MELAKA: Among the matters discussed during the meeting between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Datuk Seri Azmin Ali last week was the need for the party leaders to practice the principle of justice.
This was revealed by Azmin to the media today where he stressed the significance of practising the principle in PKR as “justice” was embedded in the party's name.
He said this when asked by reporters on the fundamental issues discussed during the meeting which was considered as an avenue for the two top PKR leaders to reconcile after months of strained ties.
“Well, we were talking about justice (and) justice starts from home. It has to be implemented in the party before you can promote the principle of justice (to the mass),” he said at the Melaka International Trade Centre here during the party’s national congress that will end tomorrow.
Both Azmin and Anwar met in the Parliament building on Wednesday to end months of sniping heading into the PKR annual congress.
There were apparent rifts in the party as a result of infighting among factions loyal to both the leaders since the party’s internal election last year.
Asked on Anwar’s call for PKR members to unite and stop dividing the party into factions, Azmin echoed similar view.
“We shouldn’t allow that (factions). That was the reason I took the initiative to gather the elected Supreme Council Members to put in letters to him (Anwar) and seek his guidance, to sit down and discuss.
“Yes, we met last week and we hope that the meeting will be able to resolve some of the fundamental issues (on serving justice) in the party,” he said.
Although after the meeting Anwar and Azmin said all was well between them, the sentiment at the grassroots level appeared to be different.
Yesterday, at least 50 PKR youth delegates from different factions were involved in a series of brawls and today, during the congress’ debate session, some delegates called Azmin as the “menteri pengiring” (escorting minister).
Asked on this name-calling, Azmin simply said: “It is an open process.”
When pressed on what it would take for both of them to resolve their differences once and for all, Azmin expressed hope for the party to follow proper procedures before making a decision.
“Again, I hope that the particular meeting that was initiated by me and my elected Supreme Council Members, which is to seek the guidance of the president, (will) ensure that all the decisions (made) must be in accordance with the party’s constitution and procedures that we have adopted for the last 20 years.”