Anwar calls out Baru Bian over unexplained absence at PKR Congress

SHAH ALAM: Works Minister and Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian (pic) was one of the party leaders who was noticeable absent during the three-day PKR National Congress, with no reason given, says newly-installed president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said he did not know why Baru was absent.

"Baru Bian, I don't know, he did not give a reason, that's why I called out this behaviour in my speech," Anwar said in a press conference after the Congress which ended earlier Sunday (Nov 18).

Two other party leaders and ministers – Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar – were also absent from the Congress, but were on official duties overseas.

"Saifuddin is with the Prime Minister's entourage in Papua New Guinea (for the Apec Summit), while Xavier is leading an international delegation (to Egypt)," said Anwar.

Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, also touched on the issue of the PKR's de facto leader (Ketua Umum) position.

"The position has never been in the party constitution and was just a resolution.

"Now we have the Party Advisory Council, chaired by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail," Anwar said, but did not elaborate on the position.

Anwar had assumed the role of PKR de facto leader for over 10 years, dating back to early 2008.

When asked about the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Anwar said the government needs to assure Malays that they will not lose their special position, nor will the position of the Malay Rulers and Malay language be undermined.

"People want to know that their rights are protected as enshrined in the Constitution," said Anwar.

He hit out at PAS and Umno, whom he said were exploiting the ICERD issue to create the impression that the Malay position would be compromised.

"It's purely hypocritical of them to play up the issue of Malay rights when they condoned the excesses of the past, squandering of billions of ringgit in 1MDB funds," Anwar said, while also pointing to the mismanagement of Felda and other agencies during Barisan Nasional's era.

The party, he said during the press conference, also needs to move on from the Julau PKR membership controversy.

During his speech at the congress, he pledged that PKR and its members would cooperate with bodies such as the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission investigating into alleged wrongdoing in the recent party election.