Only one PKR convention, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: There can only be one party convention and it is the one in Melaka, says PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He added this was decided by the party's central leadership council.

He called on party members to focus on rebuilding the party ahead of its national convention later this week.

"The others do not represent the party. Other people who want to hold meetings can have it anywhere, in hotel...this is a democratic country," he told reporters after chairing the Parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance in Parliament on Monday (Dec 2).

It was reported recently in The Star that the group loyal to PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is planning to hold their own gathering - or a parallel congress as some call it - on the same day as the party congress on Dec 6.

The group is aware that the parallel congress will not be recognised by the party but they want to show that they have the numbers, especially at the supreme council level and even among divisions in the country.

Anwar on Monday also downplayed talks of party vice-president Tian Chua playing a mediating role between he and Azmin. Both the president and deputy president is locked in a factional war.

"There is no such agreement, I just discussed with everyone including Tian Chua, R. Sivarasa and Maria Chin Abdullah, and just now I met with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution.

"On Sunday (Dec 1), there was a small gathering at my house where those from the Youth and Wanita wings came to meet me.

"My message to them is to not complicate unity efforts, don't use the forum to attack anybody," said Anwar.

Asked if he had met with outspoken party vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin, Anwar said that he had yet to meet her in a" heart-to-heart" meeting.

"There will be no problem if I meet her at any of Pakatan Harapan's programme.

"I have never stopped any party from meeting me.

"But it will be hard if I meet those representing certain camps or factions, I do not want."

On the calls for a vote of no-confidence against him, Anwar said he had yet to officially hear about it.

"We have more than one million members.

"If one or two people want to give their opinions, there is no problem," he said.