KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor PKR appears to be conspicuously missing from a joint-statement issued by Pakatan Harapan pact state leaders in support of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s nomination as its prime minister candidate.
The statement, which was signed by Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) chairman Izham Hashim, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, called for Pakatan state leaders including PKR to throw their support for Dr Mahathir, among others.
“We would like to affirm our undivided support for all declarations made during the 2018 Pakatan Harapan convention (on Sunday).
“These include (support for) prime minister candidate Dr Mahathir and deputy prime minister candidate (PKR president) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” the statement said.
Other declarations mentioned in the statement include efforts to seek the release and pardon for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, seat allocation for PKR, PPBM, DAP and PAN in the peninsula, and pact's manifesto.
“We call for all leadership, members and supporters of Pakatan, regardless whether they are from PKR, DAP, PAN or PPBM to be united and committed to making a change during the 14th general election by defeating Barisan Nasional.”
The statement came on the heels of widespread rejection against Dr Mahathir as the pact’s prime minister candidate.
Selangor PKR leaders, including party women chief Zuraida Kamarudin, have refused to endorse the decision and proposed for PKR deputy president and Selangor menteri besar, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, to be nominated for the post instead.
Azmin has yet to comment on the controversy but had on Tuesday retweeted a news report on PKR deputy youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin’s call for grassroots members to be given clarification on the decision made.