Azmin vows to defend Anwar against Yusoff Rawther’s ‘assault’ claims
Robin Augustin
-December 5, 2019 11:40 PM
PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali says anyone involved in gutter politics should not go unpunished.AYER KEROH: PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali has vowed to defend the party’s president, Anwar Ibrahim, in the wake of accusations that he committed a crime against the grandson of a renowned consumer activist last year.
At a press conference after the launch of the PKR Youth and Wanita congress here today, Azmin, whose relationship with Anwar has been strained over party issues, said PKR would defend Anwar.
“We are a party that rejects gutter politics; we do not practise it.
“We want our opponents to face us with healthy arguments — not resort to slander.”
Yesterday, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, 26, had claimed that Anwar had committed a crime against him which he described as “un-Islamic, vile, insidious and morally repugnant”.
Anwar has dismissed the claim, saying it is a ploy to tarnish his reputation and that he was lodging a police report on the matter.
He added that lawyer Ramkarpal Singh had issued a letter of demand for Yusoff, the grandson of consumer activist SM Mohamed Idris, to explain himself or face a defamation suit.
Azmin, who himself has been implicated in a sex video scandal which he has strongly denied, said Anwar had made the right move in making a police report.
“Let us leave it to the police to carry out their investigations. Whoever is involved in this culture (of gutter politics) must be punished.”
On whether he was still seeking an apology from Anwar on the sacking of PKR Central Leadership Council member Zakaria Abdul Hamid, Azmin said due process should be allowed.
He said Zakaria should appeal his sacking and the party’s disciplinary board’s decisions should be respected.
The focus, he said, should be on policy issues and the country’s future.
The party’s decision to sack Zakaria had led to protests by Azmin and 19 other top leaders, who said it was illegal and did not go through due process.
They also demanded that Anwar apologise over the incident.
PKR had said it sacked Zakaria and ordinary member Ismail Duhladi based on advice given by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after it had investigated allegations of corruption against them.
Yesterday, Azmin had met Anwar to discuss certain issues. After the meeting, it was decided that Azmin should open both the party’s Youth and Women’s congress in Melaka.
Both the congress sessions will be closed by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
