KUALA TERENGGANU: The decision to withdraw his deputy’s invitation to open its Youth Congress was made by the party’s central leadership council (MPP), says PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said there was no threat or involvement of any party leader in the withdrawal of the invitation to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

“This decision was made by the political bureau and during an open meeting of the MPP, it was not a decision by the secretary-general as claimed, ” he told a media conference after opening the Terengganu and Kelantan PKR Convention here yesterday.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was accused of triggering a “leadership crisis” after he rescinded the invitation.

Meanwhile party convention director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the Sarawak PKR state convention will be held as planned on Nov 23, in Miri.

He said the reason given by Sarawak PKR state leaders for calling off the state convention was not right.

Nik Nazmi’s statement came hours after Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian and seven others, including national vice-president Ali Biju, issued a press statement to call off the event.

The group had decided to rally behind Azmin, whose letter of invitation was rescinded on Nov 12.

Sarawak has decided to cancel its state convention unless the top leaders “listened to the members”.

Nik Nazmi said the decision to cancel Azmin’s invitation was made by PKR Youth leaders on Oct 20, after he delayed his reply to the invitation.

“The non-attendance of Azmin at the Political Bureau and Central Leadership Council meetings worsened the situation.

“In a democratic party, it was necessary to attend such meetings, ” said Nik Nazmi, who is also a PKR Central Leadership Council member.

The Sarawak PKR’s statement, on the other hand, said it was time for the national leaders to take heed of office bearers who were elected.

Twenty-one of the 25 PKR elected youth leaders had threatened a mutiny, unless Azmin officiates the national youth convention scheduled on Dec 6.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/11/16/azmins-invite-rescinded-by-pkr-council-says-anwar