected representatives, to be prepared to voice their unhappiness at the turn of events.

Azmin, who fired a series of tweets late Wednesday night against the PKR leadership, has sparked talks that he was considering leaving the party.

In his series of tweets, Azmin criticised Anwar's rally, saying that the rakyat was “tired of extreme politicking”.

He called on Pakatan to accept the people's verdict and move on with policies that cared for the rakyat, and not bully the rakyat.

“Shouts of reformation must come from the heart. Don't drag the rakyat, if we have failed. Failed to get Putrajaya. Whose fault is that?” tweeted Azmin.

More News

News

Friday May 10, 2013

GE13: Selangor needs a vibrant leader, says PKR deputy president Azmin Ali

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and SIRA HABIBU newsdesk@thestar.com.my

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and SIRA HABIBU
newsdesk@thestar.com.my