Anwar-Azmin spat a matter of differences of opinion, says PKR sec-gen

JOHOR BARU: PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has played down the spat between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as "differences of opinion".

He added that it was a norm for leaders in any political party to have different opinions when it came to certain issues.

Saifuddin, who is also the Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister, said he believed the party can handle this situation.

"In the party's 20 years history, where I was one of the founders in April 1999, there were clashes of ideas and differences of opinion back then.

"In any political journey, there will always be ups and downs and this situation would not weaken PKR," he said when met during a walkabout at Pasar Borong Pandan here on Wednesday (July 17) night.

Earlier, Azmin had hit back at Anwar, saying that the PKR president should "look at the man in the mirror."

"Read my lips … Tell him he must look at the man in the mirror," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Wednesday (July 17).

Asked to explain his comments, Azmin said: "Ask Anwar to reflect on his own actions (muhasabah)."

Anwar had suggested that Azmin should resign if he is conclusively identified as one of the two men in a recent viral sex video.

On July 16, Primary Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said that those implicated in the sex video should go on leave.

The police have arrested and remanded nine people so far, including Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, who is Perak PKR state chief and Anwar's political secretary.