KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has been slammed for "taking a break" from politics.
PKR deputy information chief Razeef Rakimin said Azmin was being irresponsible as he was still Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman and had a duty to serve his constituents.
He said Azmin may have lost his Gombak parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election but he had been elected to serve the Bukit Antarabangsa state constituency in Selangor during GE14 in May 2018 and remains the representative there until the state was dissolved later this year.
"As an elected representative, the decision to rest can only be made when deciding not to contest in an election.
"As long as he is an elected representative, it is his duty to continue serving the people until the end of his term," he said in a statement.
Razeef said what is more, Azmin would continue to receive his allowances as an assemblyman while on his "break".
Azmin, who is also Perikatan Nasional information chief, had announced that he would be taking a short break from politics, though he said he was determined to continue serving the people and the country.
"To all Malaysians, this is a momentary break in my career to serve the people and think about new plans. However, my determination to serve the country and the people will not waver," he said.
PN had previously stated that it had not ruled out the possibility of nominating Azmin as Selangor menteri besar if he wins the state election, which needs to be held this year.
Azmin had been the state's chief executive when he was with PKR, but had led a group of party members in hopping over Bersatu in 2020, helping to cause the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal administration.