PETALING JAYA: PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh (pic) will meet party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to identify the best person to officiate the national Wanita and Youth congress.
This comes after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, the party deputy president who was supposed to officiate the congress for both wings, decided to opt out.
“I will be seeking the views of the party president, as well as input from both the Youth and Wanita wings, to determine the best action,” Fuziah said yesterday.
Rafizi expressed his decision to the party in writing.
However, on May 18, he found himself increasingly frustrated when the contents of the letter were leaked on social media.
“It is true that I informed party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of my decision not to accept the invitation to officiate the congress,” Rafizi said.
His decision not to attend the event is reportedly linked to Sabah PKR’s failure to invite him to the launch of its election machinery in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday, May 23.
The Economy Minister is expected to defend his position as deputy president against Nurul Izzah Anwar in the party polls on the same day.
“I only sent the letter to two individuals – Anwar and the secretary-general.
“Who leaked it when it was meant to remain confidential?” asked Rafizi.
Fuziah, however, said she and Anwar were not the only ones to receive the letter, adding that PKR Youth chief Adam Adli had also received it.
“It is not true that the letter was shared solely with the party president and the secretary-general,” she said, while denying that the leak had come from her office.
“It did not come from the secretary-general’s office.”
Fuziah also described the issue as too minor to warrant a response.
Yesterday, Rafizi also renewed calls for an open debate among party, saying it was PKR’s defining strength and a tradition that should be upheld.
Responding to Nurul Izzah’s decision to reject a proposed debate with him, Rafizi said deputy president candidates and AMK (Youth wing) leaders have held debates.
However, he said, it was up to the candidates to accept or reject an invitation to debate.
“My offering is this: Let’s defend our culture, where each candidate lays out their ideas and vision, and we’re open to being evaluated by the delegates,” Rafizi said.
“I’ve already made the offer. I’m not going to force anyone,” he added.
Speaking at the JS-SEZ Partners Dialogue: Advancing Facilitation in Johor yesterday, Rafizi said: “My time here is temporary... There will eventually be another Economy Minister to replace me.”
The remark echoed his recent statement that he may relinquish his ministerial role if he loses the party’s deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah.
The PKR national congress, which includes the national Youth and Wanita congress, is scheduled to be held from May 21 to 24 in Johor Baru.
