PKR Youth chief says duo sacked because they are over 35

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR Youth permanent chairman Muhamad Mizan Adli Mohd Nor and his deputy Mohd Ramly Ahmad were sacked because they are over 35 years of age, says its chief Akmal Nasir.

Akmal said that a youth member must be below 35, according to the party's rules and constitution.

"I think it's time for us to have organisational discipline, similar to what we say in our rules and constitution.

"In this issue, we want to strengthen the terms enshrined in our constitution, where a youth member must be below 35," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby on Nov 28 (Thursday).

The Johor Baru MP said the party's rules also stated that those who hold positions in the youth wing must be youth members.

"So, what we are actually doing is upholding the rules. When a mistake happens, the youth wing leadership council must make a decision to ensure the survival of the party and the wing.

"We want to ensure the youth wing is led and managed by youth members," he said.

Earlier, Mizan and Ramly had disputed the reason for their sacking, saying that the position of permanent chairman and deputy permanent chairman were not limited to those aged 35 years and below.

Asked to comment on the remark, Akmal said: "You show me the rules."

"So far, the rules say any position in the youth wing must be held by a youth member. Thank you for being a part of the youth wing, but we need to make sure the youth wing is led by a youth member," he said.

Mizan and Ramly are known to be aligned with PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Azmin's faction has strained relations with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's faction after the former's invitation to officiate the PKR Youth national convention was rescinded by other top leaders in the party.

Azmin claimed that there were "hidden hands" to silence him from speaking to PKR members.

Talk of possible boycotts is rife at the coming PKR national congress on Dec 8 in Melaka.